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Massage helmet -

If you wanted a head massage back in the 1960s, then you could slip on a massage helmet for the ultimate air-powered scalp relaxation.

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Cat-mew machine -

For anyone who needed a mousetrap, this 1963 mechanical cat from Japan was an option. To scare away rodents, its eyes would light up, and it would meow 10 times every 60 seconds.

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Mass shaving machine -

Men were flocking to barbershops in the 19th century, and to manage the high demand this unusual invention allowed barbers to shave several costumers simultaneously.

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Urban window baby cage -

The urban window baby cage was used in the 1930s to give infants plenty of fresh air. Doctors believed that this would boost their immune systems and help them stay healthy. However, there were some obvious risks of dangling a baby above a city street!

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Doughnut dunker -

Dunking a doughnut into a cup of coffee without getting your fingers wet was a real challenge. But with this gadget, it became a problem of the past...

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Siamese dancing shoes -

Designed for ballroom dancing, these Siamese dancing shoes could help couples stay in sync on the dance floor, whether it was mastering the foxtrot or waltz.

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Cyclomer -

Don't want to abandon your bike when entering the ocean? The cyclomer is just for you! Invented in 1932 in Paris, the bike worked both on land and sea.

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Hip trimmer -

Forget the gym! Back in the '20s, the hip trimmer was the go-to for anyone looking to trim a few inches off their waistline by simply jiggling fat away.

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Yodel meter -

Before auto-tune, there was the yodel meter! The device, photographed here in 1925, could measure the pitch of a singer’s voice. A bizarre but interesting gadget.

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Pramobile -

In the 1920s, parents and their baby could hit the streets with the pramobile. Modern-day versions of this design allow parents to tow their youngsters in trailers that clip on behind bicycles.

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Dynasphere -

The dynasphere was invented by John Purves as an alternative road vehicle in the 1930s. Drivers, however, may have gone head over heels if they tried to brake too hard!

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Illuminated tires -

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. wanted to brighten up tires with 18 internal light bulbs. Despite being well received, the flashy tires were too costly and impractical to produce on a large scale.

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Mustache shield -

The mustache shield was designed to keep facial hair out of the way when drinking and eating. It was patented by Virgil A. Gates in 1876.

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Rubber bumper -

The first few decades of the 20th century were a dangerous time to be on the road, with thousands of deaths and injuries. Inventor A.J. Grafham tried to make it safer in the 1930s with a rubber bumper that promised to protect pedestrians from injuries if they were hit by a speeding car.

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Spaghetti aid -

Sorry to any Italian! If swirling spaghetti around the fork got tricky, this invention was there to help with just that.

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Horse gas mask -

Developed by Our Dumb Friends League, a humane society in London, England, the horse gas mask was meant as a precaution against gas attacks during World War II.

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Butter protector -

In the 1950s, no one wanted to accidentally drag their sleeves through a stick of butter while reaching across the table. So inventor Russell E. Oakes solved that problem with this spider-like gadget.

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Anti-bandit briefcase -

This anti-bandit bag would release its contents all over the ground if a thief tried to steal it. It wasn't as frighting as a similar bag of the time, which would release a smoking chemical vapor if someone tried to steal it.

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The face glove -

Developed in the US, the face glove mask was designed to refine and preserve youthful skin. Resembling something from a creepy horror film, the main problem was the treatment didn't result in anything...

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Water taxi -

For travelers who needed to cross the rivers around Somerville, Massachusetts, they could hail this water taxi for on-demand service.

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Amphibocycle -

Lakes and rivers didn't have to interrupt a blissful bike ride. In the early 1900s, the amphibocycle allowed cyclists to keep going over water.

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Ice age-resistant boats -

Back in the 1600s in the Netherlands, there was a fear of an impending ice age. So they designed a boat that they believed had the capacity to transport goods over frozen rivers and lakes.

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Family bicycle -

Invented by Charles Steinlauf, this four-person bicycle was made so that the whole family could enjoy the pleasures of a bike ride. It even had a dedicated seat for a seamstress to continue her sewing work on the go!

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Rain goggles for race drivers -

Wipers were not just on racecar windshields in the 1930s. They also came on special rain goggles that drivers would wear in open cars.

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Ornithopter -

In 1963, engineer Alan Stewart created the ornithopter, a human flight machine designed to flap its wings like a bird. Smaller versions are now used at some airports to scare away pigeons and seagulls.

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Churchill’s pressure egg -

Aircraft pressurization hadn’t yet become a thing during the time of Winston Churchill, so the Institute of Aviation Medicine built him his very own pressurized pod for safer flying. Unfortunately, it was rejected for its size and weight.

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Portable hat radio -

Decades before the Walkman, iPod, and smartphones in general, listening to the radio on the move became a reality with a portable hat radio.

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Rolling bridge -

The rolling bridge was a British invention that emerged during the Victorian era. The invention served as an alternative to the traditional bridge, and enabled the user to move across water on a rolling platform that was attached to rails. Not very practical at all!

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The gas-resistant stroller -

When World War II hit, gas-resistant strollers were designed to protect babies and toddlers from gas attacks during possible air raids.

Sources: (All That's Interesting) (Insider) (History Hit)

See also: Accidental food mistakes: History's most delicious mistakes

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