Cars
Brake Reaction Time
In the mid 1930s, Dr. Harry DeSilva of the Massachusetts State College at Amherst created a brake reaction test to measure how quickly drivers can step on the brake in response to a red light. He took it around the country and tested thousands of people.People in their mid 20s generally had the quickest reaction times, and then times declined with age, which wasn't a surprise. Slightly more surprising was that short people generally had faster responses than tall people. From Time magazine (Aug 1935):
Time - Aug 26, 1935
Democrat and Chronicle - Mar 15, 1936
Posted By: Alex - Fri Mar 17, 2017 -
Comments (4)
Category: Motor Vehicles, Cars, Psychology, 1930s
Have you installed a thermidor in your automobile?
In 1975, the Federal Energy Administration (FEA) conducted a telephone survey about energy conservation and included the question, "Have you installed a thermidor in your automobile?"Five percent of the people who took the survey stated that they had. Therefore, the FEA concluded that 5 percent of the survey takers were lying in their responses, because Thermidor is a month in the French revolutionary calendar.
Though, to be fair, Thermidor does sound like it could be some kind of heating device.
The Minneapolis Star - Sep 11, 1975
Posted By: Alex - Fri Feb 03, 2017 -
Comments (6)
Category: 1970s, Cars
World’s Oldest Active Salesman: 1939
Jump to 3:12 for this feature. I hope I move as good at that age as Charles Thurston did.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jan 30, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Business, Human Marvels, 1930s, Cars
Irv Pollock, Auto Dealer
According to this verbal portrait of the era,, the Toledo, Ohio, car-dealership scene of the 40s, 50s and 60s was a vibrant, competitive time. Certainly a dealer would want to come up with wild ads to stand out. Irv Pollock must have felt that way anyhow!
Note: you might have to scroll left or right at the links to see the original ad.
Original ad here.
Original ad here.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jan 07, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: Business, Advertising, Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, Regionalism, 1940s, 1950s, Cars
Peggy: American Legion “Flying” Parade Car
Posted By: Paul - Thu Dec 29, 2016 -
Comments (3)
Category: Cult Figures and Artifacts, Eccentrics, Corporate Mascots, Icons and Spokesbeings, Twentieth Century, Cars
Let the Dog Drive
Original story here.
Original story here.
From THE NEW YORK TIMES for November 7, 1916.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Dec 20, 2016 -
Comments (5)
Category: Dogs, 1910s, Cars
Automatic Devil Dog Car Alarm
Contrary to the delightful ad, alarm did not speak phrases, but merely sounded the horn, as with modern car alarms.
See the actual device here, with explanation.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Dec 13, 2016 -
Comments (2)
Category: Crime, Technology, 1930s, Cars
The Bathtub by Bob Reisner (1969)
If you couldn't have the real thing, you could always get the model kit.
The kit assembled at this site.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Nov 18, 2016 -
Comments (5)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Eccentrics, 1960s, Cars
Gadget-Filled Car
Posted By: Paul - Wed Oct 26, 2016 -
Comments (2)
Category: Inventions, 1930s, Cars
Jimmie Lynch: Death Dodger
More info here.
And here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Oct 14, 2016 -
Comments (0)
Category: Daredevils, Stuntpeople and Thrillseekers, 1930s, Cars
| Who We Are |
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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, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. 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. Contact Us |