30 Odd Inventions That Had Their Fifteen Minutes Of Fame Then Disappeared Forever

Maximum speed: 150 kilometers per hour ( 93 Mph).

The Cat-Mew Machine was a bizarre Japanese invention from the 1960s designed to scare away mice. It repeatedly played a recorded “meow” to trick rodents into thinking a cat was nearby—though it’s unclear if the mice actually fell for it.

Sort of TomTom, early tripmaster: rolling key map. The map passes the screen in a tempo that depends on the speed of the car.

All terrain car able to descend slopes up to 65 degrees. England, 1936.

Built by Jess Dixon of Andalusia, Ala. Can fly forward, backward or straight up or hover in the air. Runs on road or flys across country. 40 H.P. motor, air cooled, speeds to 100 m.p.h. Kobel Feature Photos, Frankfort, Ind.,1940

The Paternoster lift is like an elevator with no pause button. Instead of stopping at each floor, its open compartments move in a continuous loop, and passengers have to step on and off while it’s still moving.

The Dymaxion Car was a futuristic, teardrop-shaped vehicle designed by Buckminster Fuller in the 1930s. With three wheels, room for 11 passengers, and the ability to turn on a dime, it looked ahead of its time—but its unstable design cut its journey short.

The Dreamachine is a spinning device designed to create a trance-like state when viewed with closed eyes. Invented by Brion Gysin and Ian Sommerville in 1960, it uses flickering light to stimulate the brain and induce vivid visions.

A splayd is a handy utensil that works as a spoon, knife, and fork all in one. It was invented in the 1940s by William McArthur in Sydney, Australia.

Pram provided with a radio, including antenna and loudspeaker, to keep the baby quiet. United States, 1921.

Revolver camera: a Colt 38 carrying a small camera that automatically takes a picture when you pull the trigger. At the left: six pictures taken by the camera. New York, 1938.

Madame A.T. Rowley’s Toilet Mask was a 19th-century beauty invention that looked more like a horror prop than a skincare product. Made of rubber, it was worn overnight to supposedly smooth wrinkles—though it’s hard to say if it worked or just made sleeping incredibly uncomfortable.

The Cycloped was a bizarre attempt at a locomotive, powered not by steam but by a horse walking on a treadmill. Entered into the 1829 Rainhill Trials, it was quickly outpaced by steam engines and proved completely impractical.

The Loetafoon was a gramophone record player that was connected to a film projector. A mercury contact on the film indicated exactly when the needle should be on the record to start the sound film. The device was supplied with a single, double and triple turntable.