Creative Ideas From The Past

October 1963…

A fold-up stand that could be spiked and strapped to a tree trunk might make life more comfortable for hunters, nature photographers, and other outdoorsmen. This one would collapse into a flat pack, and the tree-girdling belt would convert to shoulder straps for easy carrying.

December 1963…

When a puppy forgets who’s boss in the family, a high-pitched whistle in his collar or harness might remind him painlessly to pay attention to a command. A tube would connect the whistle in this training leash to an air bulb near the handle; to signal, you’d give the bulb a squeeze.

June 1963…

Trailer doubles as boathouse.

With this amphibious carrier, you could trailer a winched-up boat to the water, let down the pontooned side panels (which serve as walkways), and lower the boat directly into the water.

The trailer would serve as a floating dock in boating season and when covered would act as a boathouse during the winter months.

June 1963…

Traffic-light viewer is a reflector too.

This overhead-traffic-light viewer has another job too: Its front face, of colored glass, would reflect back the headlights of oncoming cars to indicate to their drivers your car’s width – useful if one of your headlights burns out.

A lens at the top would pick up overhead traffic lights.

May 1963…

Never worry about not having enough space in your suitcase again with this suitcase that grows with the load.

Add-on sides that could be carried folded inside this suitcase would let you increase luggage capacity as you needed it.

Zipper tracks around the main case would engage tracks on the add-on units. Long loops on the side sections would slip through the main carrying case handle.

July 1963…

Socket extends bulb life.

Inserted between an ordinary bulb and socket, this adapter would lower circuit voltage (through a resistance wire in the tip) so bulbs would last much longer than they do now.

It would also cut illumination slightly, but you’d make up for this by using a bulb with a higher wattage rating.

November 1963…

A delivery van or other truck might carry a bigger load in better order on this slide-out platform. The simple mechanism, similar to a file drawer in operation, would eliminate the need for walk-in space, simplify loading and handling of the cargo, and make any part of the load accessible in any order.

An idea from July 1963 for a screw-in drain plug for a remote outboard tank.

Sloshing that last left-over pint of gasoline out of the inch hole at the top of the can is not the easiest of tasks.

A drain plug at the bottom is a simple and effective solution.

by H Anderson
(Cassopolis, Michigan)

June 1963…

This rake handle yardstick can help you space your plants accurately.

To create your own, paint narrow rings around the rake handle six inches apart and mark the one-inch and two-inch spaces.

September 1963…

This pool cover with air pockets might extend the swimming season far into the fall. One side of the plastic mattress would be covered with a dark film to absorb solar heat and transmit it to the water. The light-colored heat reflector on the reverse side would help cool the water in the summer.