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The fast pace of technology change in the 1920s brought us the lie detector, traffic signal, bubble gum and Penicillin. An all-electronic moving-image television system somewhat similar to that used today was invented and demonstrated in 1929. The 1930s were not less invention-intensive bringing us the jet engine, helicopter, tea bags, sticky tape, ballpoint pen and the first photocopier.
However, somewhere between these great world-changing inventions there were some fun and sometimes even hilarious inventions the world has forgotten.
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| All terrain car able to descend slopes up to 65 degrees (England, 1936) |
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| The Cyclomer, a bicycle on land and water can ride with a load of 120 pounds (Paris 1932) |
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| Hamblin glasses. A pair of spectacles especially designed for reading in bed (England 1936) |
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| Bulletproof glass, demonstration by the best rifle man of the New York police, 1931 |
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| Kind of shovel on a car. Purpose: reducing the number of casualties among pedestrians (Paris 1924) |
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| Electrically heated vest, developed for the traffic police in the United States. The power is supplied by electric contacts in the street (USA 1932) |
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| Extensible caravan, built by a French engineer, 1934 |
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| Used to protect ones face from snowstorms. Canada, Montreal, 1939 |
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| In 1938 the first wireless newspaper was sent from WOR radiostation in New York. Photo shows children reading the children’s page of a Missouri paper |
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| Folding bridge for emergencies, invented by L. Deth can easily be transported on a handcart (Netherlands, 1926) |
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| Gas War Resistant Pram (England, Hextable, 1938) |
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| Early GPS (1932) |
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| Early GPS (1932) |
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| Portable radio in a straw hat, made by an American inventor, 1931 |
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| A group of youngsters tied a bike tyre around the body as a swimming aid (Germany 1925) |
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| One wheel motorcycle (invented by Italian M. Goventosa de Udine). Maximum speed: 150 kilometers per hour ( 93 Mph), 1931 |
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| Piano especially designed for people who are confined to bed (UK 1935) |
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| Pram provided with a radio, including antenna and loudspeaker, to keep the baby quiet (USA 1921) |
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| Colt 38 carrying a small camera that automatically takes a picture when you pull the trigger. At the left: six pictures taken by the camera (New York, 1938) |