1910s
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 (6)
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
Artwork Khrushchev Probably Would Not Have Liked 9
"Unique Forms of Continuity in Space," 1913 bronze by Umberto Boccioni
More info on the artist.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jan 25, 2018 -
Comments (2)
Category: Art, Avant Garde, 1910s, Russia
Mongolian Box Prison
Source of photo.
Source of drawing.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jan 04, 2018 -
Comments (7)
Category: Crime, Death, Dictators, Tyrants and Other Harsh Rulers, Prisons, 1910s, Asia
On the Good Ship Apple Pie
"Display of Steamship "Gold" made of whole and dried apples. The first Sebastopol Apple Show was held in a tent across from the Petaluma & Santa Rosa Depot in August, 1910 and promoted local fruit in various creative ways."
Posted By: Paul - Sun Oct 15, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Fairs, Amusement Parks, and Resorts, Food, 1910s
Mystery Illustration 59
The purpose?
Answer here.
And after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Sun Oct 08, 2017 -
Comments (2)
Category: Technology, 1910s
Drip Fire Rifle
Invented by Lance Corporal William Charles Scurry during WWI, while fighting in Gallipoli. The Drip Fire Rifle was a way to jerry-rig a rifle using readily available materials so that it would randomly fire on its own. The Australian forces set up a whole bunch of these Drip Fire Rifles, and in this way were able to fool the Turkish forces into thinking they were actively manning the front lines, when in fact they were all sneaking away in boats. From abc.net.au:
Posted By: Alex - Sat Sep 16, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Inventions, War, Weapons, 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 |