Inventions
Fresh Air Breathing Device
Full patent here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue May 07, 2024 -
Comments (3)
Category: Body, Inventions, Patents, Firefighting, Arson, Wildfires, Infernos and Other Conflagrations, Danger, Risk, and Peril, Excrement
Firmatron Facial
"literally shocks your age away"
"A model is given a 'Firmatron' facial by an operator wearing special gloves to transmit electrical impulses to facial nerves." New York Journal-American - Dec 2, 1960
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - June 28, 1961
Chicago Tribune - Apr 9, 1961
Posted By: Alex - Thu May 02, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Inventions, 1960s
Anti-Wrinkle Straws
As described by the NY Times:Traditional straws force sippers to purse their lips around the opening in an expression that many believe, over time, creates wrinkles around your lips, called perioral lines.
Enter the anti-wrinkle straw, shaped like the number 7, with a small hole at the top horizontal portion that allows users to drink without pursing their lips.
I never drink through straws, nor do I worry about lip wrinkles. So not a product for me. But enough people do use straws, and do worry about lip wrinkles, to have created a demand for this product.
The "Lipzi" is the best-selling anti-wrinkle straw on the market.
via Book of Joe
Posted By: Alex - Mon Apr 29, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: Inventions, Skin and Skin Conditions
Les Fo’Plafonds
Somewhat, ah, unique instruments.Their YouTube channel is here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Apr 23, 2024 -
Comments (5)
Category: Hobbies and DIY, Inventions, Music, Europe
French Fry Injector
Why slather your fires with ketchup or cheese or mayo like a peasant, when you could laboriously inject the condiment into each individual fry?Full patent here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Apr 19, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, Inventions, Patents, Junk Food, Twenty-first Century
Special Driver Gloves for Signalling
Full patent here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Mar 02, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Inventions, Patents, Signage, 1920s, Cars
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
| Who We Are |
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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 |