The Mirror Tanner

Invented in 1965 by William Wilson of Wyandotte, Michigan who claimed that his mirrors filtered out "sunburn radiation" leaving only "tanning radiation" and therefore gave a "blisterless, heatless, burnless, lotionless suntan." He's keeping a close eye here on the subject of one of his tanning experiments.

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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 forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Mon Jul 15, 2013
Category: Inventions | 1960s

Comments

Michigan???? They don't get enought sun up there to even burn with, do they?

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 07/15/13 at 09:42 AM

Looks like a set lighting test for a "Beach Blanket" movie. She looks like Annette Funicello.

It's not the amount of light, it's the daily duration, Expat.

Posted by KDP on 07/15/13 at 03:30 PM

The reflection will burn you just as well, radiation is radiation.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 07/15/13 at 04:38 PM

Well, if the mirrors don't reflect ultraviolet, you won't burn, but you won't tan either, since that's what causes both.

Posted by Captain DaFt on 07/15/13 at 09:12 PM

Dichroic mirrors?

Posted by wearsmanyhats on 07/15/13 at 11:31 PM

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