At McGreevy Engineering, we strongly believe in stretching the limits of your imagination and pushing against set boundaries to create new and exciting products, which is why this month’s blog post will focus on some of the strangest inventions throughout history.

Even though these inventions were largely unsuccessful, they should be admired for going beyond what was conventionally acceptable in the world of technology and engineering and for helping to lay the groundwork for future, more successful, inventions.

The Portable Hat Radio

Decades before the mobile wonders of the Walkman, iPod and the mobile phone, the idea of being able to listen to the radio on the move was inconceivable. Believed to have been created by an inventor in Berlin during the 1930s, this bizarre apparatus was essentially a straw hat with two large antennas sticking out of the top of it. The idea failed to launch due to the cumbersome nature of the design and issues with radio signals. 

The Dynasphere

The Dynasphere was invented by a Dr J. A. Purves in the 1930s as an alternative road vehicle. It was one giant monowheel where the driver sat, along with a passenger, in a cabin mounted on tracks. The head-turning machine rolled as the wheel spun and could reach a top speed of 30mph. Due to a lack of practicability and protection from the elements, the Dynasphere never caught on.

The Rolling Bridge

The Rolling Bridge was a British invention that emerged during the Victorian era and served as an alternative to the traditional bridge, enabling the user to move across the water on a rolling platform that was attached to rails. Modern architect, Thomas Randall-Page, has developed an updated version of this type of bridge for east London’s Cody Dock. His steel bridge design springs over the river when boats pass through, showing how modern design owes much to its Victorian forbears.

Churchill’s Pressure Egg

In order not to come under enemy fire during World War Two, flights had to be taken at a high altitude and since there were no good pressure control systems installed in planes at that time, passengers felt quite uncomfortable due to the lack of oxygen. To counteract this, the Institute of Aviation Medicine built Churchill his own pressurised pod for safer flying at high altitudes. Sadly, it was rejected for its size and weight, being unable to fit into the former bomb bay of the B‑24 Commando airliner, where it was planned to be installed.

Group-Shaving Machine

During the 19th century, barber shops increased in popularity and demand, leading to the creation of a machine that could shave a dozen men at once. The machine failed to be commercially successful due to its inability to alter its movements according to an individual’s face shape. 

As McGreevy Engineering is founded on the ethos of continuous improvement, we can fully appreciate that while some of the above inventions may not have been successful, they laid vital groundwork for much of the life changing equipment we have at our disposal today.

If you have any questions or would like to speak to a member of our team about a project, contact us by calling: 028 9044 8755 or email: [email protected].