Throughout the history of humanity there have been situations and events that have often been forgotten. But photographs can give us a window into the past like no other, and serve as witnesses to that which took place long ago and that might even look ridiculous to our modern eyes.
So, in order to illustrate just how far this principle can go, here are 35 of the most bizarre vintage photos in history.
A winning ankle?
1930
A police officer serves as judge in an ankle pageant
Leg makeup
1942
Women painting their legs to make it look as if they were wearing a pantyhose.
The right lane
1967
The day when Sweden officially changed the rules of the road, altering which side cars should use.
Big memory
1956
A maintenance team loads 5 megabytes of memory into a Pan American airplane.
Safety first
1912
A man tests a football helmet prototype.
To the elephant-mobile!
1967
Just Batman on an elephant. Enough said.
Bad sport?
1800s
A weapon designed to hunt water birds. It was banned for being too effective.
Here’s a couple of kegs for you
1944
A British Spitfire delivering beer kegs to ally troops fighting in Normandy.
Your cup of tea?
1975
Alfred Hitchcock serving tea to MGM Studios’ iconic lion.
Sliding machine
1936
A machine supposedly designed to “slide” the fat right off your legs.
Fight club
1938
Women randomly boxing on a rooftop.
Wooden clothes
1929
Four women model wooden swimsuits, designed to show off your figure.
It’s all about convenience
A casual photo of a portable sauna. You know, ’cause we all need one of those.
Some lemonade?
1931
A kid sells lemonade with a portable dispenser on the streets of Berlin.
Reverse immigration
1920
The U.S. Border Patrol trying to stop a fugitive from reaching safe haven in Mexico.
Hat frenzy
1939
Aerial shot of New York showing pretty much everyone wore a hat in the ’30s.
Shame, shame, shame
Japanese women cover their faces in shame at a court in Tokyo.
Quite a ride
1910
A single-wheeled vehicle, called Dynasphere, that could speed up to 25 miles per hour.
Harmless treat
1950
Russian soldiers feed polar bears from the safety of their armored tanks.
Neat trick
1939
A german soldier firing his weapon while standing on a horse. Right out of the circus, this one.
A dress in progress
1860
A patient woman waits for her crinoline’s rings to be completed in a clothing shop in London.
That’ll get you far
1910
Not much to say here, other than “awesome!” For your pleasure, a couple of pedal-based skates.
A house of cards
1922
Children playing with bundles of obsolete Deutsche Marks.
Is that VR?
1967
This is actually a prototype of a (very practical) portable TV.
Looks like fun
1924
Parisians using chairs to cross flooded neighborhoods.
Halloween, anyone?
1946
A woman wearing a cape designed to block UV rays.
Mickey Mouse rip-offs, right?
1914-1918
“Sound locators” used during WWI to detect and pinpoint enemy aircraft.
Baby nightmare
1927
A nurse applies UV light to a pair of babies.
Frontline dogs
1914
Belgian troops pose next to their dog-driven war cannons as they head towards the Eastern Front.
Those are some lovely eyes
1930
Contestants line up for a “Miss Lovely Eyes” pageant in Florida.
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