Inside the 1950s BMW Isetta Brochure
Argentine, Spanish, Belgian, French, Brazilian, German, and British manufacturers all get licenses to produce the Isetta microcar, which was designed in Italy. It was dubbed a bubble automobile, a moniker used by other vehicles with an egg shape and windows that resembled bubbles. Continue reading »
1951 Hoffmann: Among the Strangest Automobiles Ever Produced
Without a doubt, the Hoffmann is among the strangest vehicles ever produced. Its design is unlike anything else, so much so that it cannot be compared. Continue reading »
Turning Back the Clock: The 1951 Bell Manual for Operating a Rotary Telephone
In 1951, Bell Telephone System introduced a guide titled “The Telephone and How We Use It,” designed to aid elementary school students and others in understanding the operation of classic rotary dial phones. The guide detailed everything from basic phone use, handling emergencies, to polite phone manners. Continue reading »
Color Images from The 1950s and 1960s that Were Discovered in A Trashcan Depict New York City in Kodachrome
Times Square, 1958, found Kodachrome transparency, photographer unknown.
Jan Wein discovered certain pictures one day. “In case you are unaware of the background, I used to live in Manhattan during Ed Koch’s mayoralty in the 1980s. Continue reading »
Images from The Past of The Citroën U55 Cityrama Currus, the Best Bus Ever Built in History
In 1956, Groupe Cityrama, a French travel company, asked Currus, a renowned coachbuilder, to create a revolutionary bus for modern tourists visiting Paris. Continue reading »
1953 Packard Cavalier Fifth-Wheel Parking System by Brooks Walker
In 1953, Brooks Walker transformed a Packard Cavalier sedan from his California-based business, Walker Research, into one of the most renowned postwar Packards. Continue reading »
Only Batman Could Own This 1955 Lincoln Futura Concept Car
The Lincoln Futura, created by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company, was a standout concept car that made its debut in the 1955 auto show circuit. Continue reading »
Swooning, Screaming, Crying: Vintage Photographs of Teenage Fan Girls at Elvis Presley Concerts in the 1950s
In the mid-1950s, Elvis Presley’s concerts were marked by an unprecedented phenomenon: intense, loud screaming from female fans. This screaming was so overwhelming that it often drowned out Elvis’ singing, even making it difficult for his band to play. Scotty Moore, Elvis’ guitarist, humorously noted that they had to follow Elvis’ movements for cues since they couldn’t hear him. In 1957, Elvis had to cover his ears to hear his own voice. Continue reading »
Two Women Demonstrate How to Turn This Sidecar in to a Small Caravan With Two Beds in 1958
Mediadrumimages/Topfoto
In 1958, in the heart of the British summer, two women embarked on a unique weekend adventure in the UK, as captured in these extraordinary photographs. The images depict the duo on a motorbike with a sidecar, which they ingeniously convert into their overnight accommodation. Continue reading »
Amazing photos of New York City taken by Anthony Angel in the 1950’s
Anthony Angel (1906-1967) dedicated his life to capturing the essence of New York City through the lens of his camera. Day after day, he ventured out into the bustling streets, documenting the city’s vibrant street scenes and iconic buildings. His extraordinary photographic legacy, generously bequeathed to the Library of Congress, comprises an impressive collection of approximately 60,000 images. Continue reading »
Amazing Behind the Scenes Photos From the Making of the Sci-Fi Classic “The Incredible Shrinking Man”, 1957
“The Incredible Shrinking Man” is a 1957 science fiction horror film that has left an indelible mark on the genre. Directed by Jack Arnold, the film is an adaptation of Richard Matheson’s novel “The Shrinking Man”. Matheson himself co-wrote the screenplay, bringing his unique vision to the silver screen. Continue reading »
A Coffee Machine for the Dashboard: The Hertella Auto Kaffeemachine, a VW Beetle Accessory from 1959
If you are a coffee lover and a fan of classic cars, you might be interested in this quirky gadget that was designed to make your road trips more enjoyable. It’s a coffee machine that fits on the dashboard of a 1959 Volkswagen Beetle, and it can brew a hot cup of joe while you drive!
