Wierd stuff

For all the iPhones, virtual reality headsets, deep space rocket engines and self-driving cars that are a part of our modern world, many a crazy contraption was invented along the way. It’s entirely possible the ideas presented below are not the weirdest inventions ever simply because the truly weird ones probably never got close to the light of day or their creators were somehow destroyed in the process. Still, these are some of the strangest fruits of human ingenuity we know.

1. MOUSETRAP PISTOL - this 1882 invention by James A. Williams of Texas, takes a very serious approach to mice infestations. The product never took off as people were wary of keeping .50-caliber-loaded revolvers patrolling their kitchen floors.

2. TOMATAN - a wearable robot that feeds you tomatoes. Invented by the Japanese juice vendor Kagome, the robot that sits in a harness behind your head pulls out tomatoes and puts them directly in your mouth as you run. It even has a timer.

 

3. THE IMPULSORIA - the 1850 machine was invented in Italy by Clemente Masserano to utilize animal power on railways. 

Photo by Illustrated London News/Getty Images.

4. ANTI-PERVERT HAIRY LEG STOCKINGS - this Chinese invention is supposedly made to ward off would-be attackers from young girls.

 

5. GROUP SHAVING MACHINE - this 19th-century machine could shave a dozen men at once. One reason for its commercial failure was that it could not alter its movements according to face shape. 

Eric Sykes reviving the mass shaving machine, a nineteenth century invention, for a television series. 1960. (Photo by Ken Howard/BIPs/Getty Images)

6. FLIZ - this foot-powered bicycle without pedals, saddle or any gears, was invented by German designers Tom Hambrock and Juri Spetter. The user hangs on a harness in between two wheels, propelling the bicycle by running, then resting feet on the back wheel.

 

7. MUSTACHE SHIELD - this 1876 mustache shield was patented by Virgil A Gates. The invention was designed to keep facial hair out of the way when eating and drinking. (Photo by M J Rivise Patent Collection/Getty Images)

8. NOSE STYLUS - invented by Dominic Wilcox, this device allows you to keep a hand free for other tasks while you operate the phone with your nose stylus.

 

9. REVOLVER CAMERA - this Colt 38’s small camera automatically takes a picture when you pull the trigger. 

On the left - six pictures taken by the camera. New York, 1938. Source - Nationaal Archief.

10. GRASS FLIP FLOPS - it gives you the sensation of walking on grass, only in your flip-flops.