These pictures feature strange historical inventions that, although relatively rare, occasionally really did catch on. The strange inventions show creative efforts from the first half of the 20th century (and later) to enable individuals control the demands of daily living. Every year the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issues hundreds of thousands of patents for fresh ideas. Among these inventions,…
There is an amazing range of old cameras in this unusual collection; some of them were cleverly hidden in common objects. From a camera concealed in a matchbox to one disguised as a pocket watch for covert operations, these clever inventions from yesteryear—some from the 1880s—showcase themselves. Among these unique cameras were ones designed to resemble a book, a package…
Set off a wonderful adventure as we enter the center of the kitchen, where little appliances have silently changed our daily routine. This post will reveal the fascinating development of vintage toasters, therefore revealing the magic behind these beloved cooking allies. The main technical challenge in toaster development around the turn of the 20th century was the creation of a…
From 6 February 1952 until her death, Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and of 14 other sovereign nations. Her seventy years and seven months was the longest of any British queen. Born at Mayfair, London, Elizabeth was the first child of Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth). Elizabeth’s father became the…
Photographer Philippe Le Tellier took these arresting images of psychedelic fashion in London, which were featured in the Paris Match magazine (October 1967 issue). The 1960s brought the peace movement, hippie communes, and broad movements in music, art, and fashion as well as cultural upheaval. Rejecting commercialization, young rebels embraced psychedelic clothes as a creative mirror of the evolving society….
England ruled as the unquestionably dominant superpower in Queen Victoria’s lifetime. London, its heartbeat, throbbed with the vitality of a busy city. Towering buildings and magnificent palaces were evidence of the riches acquired from a huge colonial empire. Beneft this bright surface, nevertheless, was a sober truth. A sharp contrast to the luxury above, poverty tore at the underbess of…
More than just a brilliant presence in Hollywood’s Golden Age, Cyd Charisse was a dancer whose every step seemed effortlessly flowing but yet incredibly exact, a force of elegance and accuracy. She shared the screen alongside icons like Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain (1952) and Fred Astaire in The Band Waggon (1953), so becoming one of the most…
These old pictures perfectly depict the 1950s attire and attitude of the teenage girls. Fashion at this period was more gender-specific and restrictive than it is now. In all except the most laid-back situations, teenage girls were expected to dress in skirts and dresses. Americans began referring to young people in their society as “teenagers” in 1944. From the start,…
Drinks, clothes, culture, and trends all underwent notable changes at bars in the USA between the 1950s and the 1970s. Tiki bars and cocktail lounges of the 1950s, counterculture bars of the 1960s, and disco bars of the 1970s were among the several bar forms that arose during this time. Post-war wealth defined the 1950s, and the pub scene of…
Once held in particular importance in Soviet society, television came to represent technological advancement and status. Images from the post-World War II era via Perestroika show individuals proudly displaying their first TV sets, therefore expressing the enthusiasm and importance of this once-coveted item. These pictures provide a window into a time when for many families bringing a television home marked…