Appliances
Atomic-Powered Vacuum Cleaners
Alex Lewyt, owner of the Lewyt Vacuum Corporation, has been mocked for his 1955 prediction that vacuum cleaners would one day be atomic-powered.But he also predicted self-guided, robotic vacuums, and he was right about that.
Louisville Courier Journal - May 19, 1955
Albuquerque Tribune - Jun 7, 1955
Below: a 1950 ad for Lord Calvert whiskey that, for some reason, featured Alex Lewyt. Note the vacuum cleaner in the glass case behind him.
Posted By: Alex - Fri Aug 26, 2022 -
Comments (4)
Category: Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, Appliances, 1950s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
Follies of the Madmen #520
I have never thought of a percolator as sexy before, but I guess I was misguided...
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Nov 22, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Business, Advertising, Domestic, Appliances, Magazines, Sex Symbols, 1970s
Follies of the Madmen #482
A kind of housewife voodoo.
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jul 10, 2020 -
Comments (6)
Category: Business, Advertising, Appliances, 1950s, Christmas
Pressure Cooker Catastrophes
Source.
Many other gruesome incidents here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Mar 04, 2020 -
Comments (2)
Category: Accidents, Death, Domestic, Appliances
Follies of the Madmen #420
Commies were a useful foil to sell things.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Mar 28, 2019 -
Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Appliances, Historical Figure, 1950s, Russia
Follies of the Madmen #414
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Feb 25, 2019 -
Comments (3)
Category: Business, Advertising, Technology, Sex Symbols, Appliances, 1960s
Follies of the Madmen #413
Thousands of microscopic ballerina feet beat your carpet clean.
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Feb 17, 2019 -
Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Surrealism, Appliances, 1960s
Follies of the Madmen #343
Why is hubby vacuuming during relaxed beer-and-pretzels hour? OCD? Submissive ritual with dominant mistress? Your guess is as good as the copywriter's!
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Dec 26, 2017 -
Comments (5)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Domestic, Appliances, 1950s, Alcohol
Follies of the Madmen #341
Sweeping up the crumbs from a toast carpet is a thankless task.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Dec 14, 2017 -
Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Domestic, Appliances, 1940s
Worst Appliance Innovation Ever
"Sit right down and rest your elbows on these convenient patented elbow warmers."
No idea why this great idea did not catch on.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Nov 18, 2017 -
Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Appliances, 1950s, Pain, Self-inflicted and Otherwise
| 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 |