A Look at Some of the Weirdest Photos from the Historical Archive

Historical photographs from the 20th century document a wide range of unusual inventions, strange fads, and peculiar moments. These images capture unique solutions to problems, odd social trends, and surprising interactions between people and animals.

In the realm of invention, amateur American inventor Russell E. Oakes was photographed around 1955 wearing some of his problem-solving creations. These included spikes attached to his arms to help him move through crowded department stores and a wind-up spaghetti eater. In a similar spirit, a special device for smoking in bed was demonstrated around 1950 by Garry Moore. The apparatus was designed to prevent bedclothes from burning if a person fell asleep with a lit cigarette.

Fashion and personal grooming also saw their share of strange innovations. On March 21, 1933, women demonstrated a new gadget that allowed them to wear their “hearts on their hair.” This tricky fountain device could outline the initials of a beau on a woman’s hair, and it was expected to replace fraternity pins and diamond rings as a symbol of affection. The “Tweter,” a sweater built for two, became a fad in October 1963. With two sleeves, two turtlenecks, and one shared center armhole, it was designed to carry togetherness to an extreme.

#1 March 16, 1960. This suit built by the Republic Aviation Corporation solved the problem of what “the well-dressed man” would “wear for a stroll over the airless moonscape.” An article in the New York Times promised that the outfit would have its own oxygen supply and that its tripod legs would “enable its wearer to rest by sitting on a perch inside.” The wrench hands were presumably for securing loose screws.

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#2 October 17, 1963. Tommy Harper and Chica Gray share a sweater built for two in a local downtown shop. The Tweter is the newest fad to sweep the country. With two sleeves, two turtlenecks, and one center armhole, it carries togetherness to the ultimate extreme.

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#3 Russell E. Oakes, an amateur American inventor, wearing his problem-solving inventions, which include spikes around his arms which enable him to weave through busy department stores and a wind-up spaghetti eater, circa 1955.

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#4 February 4, 1942. Now that girdle and corset production has reached a new low due to rubber priorities and war conditions, dieting and reducing apparatuses will likely become popular. Here Gail King demonstrates a portable sweat box. It consists of a large cloth bag, with a zipper front, and a small air pump which forces heat and vapor into the bag, enabling one to relax in comfort while taking a steam bath.

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#5 March 21, 1933. Women demonstrate a new gadget that enables young women to wear their “hearts on their hair.” A tricky little fountain gadget outlines the initials of their “best beau” on the hair. It is expected that this vogue will take the place of fraternity pins, diamond rings, etc.

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#6 Circa 1950. Garry Moore uses a special device for smoking to prevent the burning of his bedclothes should he fall asleep with a lit cigarette. Photograph by Bettmann/Corbis.

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#7 April 20, 1951. Without any assistance, Rudolph, one of the stars of Roy Heckler’s Flea Circus, pulls a metal merry-go-round. To pull an equivalent weight, a man would have to haul two hundred tons.

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#8 August 4, 1949. Ann Blyth, film star, taking a bubble bath here with an assortment of gadgets at hand.

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#9 March, 1922. A woman and her pet skunk visit the White House.

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#10 August 9, 1909. Girl in cart harnessed to two turkeys.

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#11 March 29, 1940. Patricia O’Keefe, who weighs only sixty-four pounds, holds two-hundred-pound Wayne Long on her back in an unusual exhibition of strength.

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#12 One needn’t go to California to get vitamin A when it is possible to get it in your office or home, through these quartz lamps. October 16, 1925.

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#13 June 7, 1960. Gaining some extra spring in her step, “Victoria,” a giant red kangaroo, displays perfect forms as she bounces on a trampoline. Trying to outbounce her is George Nissen, a developer of the equipment that’s shaking them up.

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#14 August 5, 1960. Tired of being stared at, this handsome butterfly decided to return the compliment by perching on the nose of Susan Bermann for a close-up look at the little miss. Susan registered cross-eyed amazement at the butterfly’s audacity.

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