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16 Vintage Photos of Bizarre and Strange Inventions That Somehow Existed

History Nostalgia Vintage Photos May 22, 2025

Last Updated on May 23, 2025 by Matt Staff

Each of these snapshots captures a moment when creators dared to solve everyday problems with quirky contraptions that feel more like science-fiction props than practical tools. Get yourself good and ready to marvel, laugh, and maybe even feel inspired as we journey through a collection of 16 bizarre, generally unforgettable ideas that somehow made it off the drawing board and into real life.

1. Mapmakers before the invention of AutoCAD

Two men in shirts and ties lie on a large, detailed architectural blueprint, using rulers and drafting tools as they work on the floor.
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2. Now that’s a handy two-horned listening device

A person stands in a field, listening through large, horn-shaped acoustic devices mounted on a metal frame. Buildings and trees are visible in the background. The photo is in black and white.
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3. Get a hold of this revolver camera

A black-and-white close-up of a revolver with a camera attached below the barrel. To the left, there is a vertical strip of five smaller images, each showing different scenes or objects.
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4. The snowstorm masks were not playing around

Two women in vintage clothing wear large, transparent plastic cones over their faces, extending outward like beaks, possibly as an early form of protective mask. The photo appears to be black and white and from the early 20th century.
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5. The nuclear bomb shelters of olden times certainly had a Fallout vibe to them

A woman stands on top of a concrete bomb shelter, while another woman climbs out of a hatch on the side. The shelter is labeled "Economy Family Type A-Bomb Shelter" with an illustration of a falling bomb.
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6. Get a load of these comfort lawnmowers

A woman sits inside a futuristic, dome-covered electric vehicle on grass, holding a drink and speaking to a man lounging nearby. The scene appears retro, suggesting mid-20th-century technology and style.
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7. I mean, the wooden bathing suits just sound like a whole vibe

Four women wearing vintage swimsuits made of wood, posing together and smiling by the water, in a black-and-white photograph. One woman is lifted off the ground by two others.
absurdlandhistory

8. When in doubt, I guess try for the automatic tip requester

A person in a suit carries suitcases and wears a mechanical device with a fake hand and a sign reading "NO SALE" attached to their back. The background is neutral.
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9. You’ve got to love the ingenuity behind the soup-cooling spoon

A man in a suit and glasses closely examines a spoon with a small mechanical device attached to it, featuring gears and a tiny windmill. He appears focused and absorbed in his work.
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10. This whole sunning chair position seems just a tad bit intense

A person lies face down on a woven lawn chair with their head through the back, reading a book on a small table below. A cup and plate are also on the table, and the scene is set outdoors on grass.
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11. Spaghetti spinners are where it’s at

A man wearing a bib eats spaghetti using a fork attached to a power drill. He looks amused, and there is a glass of water and a vase of flowers in the background.
absurdlandhistory

12. The Hamblin Glasses were certainly their own look

A person lying in bed wears prism glasses that allow them to read a book while looking straight up, holding the book above their chest.
absurdlandhistory

13. You’ve got to love the suntan lotion dispenser

A woman in vintage clothing stands by a “Sun Tan” machine, holding a hose and looking at her watch, demonstrating an old-fashioned self-tanning device at an exhibition.
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14. Yes, this is the way to decrease pedestrian accidents

A man pedals a bike mounted above a sewing machine, with a girl sitting on the sewing machine and a boy pedaling from below. They are outdoors in an urban setting.
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15. Behold, the anti-bandit bag

A man in a suit stands on steps outside a building, dumping the contents of a briefcase—papers and folders—into the air.
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16. The feet brush was lacking in practicality, to say the very least

A woman in shorts and a striped shirt stands in a kitchen, reading a book and looking down at a small black puppy on the floor near her feet. A round table and refrigerator are visible in the background.
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