If you think that organs and bones crushing corsets were the most bizarre creation of the Victorian era, you could not be more wrong. Victorians have come up with its fair share of weird inventions. Even though this era was a long period of peace and prosperity, science was going through a weird phase.
Below are 16 bizarre inventions from the Victorian era, some useful, and some… not so much.
1. THE TRICK PLEDGE ALTAR
Oh, those Victorians! They did love a practical joke. And what could be funnier than encouraging a friend to make a pledge at your new home altar… only for him to be surprised by the abrupt appearance of a human skeleton – which spits scalding water into his face!?
2. FENCE CYCLE
Sometimes walking the length of a fence can be just too much like hard work. If only there were some way to take the effort out of it. Well… there almost was, as demonstrated here by none other than Vincent Van Gogh – the Scarlet Pimpernel.
3. THE WIRELESS TRICK TELEPHONE
We’re back to the pranks again. “Hell-o, I hear you calling me!” says your innocent victim – only for the bottom of the phone to explode unexpectedly, and for his hand and face to be showered with broiling turps.
4. THE “NIAGARA” WAVE & ROCKING BATH
The makers of the “Niagara” wave and rocking bath claim that there will be ABSOLUTELY no water splashing in the room, as you rock and thrash in order to generate the FULLEST ILLUSION of a sea or river bath. Maybe not… but that won’t stop your family from having you carted off to Bedlam.
5. MULTI-PURPOSE CANE
This, the Swiss Army Knife of canes, caters for all the gentlemanly pastimes: catching butterflies, sheltering from the rain, smoking opium, playing the flute, and measuring a horse. Well… all the gentlemanly pastimes… bar one.
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