Category Archives: inventions

13 of the Most Bizarre and Breathtaking Television Set Designs That Ever Existed

A television set or television receiver, more commonly called the television, TV, TV set, tube,[1] telly, or tele, is a device that combines a tuner, display, and loudspeakers, for the purpose of viewing and hearing television broadcasts, or using it as a computer monitor. Introduced in the late 1920s in mechanical form, television sets becameContinue reading “13 of the Most Bizarre and Breathtaking Television Set Designs That Ever Existed”

Weird Inventions From the 1940s

Facing a decrease in demand during the war years, the Los Angeles Brush Manufacturing Corporation created a catalog full of facetious inventions, simply “to take their minds off the ugly fact that they had no brushes to sell.” In a photo shoot by Allan Grant published in LIFE in 1947, actress Olga San Juan andContinue reading “Weird Inventions From the 1940s”

How the Original Selfie Stick Was Invented in the 1980s

Before the word “selfie” was even coined, let alone in the dictionary. The first selfie stick was neither as elegant nor as successful as the latest models. The original patent was filed all the way back in 1983, before cell phones were ubiquitous. The first selfie stick was invented by Hiroshi Ueda, at the timeContinue reading “How the Original Selfie Stick Was Invented in the 1980s”

This Is What the U.S Army Thought the Soldier of the Future Would Be Like, 1959

Various shots of the “Soldier of the Future” wearing special uniform. The futuristic uniform includes “rocket-powered jump belt”, infrared binoculars and rubber mask and gloves to protect the wearer from nuclear explosions – over-all effect looks like something from “Star Wars”!

14 Historical Photos That Show the Evolution of Television From the 1920s Through the 1980s

Despite its status as a device that defines the modern age, the television has its roots in the 19th century, when scientists found ways to transmit images and sound. Even the word “television,” combining Greek and Latin roots to mean “far-sight,” stems from the 1900 world’s fair. Perhaps more than any other medium, TV hasContinue reading “14 Historical Photos That Show the Evolution of Television From the 1920s Through the 1980s”

Vintage Photos of 12 Amazing Flying Cars That Really Existed in the Past

Even before the Wright brothers made their first flight in 1903, people have widely imagined a future where flying cars — or aerocars — are a fact of life, whisking us about without the hassles of roads and traffic. A flying car is a type of personal air vehicle or roadable aircraft that provides door-to-doorContinue reading “Vintage Photos of 12 Amazing Flying Cars That Really Existed in the Past”

20 Vintage Photos of Iron Lungs for Polio Victims From Between the 1930s and 1950s

In the early 20th century, polio was one of the most feared diseases in industrialized countries, paralysing hundreds of thousands of children every year. A highly infectious disease, polio attacks the nervous system and can lead to paralysis, disability and even death. The symptoms – pain and weakness, fatigue and muscle loss – can strikeContinue reading “20 Vintage Photos of Iron Lungs for Polio Victims From Between the 1930s and 1950s”

Monowheel: Failure of the Weirdest Transport Known to Man From the 1930s

The monowheel is one crazy idea from the past that has always inspired and enthralled us from its first appearance in France in 1869. Arguably the most well-known iteration of the strange type of vehicle is the one above, created in 1932 by Dr. J.H. Purves. The motorized monster was called the Dynasphere, and itContinue reading “Monowheel: Failure of the Weirdest Transport Known to Man From the 1930s”

The Isolator: This Insane Anti-Distraction Helmet From 1925 Would Fit Into Any Modern Open Office

Maybe you blame your smartphone or your open office for the fact that you can’t concentrate at work. But distraction isn’t exactly a new problem: In the 1920s, Hugo Gernsback published a design for a creepy-looking helmet that blocks out sound and vision so someone can focus on their work. As a writer, editor andContinue reading “The Isolator: This Insane Anti-Distraction Helmet From 1925 Would Fit Into Any Modern Open Office”