A backpack for outboard motors. Clamped to a board mounted on the pack, would make the awkward motor much easier to carry.
R.M.Woodbury, Natick, Mass.
August 1959
Creative Ideas From The Past
Overhead towlines for use on bridges and in tunnels. A stalled car could be hooked on to the line and pulled out of the way fast.
Alexander Morris, Mahopac, New York.
August 1959
Roofing strips of double-faced, pressure-sensitive adhesive that could be placed under gale-loosened shingles to seal and anchor them securely.
John Sellmann, Bloomsburg, Pa.
August 1958
Could this roofing seal sold on Amazon be the modern-day equivalent? (affiliate link)
A car radio volume control governed by the speedometer. You’d get volume on highways where the road and wind noise are great, but no blaring in town.
B.L.Broadwell, Towson, Md.
August 1958
I think a lot of cars have this built-in these days. I know my car has a setting on the onboard computer display that allows the volume to be set to automatically increase as your speed increases.
If you’re looking to purchase a car radio you buy one from Amazon such as this Pioneer one, although, it doubt it will adjust your volume as your speed increases! (affiliate link)
A magnetic strip on vacuum cleaners that would pick up bobby pins and needles and other small metallic objects that might damage the mechanism when sucked up.
Mrs. C.B.Earp, Winston-Salem, N.C.
August 1958
A double-purpose tailgate on station wagons. When lowered, it could be extended and supported to serve as a table on picnics or camping trips.
Robert J.Rish, Takoma Park, Md.
August 1958
An escape-proof landing net. Pulling a lever would draw the net’s outer, extremely flexible ring into the slotted handle to close the net on the fish.
Joe Burke, Bay Port, Mich.
August 1958
You can purchase landing nets very similar to this idea on Amazon. (affiliate link)
A padded motor-bike backrest, curved to fit the back.
To provide a flat seat for a second rider, you would move it back and swing the curved side down.
B.D.Galligher, Headrick, Okla.
April 1963
I think I would just purchase some padded motorbike clothing such as these motorbike pants on Amazon. (affiliate link)
Come apart BBQ grills with fewer cross-sections.
The rods would lock at the ends for use but could be slipped out for easy and thorough washing
J.D.West Newark, N.J.
April 1963
This propane gas grill on Amazon has a grill with three different sections. (affiliate link)