Dark Roasted Blend: The Coolest Gadgets, Modern and Retro.

Friday, September 23, 2011

The Coolest Gadgets, Modern and Retro.

"QUANTUM SHOT" #728
Link - article by Avi Abrams

I invented a ground-breaking device in my sleep last night.
Sadly, I forgot everything about it.

This happens to the best of us. We are lucky, however, that many historical inventors and outstanding engineers woke up right in time and sketched the details of their invention before it evaporated into the warm daylight. Some of these famous dreams are recounted here. It includes a design for a sewing machine and even mechanics for a golf swing. Today, we are going to feature some intriguing devices that should feed and inpire your creativity... well into the night!

(mysterious astrological devices, seen in Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, photos by Amanda Rehagen)

This is without a doubt one of the most popular DRB series. On these pages we uncover some most amazing and unusual vintage devices and some of the most puzzling modern ones. We also enjoy a healthy in-flow of our readers' tips and comments, alerting us to more unfound treasures. This update was surely overdue, as we've got plenty of new stuff to share about.

(right: Sputnik music box, 1960 via; left image: Rocket Ride! via)

Do not miss the previous installments in this series. We covered retro cameras, espresso machines, calculators, typewriters, and even globes!

This is 1937 X-Ray Machine: come closer, don't be afraid -

(photo from 1937 LIFE Magazine)

Turntable wonder from 1952: "Galaxy" four-speed multi-record changer from STAAR -

(image via)

Another one; this time a Zenith "Cobra-Matic":

(image via)

And a miniature records player (would make a great business card maker today!):

(image via)

Object of desire: 1948 Proctor Art Deco Toaster! -

(images via)

Another cool items from DKW Photography source are: Golde Slide Projector (left) and Zenith "Cobra-Matic" Phono Radio (right):

(images via)

More streamlined American art deco gems are shown on this page: Waverly Petipoint iron, 1941 (left) and Juice-O-Mat Juicer from 1937, designed by Joseph M. Majewski, Jr. (right):

(images via)

Good old 1938 washing machine with scrawny legs (and more glamorous one from 1954):

Great streamlined razor:

(photo via LIFE magazine, 1953)

This is absolutely gorgeous vintage lighter.. or is it a "Fantastic Voyage" submarine? Flash Gordon's escape pod?

(photo via LIFE magazine, 1953)

Kids enjoyed fantastic rides in the 1950s:

(1953-1954, Minnesota and New York American Toy Fair; images via)

Streamlined design for lawnmowers is part of the future, according to the Bohn Aluminum calendar, 1943:

(image via)

Vintage dreams about owning a video-telephone:

Ordering "online" while doing stuff in the kitchen:

and controling a lawn robot:

(images via)

Here is the Harvard's one ton microscope from 1937:

(photo from LIFE Magazine 1937 issue)

And we finish our Retro section with Atomic Cold War Experiments. Whatever they are, they must be truly hair-raising:

(image via)

On the right image above is a structure that seems very mysterious, but actually not: this is the Russian 1930s tower built for paragliding in Gorky Park, Moscow.

-------

Modern Gadgetry: the Weird & the Marvelous

This is "Visible Sound". It consists of a sewing machine, a radio and an ability to enjoy sound wave patterns (made by "Sounds.Batter", more info):

(image via)

They also make walking sticks with... attachements:

(image via)

Um... umbilical iPhone cord?! Sure, why not! -

(images via)

Watch the video of it squirming here. Definitely something from "Existenz".

Great folksy protective "dresses" for your camera by ChocMuf; (order them here):

(image via)

The World's smallest cameras, digital and pinhole - more info here and here:

(images via 1, 2)

Pistol wallets and toys from France (is there a joke in this?) - buy them here:

(images via)

Alarm clocks warrant their own article by here are just some "kool" examples: wind chime alarm clock (left) and Donation Alarm (if you do not wake up, you pay the price) -

(images via 1, 2)

GoateeSaver! Or perhaps, Darth Vader's breathing apparatus attachment:

(image via)

This thing is the Automatic Aluminum Can Crusher. Oh, yeah -

(buy it here)

On the right image above is its low-tech variety.

Some odd items here:

And finally, a mystery device: all we can say is that it's a "Tape Converter", but... what does it convert? into what?

UPDATE: As you correctly pointed out, this device is part of the Sound.Batter portfolio - and it converts the leftover glue patterns from old sticky tapes into sound! Don't ask us why, though. Because it can be done, that's why.

CONTINUE TO "MOST AMAZING GLOBES EVER"! ->

READ THE REST OF OUR "GADGETS" SERIES ->

READ RECENT POSTS:

	Just Geeking Out: Office Creativity (Funny Pics) Geek Alerts to Weirdest Things at Work
	Biscotti Bits Mixed Links & Images Incl. "Clumsy Heinz Automatons"
	Fascinating Matchbook Art Always Striking! Classic Matchbooks, Part One

COMMENTS::

7 Comments:

Anonymous said...: She's not programming a kitchen menu, she's using the video-telephone to buy a shirt for her son, as she makes breakfast.; ___
Phoebe Dancing Cat said...: Please, do not let my humans see this. I do not want to fit in anybody's pocket.

http://phoebedancingcat.blogspot.com/; ___
urrik said...: Sputnik music box and "Rocket Ride" are obviously placed the opposite way: the former left, and the latter right.
And... Good old what 1938 with scrawny legs? It looks like a washing machine, but I'm not quite sure.; ___
alfred venison said...: dear Anonymous
i disagree a bit. whilst she's not programming a kitchen menu, she's not making breakfast, she's not making breakfast, either - the kids are outside, in the rain, tending (presumably) homewards. i reckon she's making an after school snack & buying that shirt for boy child. her stove's electric, too.
yours sincerely
alfred venison; ___
Boot Camps said...: GoateeSaver does seems like a Darth Vader's breathing apparatus. I wonder if works on all faces well..don't know if it has some adjustment on it.; ___
Anonymous said...: The "Mighty Tiny" records reminded me of cutting the records off of the back of cereal boxes when I was younger. Instead of a "prize inside" it was on the box.; ___
Anonymous said...: The first pair of items are sundials. The one on the left is a universal with gears and siting hardware for reading accurately to a minute or even a bit less. The one of the right is compound; the top is a spherical dial; the base has a west facing vertical dial.; ___

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