Weird Universe
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Category:
1900's

Strange Iconography

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A Scottish child and a Native-American child pour hair tonic on the head of an elderly Anglo man and massage it in, while a child soldier out of some European comic opera stands by with sword upraised in tribute.

The only sensible part of this weird iconography is the Scottish kid. Once upon a time, right up to, oh, the 1960s, "anything Scottish = cheap and economical" was standard advertising shorthand.

Original ad here, with accompanying text.
Posted By: Paul | Date: Mon May 07, 2012 | Comments (10)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Stereotypes and Cliches, Hair Styling, 1900's, Weapons, Hair and Hairstyling

O. J. Wangen, Evil Paint Seller

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It makes no difference whether you want your house painted or not; whether you want to use Sherwin-Williams or another brand; whether you plan to do it yourself or employ a different company. None of this counts in the face of O. J. Wangen's plan for world domination. "Let us have our way... We will have it, all or part of it in the end."

Original ad here. (Scroll down at link.)
Posted By: Paul | Date: Sun Mar 18, 2012 | Comments (6)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Evil, Newspapers, Interior Decorating, 1900's

Long Lance



I'm trespassing on Alex's territory here, with an hour-length documentary on what was once a famous hoax.

Here's the story in a nutshell.

The Vacuum Cap

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Original ad here. (Scroll down.)
Posted By: Paul | Date: Mon Jan 16, 2012 | Comments (3)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Frauds, Cons and Scams, 1900's, Hair and Hairstyling

The Extraordinary Catalog of Peculiar Inventions

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I've just finished reading the fine book about weird fraternal lodge devices from a century ago. It would make a fine gift for any WU-vie.

Dr. Olgierd Lindan’s Collection of Unusual Medical Devices & Antique Electronics

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WU-vies will find much to amuse them on this page of weird medical gadgets.

One of the prime charlatans whose stuff is on display was a fellow named Dr. Albert Abrams pictured to the right.

You can read a book he wrote here.
Posted By: Paul | Date: Sat Nov 05, 2011 | Comments (5)
Category: Body, Frauds, Cons and Scams, Medicine, Body Fluids, 1910's, 1920's, 1900's, Nineteenth Century

The Burgler’s Slide for Life

This is kind of boring--until the burglar goes out the window, and the guard dog follows!

Posted By: Paul | Date: Fri May 08, 2009 | Comments (2)
Category: Domestic, Movies, Stupid Criminals, Dogs, 1900's

The Bicycle Shower


Combining your workout with a shower could save some time, I suppose. Though I'm not sure if that was the intended purpose of this invention. From the Chicago Tribune, Jan 18, 1903.
Posted By: Alex | Date: Tue Apr 21, 2009 | Comments (15)
Category: Bathrooms, Exercise and Fitness, Hygiene, Inventions, 1900's

How to Tell the Birds from the Flowers

As children, my sibs and I were utterly fascinated by this weird little book. We studied the drawing for hours. Now you can too, thanks to the magic of the internet!

Posted By: Paul | Date: Fri Apr 17, 2009 | Comments (2)
Category: Animals, Nature, Books, 1900's

Filipino Execution

From the Library of Congress Photo Archives.

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Posted By: Paul | Date: Tue Apr 14, 2009 | Comments (6)
Category: Crime, Death, Government, Officials, Regulations, 1900's, South Pacific
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All original content in posts is Copyright © 2008 by the author of the post, either Alex Boese ("Alex"), Paul Di Filippo ("Paul"), or Chuck Shepherd ("Chuck"). All rights reserved. The banner illustration at the top of this page is Copyright © 2008 by Rick Altergott.