15 Bizarre and Weird Inventions

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

We are surrounded by the world of the future - powerful computers in our pockets, virtual reality glasses, cars that can drive themselves. Thousands of engineers and scientists have used their talent to make previously difficult and impossible actions simple and trivial. But sometimes this talent takes people on a very dubious path.

Transport

All-terrain vehicle. Unfortunately, there is very little information about this monster originally from England. There is only this photo and information that she could overcome inclines of 65 degrees.

Dinosphere:unicycle designed by British engineer John Archibald Purves in the mid-1930s. Two prototypes were built - gasoline and electric. The project did not find funding due to serious management problems that could not be solved even during lengthy improvements.

Impulsory:horse-drawn railway locomotive. Despite the rapid development of steam locomotives in the 19th century, for some needs they tried to replace them with more practical and economical devices. First of all, developments were proposed to improve the efficiency of horse traction.

Only by 1850 did the Italian engineer Clemente Masserano manage to use horses to drive rail transport. Its device was finalized and operated for some time in London, but the steam locomotives became more perfect and the need for such exotic disappeared. It is noteworthy that the equestrian locomotive was very technological - it had a clutch system and a gearbox with reverse gear.

This allowed him to go faster than the horses could move, and if necessary, sharply reduce the speed - start braking before the horses began to move.

For children and their parents

Ice Carrying Device:a fairly simple design invented by hockey player Jack Milford in 1937. The idea was not to part with a small child, even while walking with his wife at the rink.

Children's Walking Radio:in 1921 the concept of "baby monitor" had a slightly different meaning. As they say, whatever the child is amused with.

Artificial female breast with imitation of a heartbeat: in Japan in the mid-20th century, rubber parts of the human body often had a different purpose than they do now. The invention, as conceived by the creators, was supposed to help babies quickly learn to fall asleep in the crib, and not in the mother's arms.

For beard and mustache

Mustache guard. In the second half of the 19th century, this item was patented by the namesake of the founder of Microsoft - Virgil A. Gates. Nothing is known about the connection between them, and a similar device would be useful for a beard: to protect facial hair while eating and drinking various drinks.

Group shaving machine … Another invention for the nineteenth century barber shop, it could handle up to 12 heads at a time. In the 1960s, it was remodeled for the filming of the British comedy television series. The disadvantage was the inability to adjust the movements for each person separately, which prevented success.

To combat barn pests

Meowing Mouse and Rat Repeller: Invented in 1963 in Japan, the device emitted a meowing sound ten times a minute, and lamps lit up in the eyes of the "cat". It was not possible to find information about the real experience of use and effectiveness.

Mousetrap from a pistol: why not? Apparently, Texan James A. Williams was so fed up with mice in 1882 that he came up with a design of a revolver, a wooden frame and a spring escapement. The device did not gain popularity - few people wanted to move around the kitchen, turned into a minefield with a pistol in every corner.

It is worth noting that the creator was not too original and was inspired by the systems of protection against thieves, which were quite common in the 19th century: a revolver or a gun was pointed at the window through which an intruder could get through, and the trigger was activated by a fishing line from the frame. The classic mousetrap with a wire frame on a spring will not be patented until 12 years later.

And a bit more

Micro camera for the Colt 38 revolver caliber: an invention shrouded in mystery again. Only this photograph, published by the National Archives of the Netherlands, has survived to this day. Apparently, the device was supposed to capture the target at the moment before or immediately after being hit by a bullet.

Marine shoes: individual catamaran for overcoming small water obstacles. It was powered by ski poles with "crow's feet" at the ends.

Snow Shields: a 1939 innovation originally from Canada. Convenient in case of a blizzard, made of transparent plastic.

Tip collection machine. Invented by the American inventor Russell Oaks in 1955 to speed up the work of hotel staff, as well as save them from the humiliating tradition of waiting with an outstretched hand. If too little was given "for tea", a corresponding sign appeared, however, the principle of operation of this option is not entirely clear.

Nasal stylus: a modern accessory for those who use a smartphone in the bathroom, or their hands are often busy with something at this time. The scope of application, in fact, is limited only by the imagination of the owner. Designed by British designer Dominic Wilcox in 2011.