Imagine getting paid to create retro-futuristic space-age inventions. Throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s, that is exactly what commercial artist and futurist Arthur Radebaugh got to do.
Imagine being able to call someone when you *weren’t at home*! It was a big deal back in the day. See the history of vintage payphones & phonebooths here!
Vintage View-Master reels offered a trip into another dimension – ‘with stereo color pictures so real, you’ll feel you are actually part of the scene!’
How much of today’s tech did Nikola Tesla predict a century ago? Here’s a look back at some spot-on predictions from Nikola Tesla — along with a few, that, well… we haven’t quite seen yet.
Ulcers bothering you? Try Silly Putty (1951) by Glenn Williams Well, sir, I’m here to tell you that in the past couple of days, I’ve
Never having to come up from underground? Cars routinely going 130 MPH? Completely automated cleaning? Solar power dominant? See these and many more predictions from 1906!
Today’s toddlers ride in style in the sleek and racy, brightly-colored, low-slung plastic numbers like the Big Wheel from Marx – that whiz, spin, skid, slide, race and even roar.
Wherever you look today, electric service makes good things possible. Imagine what it’ll do for you tomorrow. Maybe there will be flying cars – or even flying campers that can plug in for recharging.
The ’80s color-changing liquid pregnancy tests were is simple to do and easy to read. They said you’re pregnant if the liquid turns a distinct color, and not pregnant if it remains clear.
Back when radium was first discovered, people loved that it was new and cool and it glowed… so companies decided to put it into a variety of products, like this radioactive X-radium cookware. Yeah, that was a bad idea.
This new, revolutionary wall-mounted refrigerator and freezer that hangs from the wall is a completely new and advanced concept of modern living. Truly, it is the most convenient and magnificent refrigerator-freezer ever produced!
‘Just add water and you’ve got instant life!’ they said. ‘Over 150 amazing Sea-Monkeys born ALIVE before YOUR eyes!’ But, oh, the disappointment when the critters didn’t look anything like the pictures on the package.
The inventor of the dishwashing machine The patron saint of the emancipated woman of the future will be Josephine Garis Cochrane, the inventor of the
Reel-to-reel tape recorders hit the commercial market in the 1940s — and their evolution was boosted by the financial support of none other than Bing Crosby, who saw great potential in the technology.
Predictions of the future from the early 1900s included the idea that a subway shuttle across New York City would be replaced with a moving sidewalk built in three sections, one of which would offer seating.
Free electricity for everyone? It means that if Nikola Tesla succeeds in harnessing the electrical earth currents and putting them to work for man there will be an end to oppressive extortionate monopolies in steam, telephones, telegraphs and the other commercial uses of electricity
Who invented the sewing machine? That really depends on how much progress has to be made for something to be considered ‘invented.’ Find out more!
A look back at the computer age: “Today’s computer revolution is only getting started. In store are amazing new uses for ‘electronic brains’ that will reshape the industry and alter people’s lives.”
They came without warning, captivating the ears of joggers, students, bicycle riders, commuters and roller skaters. Weighing little more than a pound, they pack more sociological punch than a load of hula hoops. They are personal stereos.
A bouncy new baby is wonderful fun – but quite a burden, too! This practical safety crib will make Baby even more fun, because Trimble’s Kiddie-Koop makes baby care easier for you… safer for Baby
Television unveiled by Robert Joyce Tasker Imagine a fire… hot, blistering, roaring and raging through a tenement district, impelled on a hurricane of its own
100 million erasable pens (82 percent of them disposables) were sold in 1982. The two top movers were from Eraser Mate and Scripto.
This summer’s big cube is a maddening Mondrian-colored plastic puzzle, composed of 27 subcubes that rotate on horizontal and vertical axes.
Here’s a look back from 1964 at the career of “American folk hero” Thomas Edison.
Dr Nikola Tesla looks forward to the era when one titanic electrical wireless station shall supply power for the world — tells of other developments that we have good reason to expect
Fortunes in small things “The philosophical maxim, “Nothing is small or insignificant,” is strikingly realized in the history of what seem to be petty inventions.
The Telephone and How We Use It was published by Bell Telephone System in 1951. Geared toward children, the booklet covers the basics of how to use a rotary-dial telephone – the latest technology of the time.
Here’s the original press release that a small California company called Apple released back in January 1984, announcing the launch of their new PC — the first mass-market personal computer featuring both a graphical user interface and a mouse.
Edward Jenner, the discoverer of vaccination – including the smallpox vaccine – and one of the greatest benefactors of the human race, performed his first test experiment in 1796.
They’re known by many names: 45 rpm record inserts, single record adapters, 45 rpm spindle adapters, spider inserts… all terms for the thingie that goes in the middle of an oldie
Hoover Suction Sweeper (patented 1908) Hoover for sanitary cleaning (1920) Immaculate rugs are safe playgrounds for the children. Clean thoroughly to protect childhood’s precious
Professor Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, has witnessed the trial flights of the machine devised by Professor Samuel P Langley, formerly of Pittsburg. Mr Bell makes the following statement…
Who else would you turn to in order to build a better (electrical) mousetrap in the early 20th century? Nikola Tesla would end up filing a US Patent for his improvements on Ben Franklin’s almost 200-year-old lightning rod design.
Within 10 years, hikers may be able to buy a $10 wrist device that will absolutely guarantee they will never get lost.
The Shrinkage of the Planet An essay by Jack London What a tremendous affair it was, the world of Homer, with its indeterminate boundaries, vast
Women: Do you have the ideal figure? Here’s what ‘they’ thought in 1950 
See 130 vintage ’50s house plans used to build millions of mid-century homes that we still live in today 
The real death of a cheerleader story (1985) 
Hershey’s rich cocoa fudge recipe from the ’70s & ’80s 
A 1950s home tour: See inside a small house in San Francisco Want to remember to remember? Our weekly newsletter shows you the latest vintage, old-fashioned & historic stuff that we have published or refreshed during the past seven days. Sign up here.
Note: ClickAmericana.com features authentic historical information, and is not intended to represent current best practices on any topic. Material on this site is provided for education, criticism, commentary, cultural reporting, entertainment, historical reference, and news reporting/analysis.
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