Old black and white photos of inventions : theCHIVE

March 23, 2010 | In: Photography

Anonmouse

You know, for every person that posts, there is probably another hundred or so that only look at the pictures and move on without saying anything. Knowing that, simply opening your mouth first doesn’t really impress anyone.

Now hurry along to school and learn something.
Dave

Please do the world a favor and be the first to kill himself via wood chipper.

sock puppet

“be the first to kill himself via wood chipper.”

As much as I agree with your sentiment, I once read about a guy who did just this. To the OP, please be the 2nd to kill himself via wood chipper.

kmelb

i think it’s sexy water gear from yesteryear, must be due to be back in fashion soon…

AnyoneForCoffee

Bullet proof glass didn’t take off?

Or maybe it’s a portable window in #13?

bubble_rider86

really….a suit made of dildos didnt make the cut….oh america, you are not the place i thought you to be……
Anonmouse

What the hell is that in #3? Also, having a seat in front of a car is brilliant! I’m guessing that invention only lasted until that first car accident or a slam on the breaks.

jeff in Australia

It was designed to “save” pedestrians from being run over, after you hit them.

http://bramer666.wordpress.com bramer666

we still have an ice skate such as the one in picture 7 at home. just bolt it on your shoe and you’re off
Mustafa_Beer

#4 was the inspiration for Black Spy v. White Spy?
And #10, the forerunner of the ATV
Matt M

#1 looks alot like Mr. Garrison’s “IT” from South Park….

top dog

That is a trailor for a twenty ft long horse, or it will hold twenty horses, one ft each. Would you like to buy it?

Anonmouse

You’re thinking of #3 top dog.. #4 is the clear cone face thing…and I have no freakin’ idea what it is either!

spott

I see Lady Gaga stealing 6 of these for the next awards show!
bigdaddydrew

#9 & #12 actually seem like cool ideas to me.
Brandon

#12 is actually a really good idea. What’s #8 though?
kirby

9 is in use. obviously different now from what you see, but its a mobile army bridge, not such a bad idea
Clickawat

Yeah, that whole skiing thing never quite worked out…WTF ? Am i missing something in pic 2 ?

Mr Hollandia

dude youre missing the fact he wears some kinda chute attached to his clothes so that he can float a little longer.

showtownman

#7 & #13 both “took off”: You can still find strap-on ice skates in antique stores (ala #7), and #13 is a bullet-proof glass test.
IWantOne

Could someone please post more material about #1? A Wiki article or a patent link? That thing is awesome!
TomAss

#4. G-Force the early years
Lomi

8 is getting ready for chemical warfare haha

jeff in Australia

During the first (+ 2nd ) w. war the Germans used mustard and other gases.
Every civilian in the larger cities and towns in England were issued a gas mask..
So no, not getting ready for, ready for.

DrJSD

#12 hasn’t really taken off because most Chivers aren’t silver topped gas bag who can’t be bothered to sit up in bed.

As a side note, I’m pretty sure Jack Nicholson wears them in that death comedy The Bucket List.
Irwin109

So many useful things, no wonder we’ve run out of ideas nowadays!
MrVister

My grandfather had #12. He had arthritis and back problems and couldn't tilt his head so these were good for reading or laying in bed and watching the TV.
http://intensedebate.com/people/psycho_freak psycho_freak

#4 wtf is dat???
DocTomoe

So, The tube on hair thing are well-known as “Haartrockenhaube” in Germany today, and Picture #13 shows bulletproof glass, which clearly “took off”.
Fogerty

#3 is a trailer where you can slide out front and rear for more space?
Adriana

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