15 People Testing Their Ridiculous Vintage Inventions
Some inventors were perfectly happy to explain their ideas on paper. Others wanted photographic proof, preferably with someone brave enough to climb inside the contraption. The results are wonderfully strange. There were bicycles designed for swimming, hats that doubled as radios, and protective equipment that covered considerably more of the face than anyone might expect. A few inventions were surprisingly practical, while others seemed to create entirely new problems for their users. Fortunately, photographers were around to capture these experiments before most of the gadgets disappeared. The people posing with them often look completely serious, which is half the fun. Here are 15 vintage inventions being put to the test.
Swimming in Wooden Suits
Three women model spruce-wood bathing suits on a Washington beach in 1929, holding a giant umbrella.
A Bicycle That Goes Swimming
A man demonstrates the Cyclomer in 1932, sitting on a peculiar bicycle fitted with large spherical floats designed to keep it afloat on water.
Catching Pedestrians With a Car
A 1924 Paris demonstration shows a man lying in a scoop attached to the front of a car, an experimental device intended to catch pedestrians.
Preparing for a Snowstorm
Two women model transparent plastic face protectors in Montreal in 1939, with large cone-shaped shields extending outward from their faces.
A Radio Built Into a Hat
A man models a portable radio fitted inside a straw hat in 1931.
The Electrically Heated Police Vest
A traffic officer demonstrates an electrically heated vest in 1932, an experimental design that drew its power from electrical contacts in the street.
A Trailer That Keeps Growing
A 1934 photograph shows an expandable caravan built by a French engineer, with sliding sections designed to provide additional living space.
Skiing With a Sail
A skier demonstrates ski-sailing in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in 1938, holding a large sail designed to catch the wind across the snow.
Taking Flash Photography Seriously
Italian photographer Giovanni Scarabello tests a homemade photographic flash device in 1946, wearing a modified military helmet fitted with his equipment.
A Stroller With Its Own Radio
A 1921 demonstration shows a baby carriage fitted with a radio, antenna, and loudspeaker, with two dolls placed inside instead of actual babies.
When a Vacuum Cleaner Does the Laundry
In a 1951 Amsterdam demonstration, inventor A. van Zutphen shows off a homemade laundry device that uses a vacuum cleaner as part of its machinery.
Unfolding an Emergency Bridge
A 1926 photograph captures an experimental folding bridge invented by L. Deth, designed to extend across a gap and travel on a handcart.
Swimming Lessons With a Tin Can
A swimmer demonstrates an improvised flotation device made from a tin can at Sydney’s Domain Baths around 1935.
A Darkroom on the Sidewalk
A street photographer works beside a portable camera and darkroom around 1930, equipment that allowed customers to receive their portraits without visiting a studio.
The Snowblower Gets Its First Workout
Arthur Sicard demonstrates an early motorized snowblower in Montreal in 1928, using a vehicle designed to scoop up and throw snow away from the road.