36 Weird Inventions of the Past

Nathan Johnson Published 11/22/2020 in wow

People had some wild ideas back in the day.

It's really weird to look into the past and see the kinds of inventions people were excited about back then. Some of these things are clearly still around today, at least in concept (though much more refined and evolved nowadays), while others are totally outlandish and you can easily see why they never took off.

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1.
In 1955, This Tiny Electric Narrow Gauge Train Was Installed In New York’s Holland Tunnel To Monitor Traffic Speed
2.
The World's Oldest Surviving Diving Suit: The Old Gentleman, From 1860
3.
Pilots Of American 8th Bomber Command Wearing High Altitude Oxygen Masks And Flight Goggles, 1942
4.
Motorized Roller-Skate Salesman In California, 1961
5.
300 Year Old Library Tool That Enabled A Researcher To Have Seven Books Open At Once, Yet Conveniently Nearby (Palafoxiana Library, Puebla)
6.
The 'Isolator' , By Hugo Gernsback: A Helmet For Insulating The Senses Against Distraction; From The Journal Science And Invention, Vol. 13, No. 3, July 1925
7.
A British Couple Sleeps Inside A "Morrison Shelter” Used As Protection From Collapsing Homes During The Wwii 'Blitz' Bombing Raids... March 1941
8.
A Rail Zeppelin And A Steam Train Near The Railway Platform. Berlin, Germany, 1931
9.
A Man With A Punt Gun, A Type Of Large Shotgun Used For Duck Hunting. It Could Kill Over 50 Birds At Once And Was Banned In The Late 1860s
10.
TV Glasses Decades Before Google Glass, 1960s
11.
The Hindenburg Takes Shape, 1932
12.
This 'Device' That Was Created Aiming To Develop Leg Muscles
13.
Soviet Peasants Listen To The Radio For The First Time, 1928
14.
Motorola Vice President John F. Mitchell Showing Off The Dynatac Portable Radio Telephone In New York City In 1973
15.
Robo-Vac, A Self-Proppeled Vacuum Cleaner Part Of Whirlpool’s Miracle Kitchen Of The Future, A Display At The 1959 American National Exhibition In Moscow, 1959
16.
One-Wheel Motorcycle, Germany, 1925
17.
Orgone Accumulator, A Device Sold In The 1950s To Allow A Person Sitting Inside To Attract Orgone, A Massless 'Healing Energy'. The Fda Noted That One Purchaser, A College Professor, Knew It Was "Phony" But Found It "Helpful Because His Wife Sat Quietly In It For Four Hours Every Day."
18.
1911: Chester Mcduffee And His Ads Diving Suit, Aluminum Alloy Weighing 485 Lbs/200 Kg
19.
Jay Ohrberg's 'Double Wide' Limousine. Built By The Man Who Also Created The 'American Dream' Superlimo
20.
Tsar Tank (Tank Lebedenko), 1915
21.
The Antarctic Snow Cruiser On The Drive Towards The Ship That Would Take It South To The Pole. The Vehicle Provided Living Space And Laboratories To Five Scientists. Unfortunately, It Was Found To Have No Traction On Snow Unless Driven In Reverse And Was Eventually Abandoned. 1939
22.
Philco Predicta Television From The Late 1950s
23.
Using A Two-Horn Listening Device At Bolling Field In Washington, D.c., In 1921 Before The Invention Of Radar, To Listen For Distant Aircraft
24.
Steam Locomotive On A Cable Car, Crossing The Canyon Of The Rio Grande River In New Mexico, USA, In 1915
25.
Bikes For Your Feet
26.
Austro-Hungarian Tail Gunner Armed With Ten Mauser C96 Handguns, Wwi
27.
Giant Mechanical Tricycles By The Boston Woven Hose And Rubber Company, 1896
28.
The Old "Telefontornet" Telephone Tower In Stockholm, Sweden, With Approximately 5,500 Telephone Lines C. 1890
29.
The Open Side View Of An Old Calculator
30.
A Look Into The Future Or A Blast From The Past? Gas Resistant Pram From 1938, Ww2.
31.
The Scalp Molester – A Massager Made Up Of 480 Articifical Fingers
32.
Portable TV, 1967
33.
Multi-Bladed Folding Knife Made In Germany Ca. 1880 For John S. Holler, Cutlery Merchant, New York City. It Can Kill In 100 Different Ways, Including A Pistol On The Upper Left Side
34.
Polish Policeman In Full Assault Gear, 1934
35.
Robot Policeman, 1967
36.
Dr. Guy Brewster’s Bullet-Proof Armor, 1917

