12 of the Strangest Gadgets Made in the 1970s
In the 1970s, with the rise of new technologies and creative minds, many strange gadgets of the decade emerged, pushing the boundaries of innovation and use. Sandwiched between the vibrant 1960s and 1980s, the 1970s was an era of notable electronic innovation. At that time, progress ...
0 Posted by: Baran Bastani 20 Mehr 1405 at 15:01
In the 1970s, with the emergence of new technologies and creative minds, many strange gadgets of the 70s emerged that pushed the boundaries of innovation and application.
The 1970s, despite being sandwiched between the vibrant 1960s and 1980s, were an era of significant electronic innovation. At that time, the advancement of electronics without the pervasiveness of microchips in every home paved the way for the rise of 1970s technology and certain gadgets. Mass production and new manufacturing techniques provided countless opportunities for inventors with bold ideas. These strange devices, which were heavily promoted in TV commercials and store windows, represent a world completely different from the one we know today. Continue with us to check 12 of the strangest gadgets made in this decade.
Bone Fone: A radio that transmitted sound through bones?
The Bone Fone radio, with its strange name, was a product ahead of its time when it was released in 1979. Designed as a scarf-like tube, the gadget claimed to transmit sound through the listener's bones to provide a stereo experience without headphones. While bone conduction technology is known today with brands like Shokz, in reality the Bone Fone used conventional speakers that were close to the neck, with very little actual bone conduction.
Ronco Inside-the-Shell Egg Scrambler
The Ronco Inside-the-Shell Egg Scrambler was the brainchild of famed inventor Ron Popeil, who claimed to scramble eggs inside the shell. By inserting a needle into the egg and spinning it rapidly, this device would mix the yolk and white, eliminating the need for a separate bowl and fork. Although about 150,000 units were sold for $19.95 (at the time), the idea was not very effective in practice, and more modern examples were later made without the need for needles or electricity.
Mego 2-XL Robot: talking toy robot
Introduced in 1978, the Mego 2-XL robot was an interactive toy that was actually an 8-track tape player in the form of a robot. The robot could ask questions through its own ribbons and react to the user's answers with multi-choice response buttons on its body. Mego 2-XL was not only fun, but also used as an educational tool and was considered a forerunner of toy robots like Teddy Ruxpin.
JVC Videosphere: Astronaut Helmet TV
The JVC Videosphere TV, with its astronaut helmet design, was released at the height of spaceflight fever after the moon landing. This attractive TV, which was still sold until the early 80s, could rotate 360 degrees on its stand and run on both mains and batteries. The Videosphere was a black and white television and today it has become a valuable collector's item due to its unique design.
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HP-01 Calculator Watch: A watch ahead of its time
The HP-01 calculator watch, released in 1977 at an impressive price ($650-$750), was one of the first attempts to combine a wristwatch with computing capabilities. In addition to showing the time, this gadget could have alarms, timers, calendars, and stopwatches, and it even provided the possibility to calculate the time difference or the number of days between two dates. With 28 tiny buttons on its screen, it required a special stylus to operate it, and due to poor sales, the planned HP-02 never made it to market.
Mattel Optigan: Electronic organ with optical discs
The Mattel Optigan electronic organ, developed by Mattel's Optigan subsidiary, was an innovative musical instrument in the 70s. This device used optical discs to store audio information such as chords, voices, and rhythms, which were read by a photodiode. Although the technology was similar to audio storage in motion pictures, the Optigan's sound quality was poor, and even at its relatively low price ($200-$400), sales failed to catch on.
Polaroid Polavision: The home video that bankrupted Polaroid
Polaroid's Polavision camera, sometimes referred to as "the camera that killed Polaroid," was the company's foray into the home video world. With the huge success of instant cameras that developed film on the spot, Polaroid sought to create a video camera with the ability to develop film at home. This system used special cassettes and a home player, but its short 2.5-minute playback time, lack of sound, and poor, grainy picture quality quickly failed against the advent of tape-based video cameras (camcorders) in the 1980s, costing the company a huge financial loss.
Popeil Pocket Fisherman: folding fishing rod for sudden moments
The Popeil Pocket Fisherman, another Ron Popeil invention, was a solution to a sudden need for fishing. Invented by Ron's father in the 1960s, this tool was designed to fold up to fit easily on the dashboard of a car or in a backpack. A compartment in the handle served as a fishing tackle box and could hold hook, line and lead. This product became popular with a price of $19.95, and similar models are still on the market.
Panasonic Panapet R-70: spherical and colorful radio
The Panasonic Panapet R-70 was an AM radio from the early 70s that wasn't technically special, but it was very distinctive for its spherical design and bright colors. This gadget looked like a ball with a chain that could be hung on clothes and it took on a "pet" look with volume and frequency adjustment buttons that looked like eyes and a seam between the two halves of the body that looked like a mouth. Created to commemorate the Osaka World Expo, Panapet, with its red, yellow, blue, white and avocado green colors, also influenced the color designs of later products by companies such as Apple.
Weltron Model 2001: All-in-one surround sound system
The Weltron Model 2001 was a combination of a GVC Videosphere TV and a hi-fi sound system, inspired by spaceflight fever and the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. This powerful portable audio system featured stereo speakers, an AM/FM radio, and an 8-track tape player. The 2001 Weltron was very versatile; It could run on mains power, batteries, or even 12V car power, and with a carry handle and suction cup on the bottom, it was easy to carry and set up for impromptu parties.
Cartrivision: The first failed attempt at home video
Introduced in 1972, the Cartrivision system was the first consumer video system with pre-recorded tapes available for rent or purchase, three years before the Sony Betamax. Cartrivision's main challenge was that its player came integrated with the TV and was expensive. Its cartridges were large and bulky, and rental tapes were not rewindable (a form of early digital rights management). Additionally, the image quality was poor and choppy as only every three frames were displayed. Due to these problems, the format only lasted a year.
Panasonic Toot-a-Loop: The Weird 70s Radio Bracelet
Another quirky gadget of the 1970s, the Panasonic Toot-a-Loop radio was one of the first wearable electronics that could also be used as a bracelet. This personal, portable AM radio was part of Panasonic's "Crazy Color Portable" product line, and with its bold, vibrant colors, it was a departure from the stereotypical brown and beige aesthetic of the decade. To change the station, you had to turn the unit to access the frequency tuning knob, and it only offered mono sound.