Ultra Swank - Retro Adventures

Science

1960s Tech Inventions That Shaped Today’s World

Back in the 1960s, the technology was emerging and it was a brilliant time for inventors to come up with something revolutionary. It was clear that the technology industry needed to be advanced in order to improve our living. There were many different designs and inventions that did not see the light of the day, as they were too advanced and optimistic to built for...

Video

Elektro, the “Westinghouse Motor Man” filmed inside the Westinghouse Pavillion at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. Elektro can not only smoke, he also has a giant ego. User commands are given through a telephone with some kind of a voice recognition system. The whole presentation might look like a kitschy hoax from our eyes, but for the folks back in 1939 this technology...

The Mighty Hand of Union Carbide
Written by James Vaughan in Science

The Mighty Hand of Union Carbide

“Oh Mighty Hand of Progress and Science. We beseech thee to guide or ways. Help us to secure funding for our Research Projects. Show us the mysteries of Nature that we may harness them and produce a brighter cleaner wash! Shelter us from the elements and bring us good and ever-lasting AC. Beloved Mighty Hand grasp the mighty atom and hold it forth for us...

Our Friend the Atom – Part 3
Written by James Vaughan in Science

Our Friend the Atom – Part 3

The religion of The Atom died with Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. With that fall from grace came the end of many of our utopian dreams. A responsible future of conservation and organic carrots just wasn’t very exciting. Although widespread use of the atom remains controversial; 436 reactors remain the source of 15 per cent of the world’s electricity. In some European countries atomic power...

Our Friend the Atom – Part 2
Written by James Vaughan in Science

Our Friend the Atom – Part 2

Atomic power was projected to be very cheap. We were going to have electricity coming out of our ears! We would not have to import oil from crazy foreigners or dig up whole states looking for coal. Utility companies and government agencies around the world took up the chant of the mighty atom. Nuclear power plants were seen as a springboard for third world countries...

Our Friend the Atom – Part 1
Written by James Vaughan in Science

Our Friend the Atom – Part 1

No modern technology has ever had such a schizophrenic and complicated identity as Atomic Energy. It is often presented in mystical terms. A Pandora’s Box of knowledge that cannot be unlearned. The magical Genie that can do both help or harm but cannot be returned to his bottle. Nuclear Power is the ultimate parable of modern science. With the use of atomic bombs at the...

Disney’s House of the Future
Written by Christopher in Science

Disney’s House of the Future

The House of the Future (also known as the plastic house of the future) at Disneyland, California circa 1957. This is where curious visitors could get a glimpse of how Disney imagined what the future would hold in technology and comfort for the year 1986! Many (or most) things would probably be regarded as very retro-future-kitschy today, but one gadget that was eventually shown and...

Get all the goods straight to your inbox