Follies of the Madmen #268

This was one of a series of postwar ads for magnesium, which illustrated how the miracle metal would allow consumers to do things nobody would ever want to do, like carry a baby carriage on your shoulder.

Original ad here.

Books Selected and endorsed for Pure Weirdness by Your WU Team

Who We Are
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 forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Comments

I once set an old worn-out Volkswagen crankcase on fire for giggles. Those were made of a magnesium alloy and I tell you that I'll never do that again. Later engines used an aluminum alloy for durability and safety reasons.

Posted by KDP on 12/21/15 at 09:26 AM

We bought some down at the pharmacy in little glass vials. Expensive stuff!

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 12/21/15 at 10:26 AM

When our Kansas company bought out Halibrand wheels, the lathe operators had never turned magnesium before. Cutting it like he would aluminum, he set the whole chip tray on fire. Fortunately we had class D fire extinguishers.

Posted by GFinKS on 12/21/15 at 01:45 PM

Yeah, what is it about companies, training on new materials, equipment, and procedures is not optional and when accidents happen due to the lack of it the employer not the employee is solely responsible. Sorry, just a frustrated worker.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 12/21/15 at 09:29 PM

Ah... B B B itch itch itch... Can't you women get into the Christmas spirit already... Running around complaining, moaning & groaning about your plight as a female, nobody loves you, the whole world is against you!!!! Your butt looks fat in that new dress you just bought and THE HOME SHOPPING NETWORK won't let you talk to on-air personalities any more because you said you didn't like the blue onion saver last time you called in!

Well, we men have it rough too! We have to find a tree, heft it up onto the car, drag it into the house then set it up and make sure it gets enough water so it doesn't catch fire the next time SOMEBODY'S temper flares up! Then we're supposed to be able to lie, straight faced, about how your butt doesn't look fat(ter) in that dress than it did in the skinny jeans, and whose supposed to be paying for all that crap you bought off the TV!!?? And, just how many times do you HAVE to join the 700 club anyhow?? Is it a weekly thing???

Ah.... coffee's ready!!!

Whew.... I feel better... how about y'all?? 💋

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 12/22/15 at 01:10 AM

You put up a tree Mr. Bah Humbug????

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 12/22/15 at 07:56 AM

Nope, just ranting about it in case my wife goes off her rocker one of these years. I'm getting old and have to write this stuff down so I don't forget it.

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 12/22/15 at 09:35 AM

Aw, don't worry, Expat... just put up a magnesium Christmas tree next year.

Posted by Richard Bos on 12/24/15 at 01:01 PM

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.