30 Odd Inventions That Had Their Fifteen Minutes Of Fame Then Disappeared Forever

Maximum speed: 150 kilometers per hour ( 93 Mph).

The Cat-Mew Machine was a bizarre Japanese invention from the 1960s designed to scare away mice. It repeatedly played a recorded “meow” to trick rodents into thinking a cat was nearby—though it’s unclear if the mice actually fell for it.

Sort of TomTom, early tripmaster: rolling key map. The map passes the screen in a tempo that depends on the speed of the car.

All terrain car able to descend slopes up to 65 degrees. England, 1936.

Built by Jess Dixon of Andalusia, Ala. Can fly forward, backward or straight up or hover in the air. Runs on road or flys across country. 40 H.P. motor, air cooled, speeds to 100 m.p.h. Kobel Feature Photos, Frankfort, Ind.,1940