Inventions
Anti-Cow Kicker
October 1938: Alice Anthony models an "anti-cow kicker" invented by Bill Vernia of Odebolt, Iowa.
Pittsburgh Press - Oct 16, 1938
The Franklin News-Herald - Oct 7, 1938
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jan 11, 2017 -
Comments (6)
Category: Inventions, Cows, 1930s
Mousetrap Cigarette Lighter
Introduced at the 1941 meeting of the Inventors of America society in New York — a combined mousetrap and cigarette lighter.The caption on the first image is confusing. It says "a lever sets the mouse in motion," but I assume that's a mistake. It should probably read, "The mouse sets a lever in motion."
Another newspaper offered the following explanation of the device's operation: "When mouse springs trap, it sends pinball down ramp. Ball releases spring, and up pops an arm which strikes a match."
When the Inventors of America met again later that year in Los Angeles, one of their members showed off some mice-killing
The San Bernardino County Sun - July 25, 1941
The Pittsburgh Press - July 27, 1941
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jan 06, 2017 -
Comments (4)
Category: Inventions, 1940s
The New Look in Hot Water Bottles
From 1948. Dreamed up by the folks at B.F. Goodrich.And it's still a popular look in S&M gear.
The Akron Beacon Journal - Jan 1, 1948
Palm Beach Post - Jan 5, 1948
Posted By: Alex - Thu Dec 01, 2016 -
Comments (4)
Category: Inventions, 1940s
Mr. Omelet
I am very sad that the original "Mr. Omelet" pan which debuted in 1976 has been rechristened as simply "Rolled Omelet" pan, and lost its wooden handle.
I am even sadder that I can learn nothing about its illustrious inventor, Robert S. Bardin, and that the only image I have of him is a featureless smudge.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Nov 09, 2016 -
Comments (5)
Category: Domestic, Appliances, Inventions, 1970s
Gadget-Filled Car
Posted By: Paul - Wed Oct 26, 2016 -
Comments (2)
Category: Inventions, 1930s, Cars
The Pyréolophore
The fuel for the world's first internal combustion engine was exploding plant spores.
Details here.
And here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Oct 13, 2016 -
Comments (6)
Category: Inventions, Nature, Nineteenth Century
Wonder Boy X-100
Newsweek - Oct 21, 1957
1957: Simplicity Manufacturing introduced its experimental lawnmower of the future — the Wonder Boy X-100. It could mow, weed, feed, seed, spray, vacuum the lawn, and plow snow, all the while keeping its operator in air-conditioned comfort. It had running lights and an onboard radio-telephone. And the manufacturer noted that it could also be used as a golf cart! It went at a top speed of 10 mph.
I don't think that Simplicity ever produced these for commercial sale.
Posted By: Alex - Mon Sep 19, 2016 -
Comments (6)
Category: Inventions, 1950s
Killed by own invention
That's one way to cure rheumatism.
The Decatur Herald - July 14, 1958
Charles Werly, 52-year-old Swiss inventor, called in a group of specialists Saturday to demonstrate his new electric-wave apparatus for curing rheumatism.
Werly fitted the machine on himself, switched on the current — and died. The watching doctors said he was killed by a 220-volt charge passing through his body.
Posted By: Alex - Wed Sep 14, 2016 -
Comments (7)
Category: Inventions, Experiments, 1950s
Early Car Bomb and/or Guided Missile
Original article here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Sep 13, 2016 -
Comments (9)
Category: Inventions, War, Weapons, 1910s, Cars
Anti-Aging Mouthpiece
This easy-to-use beauty and skincare product was developed by an ordinary housewife. Chikako Hirama was simply concerned about her own age and wanted an easy way to combat those telltale lines. Just try the yellow or pink Pupeko daily using such techniques as puffing out your cheeks or sucking them in while breathing through the mouthpiece. Then you can try it while keeping your head upright to give your neck and other muscles further exercise training.
Buy yours here for $36.
via Book of Joe
Posted By: Alex - Sun Aug 28, 2016 -
Comments (16)
Category: Inventions, Chindogu
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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 |