Crazy inventions in the 19th-century

The evolution of tech and the machines we use has been quite intriguing post the industrial revolution that occurred in Europe during the late 19th century. The industrial revolution was a major driving force in changing the way we engineer maneuver machines. It is during this period we have witnessed the rise of many revolutionary inventions like the steam engine, the light bulb, etc. Many of these inventions have been quite realistic and quite useful for decades to come. However, few inventions have been over the top and have left many experts puzzled as to what to make of these beyond the age of inventions. So, here is a list of some crazy inventions that did not blow away people’s minds but certainly left them expelled.

Source: internet

Fig: A man working overtime during the Industrial Revolution.

1)DOUBLE BICYCLE FOR LOOPING THE LOOP

The name itself is quite a peculiar one. This vehicle was originally invented to assist the physically disabled as a wheeled walking aid (as described in the original patent). This invention was patented by Karl Lange on March 24th,1905, and named it “Double Bicycle for looping the loop” this invention was patented in Berlin, Germany.

To aptly describe this invention, “it consists of a double bicycle for looping the loop for circus and other performances. The main objective of the cycle is to provide a cycle by the means of which a mutilated loop can be traversed, the performer springing, with the wheel, off the end of the loop while heading down and running off onto a track leading out of the loop on the two upper wheels of the cycling head downwards in order to render the present specification terms of reference denote similar parts” as er the original patent. Although invented in goodwill, the invention however was confusing and hence goes down as one of the craziest inventions during the early 20th century.

Source: Internet Fig: The DBLL is one of the craziest inventions.

2)CHICKEN EYEGLASSES

The Chicken eyeglasses also known as “chicken goggles” were small eyeglasses that were designed specifically for the benefit of chickens to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism among chickens. These glasses were quite different from the blinders as these “chicken goggles” allowed the birds to see forward unlike the blinders. These glasses were mass-produced in USA during the early 20th century and was a success among poultry farmers.

The first form of chicken glasses were patented by Andrew Jackson Jr. of Munich(in Tennessee, not the German one) in 1903 under the name “Eye-Protector of chickens” and was available to order by the mail company “Sears-Roebuck”.

Chicken eyeglasses were often made from aluminum or celluloid. It consisted of two oval-shaped panels that fit over the upper beak of the chicken. A pin is pierced through the nostril to hold oval panels in place. As years passed by, the design of the eyeglasses to attach these panels on a chicken’s head in different ways. Some designs were such that small hooks were used to pierce into the nostril with the help of a cotter pin. Due to frequent piercing of tissue, this design was made illegal in many countries.

Source: Internet Fig: the peculiar concept of chicken goggles.

3)Rocking/oscillating bathtub

The thought of having a bathtub that oscillates to and fro can be peculiar as well as a bit frightening. However, Otto A Hansel thought otherwise when he patented his invention in 1899.

The application for the patent was filed on 6th Jan,1899. The main objective of this device is to provide a tub that will fill a long-felt want in hospitals, sanitariums and other institutions which will throw water on the user with less or more violence for a purpose that is quite known in the field of medicine(as per the description in the patent).

The main use of this device is to throw around water with force against the body of the user, which is a quite intimidating process. The thought of having a bathtub that throws water at peoples face with force was not quite appealing and this invention was buried in depths of time and was barely heard of, as the time passed by.

Source: Internet Fig: The oscillating bathtub will go down as one of the craziest inventions.

The above inventions are just few examples of the craziest inventions that drove the world into a frenzy, not because of the inventive genius of the inventors, but due to the fact that these inventions were actually quite apart from reality, in short, they were weird. It is quite surprising indeed that a human mind was capable of inventing things that are beyond ordinary imagination!!

A S S SIDDARDHA (Dept. of Mechanical Engg.)

R18ME001@me.reva.edu.in

REVA UNIVERSITY