1.
In 1955, This Tiny Electric Narrow Gauge Train Was Installed In New York’s Holland Tunnel To Monitor Traffic Speed
2.
The World's Oldest Surviving Diving Suit: The Old Gentleman, From 1860
3.
Pilots Of American 8th Bomber Command Wearing High Altitude Oxygen Masks And Flight Goggles, 1942
4.
Motorized Roller-Skate Salesman In California, 1961
5.
300 Year Old Library Tool That Enabled A Researcher To Have Seven Books Open At Once, Yet Conveniently Nearby (Palafoxiana Library, Puebla)
6.
The 'Isolator' , By Hugo Gernsback: A Helmet For Insulating The Senses Against Distraction; From The Journal Science And Invention, Vol. 13, No. 3, July 1925
7.
A British Couple Sleeps Inside A "Morrison Shelter” Used As Protection From Collapsing Homes During The Wwii 'Blitz' Bombing Raids... March 1941
8.
A Rail Zeppelin And A Steam Train Near The Railway Platform. Berlin, Germany, 1931
9.
A Man With A Punt Gun, A Type Of Large Shotgun Used For Duck Hunting. It Could Kill Over 50 Birds At Once And Was Banned In The Late 1860s
10.
TV Glasses Decades Before Google Glass, 1960s
11.
The Hindenburg Takes Shape, 1932
12.
This 'Device' That Was Created Aiming To Develop Leg Muscles
13.
Soviet Peasants Listen To The Radio For The First Time, 1928
14.
Motorola Vice President John F. Mitchell Showing Off The Dynatac Portable Radio Telephone In New York City In 1973
15.
Robo-Vac, A Self-Proppeled Vacuum Cleaner Part Of Whirlpool’s Miracle Kitchen Of The Future, A Display At The 1959 American National Exhibition In Moscow, 1959
16.
One-Wheel Motorcycle, Germany, 1925
17.
Orgone Accumulator, A Device Sold In The 1950s To Allow A Person Sitting Inside To Attract Orgone, A Massless 'Healing Energy'. The Fda Noted That One Purchaser, A College Professor, Knew It Was "Phony" But Found It "Helpful Because His Wife Sat Quietly In It For Four Hours Every Day."
18.
1911: Chester Mcduffee And His Ads Diving Suit, Aluminum Alloy Weighing 485 Lbs/200 Kg
19.
Jay Ohrberg's 'Double Wide' Limousine. Built By The Man Who Also Created The 'American Dream' Superlimo
20.
Tsar Tank (Tank Lebedenko), 1915
21.
The Antarctic Snow Cruiser On The Drive Towards The Ship That Would Take It South To The Pole. The Vehicle Provided Living Space And Laboratories To Five Scientists. Unfortunately, It Was Found To Have No Traction On Snow Unless Driven In Reverse And Was Eventually Abandoned. 1939
22.
Philco Predicta Television From The Late 1950s
23.
Using A Two-Horn Listening Device At Bolling Field In Washington, D.c., In 1921 Before The Invention Of Radar, To Listen For Distant Aircraft
24.
Steam Locomotive On A Cable Car, Crossing The Canyon Of The Rio Grande River In New Mexico, USA, In 1915
25.
Bikes For Your Feet
26.
Austro-Hungarian Tail Gunner Armed With Ten Mauser C96 Handguns, Wwi
27.
Giant Mechanical Tricycles By The Boston Woven Hose And Rubber Company, 1896
28.
The Old "Telefontornet" Telephone Tower In Stockholm, Sweden, With Approximately 5,500 Telephone Lines C. 1890
29.
The Open Side View Of An Old Calculator
30.
A Look Into The Future Or A Blast From The Past? Gas Resistant Pram From 1938, Ww2.
31.
The Scalp Molester – A Massager Made Up Of 480 Articifical Fingers
32.
Portable TV, 1967
33.
Multi-Bladed Folding Knife Made In Germany Ca. 1880 For John S. Holler, Cutlery Merchant, New York City. It Can Kill In 100 Different Ways, Including A Pistol On The Upper Left Side
34.
Polish Policeman In Full Assault Gear, 1934
35.
Robot Policeman, 1967
36.
Dr. Guy Brewster’s Bullet-Proof Armor, 1917

