19 Cool Inventions From the 1920s and 1930s

The fast pace of technology change in the 1920s brought us the lie detector, traffic signal, bubble gum and Penicillin. An all-electronic moving-image television system somewhat similar to that used today was invented and demonstrated in 1929. The 1930s were not less invention-intensive bringing us the jet engine, helicopter, tea bags, sticky tape, ballpoint pen and the first photocopier.

However, somewhere between these great world-changing inventions there were some fun and sometimes even hilarious inventions the world has forgotten.

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

The Cyclomer, a bicycle on land and water can ride with a load of 120 pounds (Paris 1932)

Hamblin glasses. A pair of spectacles especially designed for reading in bed (England 1936)

Bulletproof glass, demonstration by the best rifle man of the New York police, 1931

Kind of shovel on a car. Purpose: reducing the number of casualties among pedestrians (Paris 1924)

Electrically heated vest, developed for the traffic police in the United States. The power is supplied by electric contacts in
the street (USA 1932)

Extensible caravan, built by a French engineer, 1934

Used to protect ones face from snowstorms. Canada, Montreal, 1939

In 1938 the first wireless newspaper was sent from WOR radiostation in New York. Photo shows children reading the children’s page of a Missouri paper

Folding bridge for emergencies, invented by L. Deth can easily be transported on a handcart (Netherlands, 1926)

Gas War Resistant Pram (England, Hextable, 1938)

Early GPS (1932)

Early GPS (1932)

Portable radio in a straw hat, made by an American inventor, 1931

A group of youngsters tied a bike tyre around the body as a swimming aid (Germany 1925)

One wheel motorcycle (invented by Italian M. Goventosa de Udine). Maximum speed: 150 kilometers per hour ( 93 Mph), 1931

Piano especially designed for people who are confined to bed (UK 1935)

Pram provided with a radio, including antenna and loudspeaker, to keep the baby quiet (USA 1921)

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)