The gadget is called the Hertella-Auto Kaffeemaschine, and it was produced and marketed by a German company called Hertella in the late 1950s. Continue reading »
The Superb Minimalist Advertising Vintage Posters Designed by Peter Birkhäuser in the 1940s and ’50s
Born in Basel in 1911, Peter Birkhäuser left an indelible mark as a Swiss artist. His innovative canvas blended dream imagery with analytical psychology. Continue reading »
Stunning Images of the 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis Concept
In the mid-1950s, automotive design was an evolving realm of innovation, and 1955 brought to the forefront a concept that turned heads and left an indelible mark: The Lincoln Indianapolis. Dreamed up by Carrozzeria Boano, this concept car took the foundation of the 1955 Lincoln – its chassis and running gear – and transformed it into something almost ethereal. Continue reading »
Beautiful Photos of Swedish High Jumper Gunhild Larking at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne
Twenty-year-old Gunhild Larking, the stunning Swedish high jump athlete, anxiously awaited her turn to compete at the Olympic Games. Continue reading »
Exquisite Photos Showcasing the Ferrari 410 Superamerica Ghia
The year was 1955 when the extraordinary Ferrari 410 Superamerica made its grand entrance. Equipped with an upgraded engine derived from the potent single plug 410 S powerplant, its displacement had now reached an impressive 5.0 liters. Continue reading »
The Rhino: An Inventor’s Visionary Solution for Off-Road and Highway Transportation From The 1950s
Rhino’s tilting hemispheroidal wheels adjust to variable heights on uneven terrain.
Back in 1954, inventor Elie Aghnides was struck by an idea that would revolutionize the way we think about off-road vehicles. As he watched a caterpillar tractor muscling dirt around in New York City’s Central Park, he couldn’t help but wonder why such a powerful machine was limited to a maximum speed of 25 mph and plagued by frequent tread breaks. Continue reading »
The Visionary Austrian Engineer Who Gave Birth to a Housekeeping Robot in the 1950s
In a world where women have fought tirelessly for their freedom and autonomy, it seems the answer to their dreams may come in the form of a robot. A robot that can do everything from answering phones to pouring a cup of tea without spilling a single drop. And who is the mastermind behind this technological breakthrough? None other than Viennese engineer Claus Scholz. Continue reading »
Weird Advertising for a Weird Car: Balloon-Wheeled Citroen DS, 1959
Back in 1959, Citroen’s communication department was on a mission to prove to the world that their ID and DS models were in a league of their own. And what better way to do that than to take a car, perch it on four balloons, and float it in the middle of a lake? It’s like they always say: “When you want to showcase comfort, just combine air and water and hope for the best!” Continue reading »
Photographer by Ruth Orkin Captured Stunning Color Photographs of New York City in the 1950s
Ruth Orkin was a trailblazing photojournalist and filmmaker, whose passion for photography began at a young age. Born in Boston, Orkin grew up in Hollywood during the 1920s and 1930s, and was gifted her first camera, a 39 cent Univex, at the age of 10. It was a gift that would change the course of her life. Continue reading »
1950s Teenage Girls’ Fashion Captured in Vintage Photos
In the 1950s, Christian Dior’s “New Look” of 1947 continued to shape fashion trends. The focus on femininity was evident in the use of unpadded, rounded shoulders, shapely bust lines, and defined waistlines, as well as full, billowing skirts. Blouses, jeans, and long, narrow roots were also popular choices. Continue reading »
This Is a Real Wheelchair Car from 1956
Harold Young of Downey, California, has a car designed expressly for wheelchair users in 1956. The driver gets in and out without help. Controls, including a push-stop, pull-go lever, are designed for the handicapped. Continue reading »
The Messerschmitt KR200: A Sunny Day out In Germany’s Two-Seater Tandem Bubble Car, 1959
In 1952, German aircraft engineer Fritz Fend (April 14, 1920 – November 22, 2000), a former technical officer with the Luftwaffe in World War 2, took his design for a Kabinenroller (Cabin Scooter) to the Messerschmitt aircraft corporation. Continue reading »
Beautiful Kodachrome Slides of West Germany Taken By a Nurse During Her Tour of Duty in the Early 1950s
Amongst the ruins, Bavaria.
These slides appear to have been taken by a US Army nurse who seems to have been attached to the 97th General Army Hospital at Frankfurt, (West) Germany in 1952 and 1953. During her tour of duty she was able, like most US service personnel, to travel in her free time to various places in Europe and Algeria (and possibly other countries in North Africa). Continue reading »
Vintage Photos Show Lifestyle of Teenagers in the 1950s
The term ‘teenager’ was first introduced to the American public in the 1940s as a moniker coined by advertising executives looking to sell their products to a new audience. Continue reading »