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NEXT GALLERY 30 Things Millennials Used to Think Were So Cool

1. In 1955, This Tiny Electric Narrow Gauge Train Was Installed In New York’s Holland Tunnel To Monitor Traffic Speed

2. The World's Oldest Surviving Diving Suit: The Old Gentleman, From 1860

3. Pilots Of American 8th Bomber Command Wearing High Altitude Oxygen Masks And Flight Goggles, 1942

4. Motorized Roller-Skate Salesman In California, 1961

5. 300 Year Old Library Tool That Enabled A Researcher To Have Seven Books Open At Once, Yet Conveniently Nearby (Palafoxiana Library, Puebla)

6. The 'Isolator' , By Hugo Gernsback: A Helmet For Insulating The Senses Against Distraction; From The Journal Science And Invention, Vol. 13, No. 3, July 1925

7. A British Couple Sleeps Inside A "Morrison Shelter” Used As Protection From Collapsing Homes During The Wwii 'Blitz' Bombing Raids... March 1941

8. A Rail Zeppelin And A Steam Train Near The Railway Platform. Berlin, Germany, 1931

9. A Man With A Punt Gun, A Type Of Large Shotgun Used For Duck Hunting. It Could Kill Over 50 Birds At Once And Was Banned In The Late 1860s

10. TV Glasses Decades Before Google Glass, 1960s

11. The Hindenburg Takes Shape, 1932

12. This 'Device' That Was Created Aiming To Develop Leg Muscles

13. Soviet Peasants Listen To The Radio For The First Time, 1928

14. Motorola Vice President John F. Mitchell Showing Off The Dynatac Portable Radio Telephone In New York City In 1973

15. Robo-Vac, A Self-Proppeled Vacuum Cleaner Part Of Whirlpool’s Miracle Kitchen Of The Future, A Display At The 1959 American National Exhibition In Moscow, 1959

16. One-Wheel Motorcycle, Germany, 1925

17. Orgone Accumulator, A Device Sold In The 1950s To Allow A Person Sitting Inside To Attract Orgone, A Massless 'Healing Energy'. The Fda Noted That One Purchaser, A College Professor, Knew It Was "Phony" But Found It "Helpful Because His Wife Sat Quietly In It For Four Hours Every Day."

18. 1911: Chester Mcduffee And His Ads Diving Suit, Aluminum Alloy Weighing 485 Lbs/200 Kg

19. Jay Ohrberg's 'Double Wide' Limousine. Built By The Man Who Also Created The 'American Dream' Superlimo

20. Tsar Tank (Tank Lebedenko), 1915

21. The Antarctic Snow Cruiser On The Drive Towards The Ship That Would Take It South To The Pole. The Vehicle Provided Living Space And Laboratories To Five Scientists. Unfortunately, It Was Found To Have No Traction On Snow Unless Driven In Reverse And Was Eventually Abandoned. 1939

22. Philco Predicta Television From The Late 1950s

23. Using A Two-Horn Listening Device At Bolling Field In Washington, D.c., In 1921 Before The Invention Of Radar, To Listen For Distant Aircraft

24. Steam Locomotive On A Cable Car, Crossing The Canyon Of The Rio Grande River In New Mexico, USA, In 1915

25. Bikes For Your Feet

26. Austro-Hungarian Tail Gunner Armed With Ten Mauser C96 Handguns, Wwi

27. Giant Mechanical Tricycles By The Boston Woven Hose And Rubber Company, 1896

28. The Old "Telefontornet" Telephone Tower In Stockholm, Sweden, With Approximately 5,500 Telephone Lines C. 1890

29. The Open Side View Of An Old Calculator

30. A Look Into The Future Or A Blast From The Past? Gas Resistant Pram From 1938, Ww2.

31. The Scalp Molester – A Massager Made Up Of 480 Articifical Fingers

32. Portable TV, 1967

33. Multi-Bladed Folding Knife Made In Germany Ca. 1880 For John S. Holler, Cutlery Merchant, New York City. It Can Kill In 100 Different Ways, Including A Pistol On The Upper Left Side

