Imitations, Forgeries, Rip-offs and Faux
The replica Roman coin that fooled a museum
Nov 1971: Nine-year-old Fiona Gordon realized that the supposedly ancient Roman coin on display at the South Shields Museum was actually a promotional replica given away by a soft drinks company, Robinsons.
Newport News Daily Press - Nov 3, 1971
I'm pretty sure that the coin below is similar (if not identical) to the one that was on display at the museum. In 1971, Robinsons sent these coins to anyone who mailed in enough bottle caps. (Source: CoinCommunity.com)
Posted By: Alex - Tue Feb 22, 2022 -
Comments (1)
Category: Imitations, Forgeries, Rip-offs and Faux, Money, Soda, Pop, Soft Drinks and other Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 1970s, Ancient Times
Wine Bottle Dust
A gag gift sold to wine lovers back in 1979.Given how many wineries, with attached gift shops, have sprung up in the past twenty years, I think this would sell even better today. An opportunity awaits for an entrepreneur.
Alexandria Town Talk - Apr 19, 1979
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jan 31, 2022 -
Comments (3)
Category: Imitations, Forgeries, Rip-offs and Faux, Inebriation and Intoxicants, 1970s
Mystery Illustration 83
Which famous sex symbol actress of the Fifties and Sixties is seen here, imitating Elvis Presley?The answer is here.
Or after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 18, 2019 -
Comments (2)
Category: Imitations, Forgeries, Rip-offs and Faux, Movies, Music, Sex Symbols, 1950s, Parody
Paul Frees and the Poster People
Famous and brilliant voice actor Paul Frees does some imitations--but has his characters singing pop songs?!?
Other tracks here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Sep 15, 2018 -
Comments (1)
Category: Imitations, Forgeries, Rip-offs and Faux, Movies, Music, 1970s, Parody
Falsified Soviet Maps
Original article here.
Additional essay here.
More wide-ranging essay on Soviet maps here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Dec 17, 2016 -
Comments (0)
Category: Confusion, Misunderstanding, and Incomprehension, Frauds, Cons and Scams, Imitations, Forgeries, Rip-offs and Faux, Military, 1980s, Russia
Faux Phones
More brilliant criminals here in Ohio in the state capital, Columbus, no less. Apparently some high tech geniuses used rocks to smash in the back door of a Verizon store and took all the display phones. The display phones are dummies, you know like the thieves. Real cell phones are locked in a vault at night due to a previous successful robbery. When they get caught they won't be able to hold their heads up in jail amongst the real criminals.
Posted By: patty - Fri Sep 18, 2015 -
Comments (5)
Category: Imitations, Forgeries, Rip-offs and Faux, Stupid Criminals, Your Daily Loser
Over Achiever
Some kids just build snow men.
Posted By: patty - Sun Mar 22, 2015 -
Comments (5)
Category: Design and Designers, Imitations, Forgeries, Rip-offs and Faux
Zombie Nativity
Have zombies finally jumped the shark?
Picture from Yahoo Images.
Posted By: patty - Tue Dec 23, 2014 -
Comments (2)
Category: Holidays, Imitations, Forgeries, Rip-offs and Faux, Can’t Possibly Be True, Nausea, Revulsion and Disgust
The Strangeloves
Here's the story of a fake band that had to become real.Their big hit:
Curiously enough, when the Strangeloves were marketed in France, they somehow became connected to another contrivance: a new manufactured dance "craze" called "the Monkiss." I can't see that they ever recorded the song heard in the following video, which was really by Rocky Roberts and the Airdales (last video).
Posted By: Paul - Sat May 31, 2014 -
Comments (5)
Category: Imitations, Forgeries, Rip-offs and Faux, Music, 1960s, Europe
The Zimphone
When telephones were the cutting-edge of technology, cheap knockoffs arose. This Radio-Shack-style wired intercom sought to cash in on Ma Bell's high standards. Imagine stringing one mile of wire from your house to your friend's home through the neighborhood.
There are several sets for sale on eBay as I post.
Posted By: Paul - Fri May 16, 2014 -
Comments (4)
Category: Communications, Imitations, Forgeries, Rip-offs and Faux, Technology, 1950s
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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 |