You must admit, that some of these inventions are really smart.
For example the first one. Wasn't this machine gun the ancestor of modern guns, that can shoot around corners?
But ok, let's take a closer look.

Curved Barrel Machine Gun, 1953



M3 sub-machine gun with a curved barrel for shooting around corners.
It's the perfect gun for the "shoot first, look where you're shooting later" kind of guy.

Anti-Bandit Bag, 1963



Inventor John H T Rinfret demonstrates his anti-bandit bag.
To foil thieves the chain is pulled and the bottom of the case falls out so the contents are scattered over the floor.
That'll stop those thieves from getting at the contents of your bag! No, wait. It won't.

Hubbard Electrometer, 1968



The founder of the Church of Scientology L. Ron Hubbard created this
Hubbard Electrometer to find out whether tomatoes experience pain.
Funny, but the conclusion was that they scream when sliced.

Cup Bras, 1949



Finnish Portable Sauna, 1962



Baby Cage, 1937



When you want to keep your kids outside the appartments but don't want them on the streets.

Laryngaphone, 1929



''Laryngaphone,'' a noise-excluding telephone which only transmits vibrations from the vocal chords when the microphone is placed against the throat or cheek.
For the man who wants to annoy both his wife and his mistress

Motorized Surfboard, 1948



Rainy Day Cigarette Holder, 1954



Rocket Belt, 1961



Engineer Harold Graham salutes President Kennedy after demonstrating Rocket Belt for him.

Honegar, 1959



Inventor of a honey and vinegar mixture, called Honegar, Dr. DeForest C. Jarvis.
Honegar was said to be a folk remedy for aches and pains, though it mainly sounds like a cure for lack of nausea.

Illuminated Tires, 1961



I love this one.
A woman adjusts her stocking by the light of the Goodyear's illuminated tires.
The tire is made from a single piece of synthetic rubber and is brightly lit by bulbs mounted inside the wheel rim.

Shower Hood, 1970



If you don't want your make up ruined.

Cigarette Pack Holder, 1955



Handwriting Game, 1955



A handwriting game being analysed by members of the Ideal Toy panel on Inventor's Day at the Ideal Toy Company in Hollis, New York.
Because there's nothing children love more than handwriting.

Fast-Draw Robot, 1960



Robot equipped with fast-draw invention shoots it out with live gunner.
It's always easy to question the wisdom of giving a robot a gun, but also making him quick on the draw is just irresponsible.

Yodel Meter, 1925



Two girls try out the new yodel meter, which measures the pitch of the human yodel.

Mini Television, 1966



Flying Platform, 1956



Flying platforms being tested at an Air Force base.

Beating Breasts, 1963



A pair of artificial breasts with a built-in heartbeat, an invention from — where else? — Japan intended as a sleeping aid for very young children.

Venetian Blind Sunglasses, 1950



Birdman Suit, 1955



Birdman Leo Valentin demonstrates his method of flying from a special harness.
Valentin died when his invention failed him after jumping out of an airplane in 1956.

Phone-Answering Robot, 1964



A robot designed by Claus Scholz of Vienna answers the phone, though it cannot speak. Halfway there, Claus.

Baby Holder, 1937



Jack Milford, player with the Wembley Monarchs ice hockey team, has invented a carrying device so that his baby can join his wife and himself on the ice.
Because who wouldn't want to take something as fragile as a baby onto a rock-hard surface with very little friction?

Sea-Shoes, 1962



Inventor M W Hulton demonstrates his sea-shoes and duckfoot propellers on the Grand Union Canal, England.

T.V. Glasses, 1963



Cat-Mew Machine, 1963



This mechanical cat can meow ten times a minute and the eyes light up each time.
The device for scaring rats and mice is from Japan and is powered by a two-watt motor.

Dog Restrainer, 1940



External Turkey Roaster, 1966



External Turkey Roaster, 1966



via time.com