1950s
The Recording Rosary
Damon Doherty invented the "Recording Rosary" so that people could pray the Rosary while driving. As a traveling jewelry salesman he found that "Rosary beads sometimes became tangled in the gear shift as he prayed his way from city to city." So he invented a solution (Design Patent 167,827).I'm not Catholic, and know very little about praying the Rosary, but I've got a few questions about his invention.
First, is it considered okay to multitask while praying the Rosary? So it's okay to pray the Rosary while driving a car?
Second, the second article below notes that his Recording Rosary was "an actual Rosary of legitimate material." What are the 'legitimate' materials that Rosary beads can be made out of?
Boston Globe - Feb 22, 1953
Omaha Our Sunday Visitor - Mar 15, 1953
Posted By: Alex - Sun Jan 14, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Religion, Patents, 1950s, Cars
Queen of the Friendship Festival
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jan 13, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Contests, Races and Other Competitions, Friends, Partners, Co-Workers and Other Associates, 1950s
The Castro Cap
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jan 09, 2024 -
Comments (3)
Category: Dictators, Tyrants and Other Harsh Rulers, Disguises, Impersonations, Mimics and Forgeries, Toys, 1950s, Caribbean
In the event of nuclear war, drink beer
Sounds like a sensible plan to me.As for whether bottles would protect the beer inside from radiation, I imagine that would be the least of one's concerns after a nuclear war.
Tacoma News Tribune - July 7, 1958
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jan 08, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Inebriation and Intoxicants, Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1950s
Pocket Typewriter
In 1952, Maurice Julliard patented a typewriter small enough to fit inside "an average size pocket." It could be used "without any support, being simply held in the hand."His patent included a sketch of the typewriter, but I haven't been able to find any pictures of it. I'm not sure what practical use it was supposed to have, beyond being a novelty. His patent doesn't say. Would one use it to type miniature notes or manuscripts?
I noticed that it had a non-qwerty keyboard.
The Hackensack Record - July 24, 1952
Julliard's pocket typewriter wasn't the first one in existence. The book Victorian Inventions by Leonard de Vries contains an example from 1891. Though unlike Julliard's typewriter, it lacked a keyboard.
Posted By: Alex - Sun Jan 07, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Technology, Patents, 1950s
Miss Bay Beach
Better photos below the article.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jan 06, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Oceans and Maritime Pursuits, 1950s
Atomic Bomb Survival Jacket
As the designers admitted, it wasn't going to protect anyone against an atomic bomb or radiation. But as a survival jacket it seemed pretty well equipped. Though a backpack full of the same stuff would seem to be more practical.
"Jean Shore displays inside pocket arrangement of survival jacket."
image source: Harry Ransom Center
Muncie Star Press - Jan 15, 1951
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jan 05, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Fashion, Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1950s
Atlantis in Hi-Fi
Why a stinker of a B-movie would have its soundtrack issued under a different title is a mystery best left to the ages. But it means you can enjoy some exotica tracks without watching the film. The embedded player is at the bottom of the post.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Dec 30, 2023 -
Comments (0)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Movies, Music, Space-age Bachelor Pad & Exotic, Vinyl Albums and Other Media Recordings, 1950s
Teddie Rose Vail, Amnesia Due to Folk-Dancing
Posted By: Paul - Thu Dec 28, 2023 -
Comments (6)
Category: Children, Parents, 1950s, Dance, Mental Health and Insanity
Queen of Azusa Golden Days
Posted By: Paul - Sat Dec 23, 2023 -
Comments (0)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Parades and Festivals, 1950s
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |