New Gadget Sews, Rocks and Churns

NOT content with using all her energy to run a sewing machine, an Oregonian housewife devised a plan whereby her sewing machine pedal could be made to do the work of several things at once.

One length of wood was fastened to the machine pedal, for the driving piston. Another length extending over a frame work fulcrum operated the two lengths of wood which served as connecting rods.

When all was ready, the baby’s cradle was attached to one connecting rod, and the churn to the other. Then as she sewed, the baby rocked, and as the baby rocked, the cream was churned.

Giant Vacuum Cleaner
Largest one ever assembled is this 196-pound jumbo made for exhibition purposes. It takes a bit of pushing, but works fine according to Henry Hoover.

This seems like a really, really bad idea for a party game. What questions would you ask to guarantee an interesting evening?
Also, I love how it can also be used as a kissing meter and that the girl who gets kissed is referred to as “the victim”.

view additional pages

Have Fun With a Lie Detector

No use lying or trying to hide your emotions. This little gadget will surely find you out.

By Tony Karp

IF YOU really worked late in the office last night you have nothing to worry about if the wife wants to give you a little going over with the help of this he detector. But, if you were out with the boys, played poker or told her that the smear on your collar is red ink— watch out! This little gadget will give you away.

Read the rest of this entry »

AUTOMOBILE SERVES AS STAMP ALBUM

By making the exterior of his car serve as his album, E. Had-ley, of Casper, Wyo., has assembled one of the world’s strangest postage-stamp exhibits. Five girls worked for six weeks to plaster the machine with the 10,000-odd specimens, which are covered with a protective coat of varnish to shield them from the weather and hardships of the road.

Boxers Wear Fireworks in Novel Bout

Outlined in flame, two asbestos-clad boxers staged a spectacular bout during a recent pyrotechnic display in London, England. Blazing fireworks, attached to the suits of the two performers on jointed frames to permit them freedom of movement, glowed as they sparred in the dark.

SHATTERPROOF GLASS USED IN SPECTACLES
Hammer blows cannot shatter the glass in safety spectacles recently developed in England. Under the impact of the metal, the lenses crack as does the safety glass used in automobiles, but the broken fragments will not scatter. The glasses are designed for athletes, workers, and others who run the risk of having their spectacles struck by flying objects.

Egg-Shaped Wheels Pull Through Mud Without Chains

Wheels with “corners” on them may seem useless, but a New York inventor believes such “flat” wheels may replace the track-type drive on military vehicles and tractors. Each driving unit is actually a pair of oval wheels synchronized with their long axles at right angles to each other. This means that the point of one wheel and the flat part of the other are in contact with the ground at the same time.

Read the rest of this entry »

This Trained Monkey Spends Most of Time in His Master’s Workshop
TINKERING with tools has earned this trained monkey at left the title of “house carpenter” on the estate of Cherry Kearten, famous African explorer and authority on animals. The chimpanzee was brought back from Africa after one of his expeditions and tamed and trained. He was allowed to wander about the estate at will and one day walked into Mr. Kearten’s workshop. His attendants couldn’t find him for a day and a half, and when he was finally discovered, he was busily engaged in nailing small pieces of board around the shop. Now he has a separate corner in the workshop and spends hours with the tools that have been provided for him.

Two Pedal but Only One Steers on Bike with Rumble Seat
Rumble seats for bicycles—a new version of the “bicycle built for two.” It is an Australian’s idea. The “aft” seat was mounted low for the junior member of the family, who can help pedal but has to let dad do all the steering. The diameter of the rear wheel is only half that of the front.

That certainly is strange.

Bird Embryo In Apricot

ORNITHOLOGISTS in California were confronted with a puzzle when an apricot was found there with a well-developed bird embryo inside it.

Making Odd Masks Is New Hobby

MAKING masks of celebrities from unique materials is a new hobby for the artistically inclined. Below are shown two of the masks, one of George Bernard Shaw, the famous Irish author, and the other of Greta Garbo, movie star. Mr. Shaw’s face is made from tin, his whiskers from brushes. Garbo’s hair is made from steel wool.

I’m wondering what kind of emergency this would be good for? I suppose you could be camping somewhere when suddenly out of nowhere you get hit by a flash flood. You could all jump on your mattresses and float to safety. Or you could tow it behind your fishing boat…

Mattress Doubles as Life Raft

Taken into the wilds on fishing and boating trips, a new “unsinkable” mattress provides safety as well as comfort, for it can be used as a life raft in case of emergency. Made of kapok floss, the mattress will support four people in the water, according to its maker. Its weight of only thirty-seven pounds minimizes the load to be carried. The photograph above shows a striking demonstration of its buoyancy before interested sportsmen at a Sharon, Mass., rod and gun club.