Hasbro’s Lite-Brite Toy From the ‘60s and ‘70s
Most concepts for toys were quite simple in the 20th century; they seemed like something anybody could think of, and yet, almost no one did. Hasbro was one of the unique companies at the time that managed to design, package, and sell kids’ toys in bulk and delighted millions of kids in the process.
The Lite-Brite was one of Hasbro’s most successful toys at the time and consisted of a back-lit board with pins and a bunch of colored plastic pegs. The point of the toy was to stick these pegs and assemble a low-resolution piece of art. Once the assembling was complete, you’d turn on the light and enjoy staring at your beautiful creation.
This Abandoned Piano
In 2008, a picture was uploaded online that showed this piano with a tree coming out of it. The picture gained a lot of traction online, as people were highly confused about what they were looking at. It was found in a forest near the California State University in Monterey Bay, USA.
After much discussion and speculation online, the truth behind this strange landmark was discovered. It was found that the tree didn't actually grow through the piano but was actually there for many years before. A student named Jeff placed the piano there as an art experiment. The piano has since been destroyed, but luckily these pictures capture what a thought-provoking art piece it was.
These Ice-Cream Spoons Were Used During the Late 19th Century
Today’s favorite break-up food apparently dates back to the late 19th century. Ice cream was obviously a lot less prevalent back then and was mostly reserved for royals and socialites. It only seemed fitting that people of such high esteem would also eat using spoons that reflected their “elevated” status.
These spoons are perfectly preserved royal ice cream utensils used during the Victorian Era. They have beautiful shell carvings and were made to impress as well as delight. Think about that one friend of yours who has a beautifully designed teaspoon in the back of their silverware drawer, and try to stay on their good side. Their great-grandparents may have been royal! Or at least very wealthy.
This 1947 Truck, Used to Transport Beer Around Britain
Beer was mostly transported via railroads in the 20th century, but a few beer companies changed that and opted to use roads instead. This was a great way for them to advertise their brand, which is why their trucks were so glamorous and attention-grabbing. Labatt focused on truck transportation for their beers and only stopped the practice in the ‘50s.
Labatt’s trucks were discovered just a few decades ago in London, Ontario, and were patched up for display. Nowadays, beer is shipped in a variety of ways. As ineffective as these trucks were, we’d sure love it if truck companies put as much love in their designs as they used to back in the day.
This Nightmare-Inducing 1930s Baby Rattle
When we look at cultural and societal differences between people and us from the early 20th century, it almost seems like they were of a different species. We often stumble upon pictures of old farmers with pitchforks and admire just how tough their lives were back then.
Many of these once-popular items now look like something straight out of a horror film, and many horror movies are actually based on these old toys. Just imagine that it was socially acceptable to give this nightmare-inducing toy to your kid back in the day. Never mind that it's a serious choking hazard, how does a child willingly take this thing!?