1910s
Invention Merit Badge
The Invention Merit Badge has the distinction of being the least-earned boy scout merit badge ever. Only 10 people ever earned it. The primary reason for this being that it required a scout to "invent and patent some useful article," which was a pretty high bar to set. After only three years the scout organization decided it was too much of a challenge and discontinued the badge. So it was only offered from 1911 to 1914. It was eventually replaced in 2010 by an Inventing badge which didn't have the patent requirement.Enthusiasts of scout history have tried to figure out who the 10 winners of the badge were and what they invented, but so far it seems that only one of the patents has been identified. It was a "uniform coat with a removable false sleeve on which Scouts could sew merit badges and rank badges," patented by Graeme Thomas Smallwood of Washington, D.C.
More info: Scouting Magazine, "History of the Invention Merit Badge" [pdf]
Graeme Smallwood
Posted By: Alex - Fri Oct 05, 2018 -
Comments (0)
Category: Clubs, Fraternities and Other Self-selecting Organizations, Inventions, 1910s
Mystery Gadget 65
What's this machine do?
The answer is here.
And after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Thu Sep 20, 2018 -
Comments (5)
Category: Technology, 1910s
Life preserver suitcase
Just imagine if everyone on the Titanic had had one of these! (I'm guessing it must have been inspired by that disaster).
The Kiowa Journal - Oct 7, 1915
Posted By: Alex - Wed Aug 22, 2018 -
Comments (3)
Category: Boats, Inventions, Travel, 1910s
Boy-Scout Cigarettes
On sale early in the twentieth century. The story is that they were definitely NOT endorsed by the Boy Scouts. Eventually the Scouts got legislation passed making it illegal for companies to use their name.
Winfield Daily Free Press - Nov 7, 1917
Posted By: Alex - Thu Aug 02, 2018 -
Comments (5)
Category: Smoking and Tobacco, 1910s
Artwork Khrushchev Probably Would Not Have Liked 14
Wood Gaylor, "Rites of Spring"
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jun 29, 2018 -
Comments (4)
Category: Art, 1910s, Russia
Hat Guard
Back in the day when the theft of hats from hatracks was an ongoing problem, Frank P. Snow of Los Angeles patented this invention designed to inflict pain on any would-be hat thieves.A thief could take the hat, but if he tried to put it on, a "guarding prong" would jab into his skull. The prong locked in place and could only be moved if you knew the code to the combination lock.
Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office - June 2, 1914
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jun 14, 2018 -
Comments (2)
Category: Inventions, Headgear, 1910s
Follies of the Madmen #367
Godzilla-sized soap bar terrorizes city.
Original ad here (page 258).
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jun 04, 2018 -
Comments (7)
Category: Business, Advertising, Hygiene, 1910s
Conversation Hose
Sending messages via hosiery.This was like the 1910's equivalent of social media.
Harrisburg Telegraph - Feb 19, 1916
Posted By: Alex - Sun Feb 18, 2018 -
Comments (3)
Category: Fashion, 1910s
Super-Greater New York
We can still do this. A nice walk to the Statue of Liberty on Landfill Manhattan.
Source of document.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Feb 05, 2018 -
Comments (6)
Category: Engineering and Construction, Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, Urban Life, 1910s
Kissing Screen
Popular Science Monthly - Feb 1920
Oakland Tribune - May 1, 1910
The Day Book - Feb 19, 1912
Posted By: Alex - Sat Feb 03, 2018 -
Comments (4)
Category: Hygiene, 1910s
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction books such as Elephants on Acid. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Our banner was drawn by the legendary underground cartoonist Rick Altergott. Contact Us |