Inventions
The Armadillo Armored Suit
Apr 1958: Inventor Harvey Freeman looked a bit like a space alien in his "armadillo" armor, as Police Inspector Beryl Pace shot at him. The Detroit police bought four of Freeman's suits, but I have no idea if they were ever used.Freeman lived to be 100 years old, dying in 2022. You can read his obituary here.
Santa Cruz Sentinel - Apr 30, 1958
Holland Evening Sentinel - Apr 30, 1958 (click to enlarge)
Below is what appears to be an early version of Freeman's suit.
Mechanix Illustrated - Sep 1956
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jan 25, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Inventions, Police and Other Law Enforcement, 1950s
Saddle Cigarette Lighter
Perhaps it prevented fires caused by burning matches, but what about the fires caused by cigarette butts?
Popular Science - Apr 1936
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jan 24, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Inventions, Firefighting, Arson, Wildfires, Infernos and Other Conflagrations, Smoking and Tobacco, 1930s
Pigeon Drones
Read all about the wartime practice of mounting cameras on pigeons.At Wikipedia.
And at Public Domain Review, where there are more pictures.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jan 17, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Animals, Inventions, Photography and Photographers, War, Twentieth Century
Warning Device for Speeders
Drivers not paying attention to their speedometer will receive a blast of air on their accelerator foot at a preset MPH.Full patent here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jan 10, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Inventions, Rants, Warnings, Jeremiads, Prophecies and Cassandra-like Figures, 1930s, Cars
The Flying Flea
Wikipedia page.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Dec 15, 2023 -
Comments (3)
Category: Eccentrics, Hobbies and DIY, Inventions, Air Travel and Airlines, 1930s
Tri-Ang Bolo Game
The Tri-Ang Toy company in the UK seems to have been a conventional and successful business. But then, in some fit of madness, they chose to release "Bolo--The New Game."
Posted By: Paul - Sat Nov 11, 2023 -
Comments (3)
Category: Inventions, Really Bad Ideas, Success & Failure, Toys, 1940s, United Kingdom
Device to Cure Ingrown Toenail
This torture apparatus surely looks to provide worse pain than the malady it purports to cure. A metal hook goes under the toenail itself and yanks it up, whereupon it is strapped into position for permanent wear.Full patent here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Nov 08, 2023 -
Comments (4)
Category: Inventions, Patents, 1940s, Diseases, Feet
Rain-Making Device
Full patent here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Oct 17, 2023 -
Comments (0)
Category: Inventions, Patents, 1910s, Weather
GiraffeNap
The GiraffeNap is "a nap box that proposes a 'standing sleep' style."It looks very similar to the upright Nap Boxes that we've previously posted about.
More info: GiraffeNap, Core77
Posted By: Alex - Wed Oct 11, 2023 -
Comments (2)
Category: Inventions, Sleep and Dreams
EZ Nabber Cat Grabber
"perfect for catching the unruly feline." Available for purchase from Campbell Pet Company.
via What They Think
Posted By: Alex - Thu Sep 21, 2023 -
Comments (4)
Category: Inventions, Cats
| Who We Are |
|---|
| 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 |