The Atom Blanket
Tuck your kids into bed with the "Atom Blanket" and you know they'll be safe from surprise nuclear attacks!
Source: Newsweek - Apr 26, 1954
Note: Although Newsweek claimed this blanket was widely publicized, I haven't been able to find any references to it in papers and magazines from the 1950s -- beyond the reference in Newsweek itself. Perhaps it was advertised in trade publications that have never been scanned and placed online.
Atom Blanket: An American blanket manufacturer is widely publicizing this lead-lined model ($49.50), said to shield wearers from atomic radiation, fire, and shock 10 miles from blast center. Civil-defense experts have not changed their view that basement shelters are more effective.
Source: Newsweek - Apr 26, 1954
Note: Although Newsweek claimed this blanket was widely publicized, I haven't been able to find any references to it in papers and magazines from the 1950s -- beyond the reference in Newsweek itself. Perhaps it was advertised in trade publications that have never been scanned and placed online.
Comments
Or, maybe Newsweek owned the idea, company, and sales points. 😉
REF: Ben Franklin's quip about fools & money.
REF: Ben Franklin's quip about fools & money.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 11/11/15 at 10:15 AM
Snuggle up in lead? Yeah, right.
As for publicity -- it might have been advertised heavily on radio and tv without leaving a trace. Recordings from back then are very thin on the ground.
As for publicity -- it might have been advertised heavily on radio and tv without leaving a trace. Recordings from back then are very thin on the ground.
Posted by Phideaux on 11/11/15 at 12:27 PM
'Mid the sagebrush and the cactus,
I'll watch the fellas practice
Droppin' bombs through the clean desert breeze.
I'll have on my sombrero,
And of course I'll wear a pair o'
Levis over my lead B.V.D.'s.
I'll watch the fellas practice
Droppin' bombs through the clean desert breeze.
I'll have on my sombrero,
And of course I'll wear a pair o'
Levis over my lead B.V.D.'s.
Posted by KDP on 11/11/15 at 01:53 PM
Kinda like those drills at school where they told us to get under our desks. Yeah, right.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 11/11/15 at 07:19 PM
All those lead-lined blankets made their way into dentists' offices as the things they put on you when they take x-rays.
Posted by ges on 11/12/15 at 09:09 AM
Oh just thought, do you know how many kids chew on their blankets?
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 11/12/15 at 09:14 AM
Better yet, they also shield you from cosmic rays, which are coursing through your body all day, causing infertility, wrinkles and cancer. Think I should get some of these and start an ad campaign.
Posted by RobK on 11/12/15 at 12:39 PM
RobK its aluminum foil for that!
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 11/12/15 at 01:07 PM
If the big one goes off, you can curl up under this and kiss your ass goodbye.
It might provide some fallout protection if you never come out from under it. But how is it supposed to provide "shock protection"?
It might provide some fallout protection if you never come out from under it. But how is it supposed to provide "shock protection"?
Posted by Frank on 11/12/15 at 03:15 PM
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Category: War | Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters | 1950s