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20 Vintage Tech Inventions We Never Even Heard of Today

Edited By: Natalia J.
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Many of the technologies invented by the previous generations have greatly contributed to the tech advancements we associate with the 21st century, and we should really appreciate those vintage tech advancements. However, there are also those inventions that we would consider no more than a beautiful nicknack, a mysterious odd contraption, and even a safety and health concern today! Let’s take a look at some of these incredible and now-obsolete vintage tech inventions.

1. This dangerous-looking one-wheel motorcycle was invented by Italian M. Goventosa de Udine in 1931 and it could reach the maximum speed of 150 km per hour (93 Mph)

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions This dangerous-looking one-wheel motorcycle was invented by Italian M. Goventosa de Udine in 1931 and it could reach the maximum speed of 150 km per hour (93 Mph)
Image Source: Flickr

2. This 300-year-old mystery machine is located at the Palafoxiana Library in Puebla, and all it does is it lets you have up to 7 books open at once

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions This 300-year-old mystery machine is located at the Palafoxiana Library in Puebla, and all it does is it lets you have up to 7 books open at onc
Image Source: Reddit

3. This contraption is a so-called "Morrison shelter”, which was used during WWII as protection from collapsing ceilings caused by 'Blitz' bombing raids 

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions This contraption is a so-called "Morrison shelter”, which was used during WWII as protection from collapsing ceilings from 'Blitz' bombing raids
Image Source: Reddit
Related Article: These Failed Inventions Were Supposed To Change the World

4. Behold Jay Ohrberg's 'double-wide' limousine. Fun fact: the same person created the 'American dream' super limo

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions Behold Jay Ohrberg's 'double-wide' limousine. Fun fact: the same person created the 'American dream' super limo
Image Source: Reddit

5. TV Glasses, the 1960s predecessor of the Google Glass created by Hugo Gernsback, also failed

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions TV Glasses, the 1960s predecessor of the Google Glass, also failed

Image Source: Reddit

6. This big boy is a Kodak K-24 camera. It was used by the American forces during WW2 for aerial photography

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions This big boy is a Kodak K-24 camera. It was used by the American forces during WW2 for aerial photography
Image Source: Reddit
Related Article: 25 Pictures Showing How People in the Past Imagined the Future

7. "Motorola Vice President John F. Mitchell showing off the DynaTAC portable radiotelephone in New York City in 1973"

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions"Motorola Vice President John F. Mitchell showing off the DynaTAC portable radio telephone in New York City in 1973"
Image Source: Reddit

8. Two-horn listening devices like this one located at Bolling Field in Washington, DC, in 1921 were used before the invention of radar to locate planes

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions Two-horn listening devices like this one located at Bolling Field in Washington, DC, in 1921 were used before the invention of radar to locate planes
Image Source: Reddit

9. Now this Robo-Vac vacuum design from Whirlpool’s 'Miracle Kitchen of the Future' display from 1959 is pretty close to modern-day robot vacuums

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions Now this Robo-Vac vacuum design from Whirlpool’s Miracle Kitchen of the Future display from 1959 is pretty close to modern-day robot vacuums
Image Source: Reddit

10. This contraption is called the 'Isolator'. It was created by Hugo Gernsback to "insulate the senses" in order to avoid outside distractions in 1925.

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions This contraption is called the 'Isolator'. It was created by Hugo Gernsback to "insulate the senses" in order to avoid outside distractions in 1925
Image Source: Reddit
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11. What the inside of an old calculator looks like from the side

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions What the inside of an old calculator looks like from the side
Image Source: Reddit

12. These motorized roller-skates allowed door-to-door salesman to zip from door to door at a higher speed (1961)

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions These motorized roller-skates allowed door-to-door salesman zip from door to door at a higher speed (1961)
Image Source: Reddit
Related Article: These Cool Forgotten Inventions Deserve Another Chance

13. "1911: Chester McDuffee and his ADS diving suit, aluminum alloy weighing 485 lbs/200 kg"

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions 1911: Chester McDuffee and his ADS diving suit, aluminum alloy weighing 485 lbs/200 kg
Image Source: Reddit

14. These mini bikes for your feet from the 1910s don't look safe at all!

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions, These mini bikes for your feet from the 1910s don't look safe at all!

Image Source: Reddit

15. This is the Philco Predicta television set. It dates back to the late 1950s and I'd argue that it still looks pretty stylish today.

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions This is the Philco Predicta television set. It dates back to the late 1950s and I'd argue that it still looks pretty stylish today
Image Source: Reddit
Related Article: These Beauty Practices of the Past Look Strange Today…

16. This narrow train was installed in New York’s Holland tunnel to monitor traffic speed in the 1950s

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions This narrow train was installed in New York’s Holland tunnel to monitor traffic speed in the 1950s
Image Source: Reddit

17. This creepy thing is actually the world's oldest surviving diving suit. It's affectionately called 'The Old Gentleman' and it dates back to 1860

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions This creepy thing is actually the world's oldest surviving diving suit. It's affectionately called 'The Old Gentleman' and it dates back to 1860
Image Source: Reddit

18. "The old 'Telefontornet' telephone tower in Stockholm, Sweden, with approximately 5,500 telephone lines (c. 1890)"

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions "The old "Telefontornet" telephone tower in Stockholm, Sweden, with approximately 5,500 telephone lines (c. 1890)"
Image Source: Reddit

19. This 350-year-old pocket watch may not be particularly practical today, but the very fact that it's carved from a single Colombian emerald makes it an art piece

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions This 350-year-old pocket watch may not be particularly practical today, but the very fact that it's carved from a single Colombian emerald makes it an art piece
Image Source: Reddit

20. A rail zeppelin side by side a steam train in Berlin, Germany (1931)

Odd Vintage Tech Inventions A rail zeppelin side by side a steam train in Berlin, Germany (1931)
Image Source: Reddit
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