Šílené vynálezy – Keas Anthony (2026)

The history of inventions usually focuses on those that made an important contribution to the development of humanity, such as Stephenson’s steam locomotive, inventions by Tesla, Edison and Bell, the rays discovered by W. C. Röntgen, Denis Papin’s pressure cooker, Josef Ressel’s ship’s propeller, and the unique printing methods of Alois Senefelder and Karel Klíč. These and many other inventions benefited humanity; some were improved, while others eventually became obsolete, though they were significant in their time. But what about a suction device for more comfortable sleeping on a train, an automatic hat lifter, children’s mop clothing, a suspended cage for children, a group razor, steam horses or a spoon that protected moustaches? Such gems also appear in the history of science and technology and in patent-office archives. Some of these inventions are humorous, others bizarre, and some even life-threatening, but dead ends are also part of the history of invention. Anthony Keas presents a selection of the strangest things ever invented, inviting readers to be startled occasionally but, above all, to laugh.