34. Polish Policeman In Full Assault Gear, 1934

35. Robot Policeman, 1967

36. Dr. Guy Brewster’s Bullet-Proof Armor, 1917

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eBaum's Picks

1.
In 1955, This Tiny Electric Narrow Gauge Train Was Installed In New York’s Holland Tunnel To Monitor Traffic Speed

2.
The World's Oldest Surviving Diving Suit: The Old Gentleman, From 1860

3.
Pilots Of American 8th Bomber Command Wearing High Altitude Oxygen Masks And Flight Goggles, 1942

4.
Motorized Roller-Skate Salesman In California, 1961

5.
300 Year Old Library Tool That Enabled A Researcher To Have Seven Books Open At Once, Yet Conveniently Nearby (Palafoxiana Library, Puebla)

6.
The 'Isolator' , By Hugo Gernsback: A Helmet For Insulating The Senses Against Distraction; From The Journal Science And Invention, Vol. 13, No. 3, July 1925

7.
A British Couple Sleeps Inside A "Morrison Shelter” Used As Protection From Collapsing Homes During The Wwii 'Blitz' Bombing Raids... March 1941

8.
A Rail Zeppelin And A Steam Train Near The Railway Platform. Berlin, Germany, 1931

9.
A Man With A Punt Gun, A Type Of Large Shotgun Used For Duck Hunting. It Could Kill Over 50 Birds At Once And Was Banned In The Late 1860s

10.
TV Glasses Decades Before Google Glass, 1960s

11.
The Hindenburg Takes Shape, 1932

12.
This 'Device' That Was Created Aiming To Develop Leg Muscles

13.
Soviet Peasants Listen To The Radio For The First Time, 1928

14.
Motorola Vice President John F. Mitchell Showing Off The Dynatac Portable Radio Telephone In New York City In 1973

15.
Robo-Vac, A Self-Proppeled Vacuum Cleaner Part Of Whirlpool’s Miracle Kitchen Of The Future, A Display At The 1959 American National Exhibition In Moscow, 1959

16.
One-Wheel Motorcycle, Germany, 1925

17.
Orgone Accumulator, A Device Sold In The 1950s To Allow A Person Sitting Inside To Attract Orgone, A Massless 'Healing Energy'. The Fda Noted That One Purchaser, A College Professor, Knew It Was "Phony" But Found It "Helpful Because His Wife Sat Quietly In It For Four Hours Every Day."

18.
1911: Chester Mcduffee And His Ads Diving Suit, Aluminum Alloy Weighing 485 Lbs/200 Kg

19.
Jay Ohrberg's 'Double Wide' Limousine. Built By The Man Who Also Created The 'American Dream' Superlimo

20.
Tsar Tank (Tank Lebedenko), 1915

21.
The Antarctic Snow Cruiser On The Drive Towards The Ship That Would Take It South To The Pole. The Vehicle Provided Living Space And Laboratories To Five Scientists. Unfortunately, It Was Found To Have No Traction On Snow Unless Driven In Reverse And Was Eventually Abandoned. 1939

22.
Philco Predicta Television From The Late 1950s

23.
Using A Two-Horn Listening Device At Bolling Field In Washington, D.c., In 1921 Before The Invention Of Radar, To Listen For Distant Aircraft

24.
Steam Locomotive On A Cable Car, Crossing The Canyon Of The Rio Grande River In New Mexico, USA, In 1915

25.
Bikes For Your Feet

26.
Austro-Hungarian Tail Gunner Armed With Ten Mauser C96 Handguns, Wwi

27.
Giant Mechanical Tricycles By The Boston Woven Hose And Rubber Company, 1896

28.
The Old "Telefontornet" Telephone Tower In Stockholm, Sweden, With Approximately 5,500 Telephone Lines C. 1890

29.
The Open Side View Of An Old Calculator

30.
A Look Into The Future Or A Blast From The Past? Gas Resistant Pram From 1938, Ww2.

31.
The Scalp Molester – A Massager Made Up Of 480 Articifical Fingers

32.
Portable TV, 1967

33.
Multi-Bladed Folding Knife Made In Germany Ca. 1880 For John S. Holler, Cutlery Merchant, New York City. It Can Kill In 100 Different Ways, Including A Pistol On The Upper Left Side

34.
Polish Policeman In Full Assault Gear, 1934

35.
Robot Policeman, 1967

36.
Dr. Guy Brewster’s Bullet-Proof Armor, 1917