Eccentric Contraptions: and Amazing Gadgets, Gizmos and Thingamabobs

by Maurice Collins, Ian Kearey

Mind-boggling technology from the days of yore. An amazing collection of fascinating and visually intriguing gadgets which will engage and amuse everyone. The incredible clockwork teasmade on the cover is just one of over 100 bizarre and ingenious gadgets in Maurice Collins? collection from the complexity of mechanical fruit peelers and a hand-pumped automatic shaver to the simplicity of the ?toe socks? of the 1920s which claimed to cut hosiery bills by 80%. If you thought burglar alarms were a modern invention, there is a Victorian brass clockwork one in the collection, if you?ve always found striking matches too taxing, someone in the 1920s invented an automated self-striking match box to save you the trouble. Fascinating and humorous Eccentric Contraptions will intrigue and amuse and is a testament to human ingenuity and resourcefulness.

Genres: Nonfiction, Design

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sister book to Ingenious Gadgets- the review of which you can see along side this one - All I will add is that even though you may scoff and dismiss some of the devices you see in these pages - these were the trend setters and creators of their time and even though we may laugh at them I wonder in the years to come - those who look back at our achievements will not be collecting the sum of our creations in to similar categories.

[Christina Bumba · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ultimate steam punk reference for writers who must incorporate clogs and the like!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

All of life's essentials, the moustache protector and player harmonica not least among them.

[Ryan McArthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing collection of random devices designed to make the Victorian life easier. I'm sure in a hundred years, there will be similar books about our era...

[Conor Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shows Taobao shit has been around since the dawn of time

[Kelly]

Lent to ACP.