For as long as humans have been around, inventors have been toying with wearable technology. However, aside from the smartwatch and VR gaming headsets, not much has managed to stick.
Still, some concepts from days gone by are fascinating, if not perplexing. (Especially in regards to women's health.) Here are 26 odd vintage wearable inventions, a few of which might be surprisingly familiar.
1
Robert Courter soars through the air during a test of his flying jetpack in 1969.
2
Two men wearing periscope top hats, 1937.
3
In this 1955 picture, inventor Russell E. Oakes shows off his “automatic tip requester,” which comprises an artificial hand and cashbox to be worn around the waist.
4
In the 1930s, make-up legend Max Factor came up with the Beauty Micrometer, a device that claimed to measure facial flaws.
5
Plastic face protection from snowstorms. Montreal, 1939.
6
A German officer and an NCO wearing portable sound locating apparatus to detect enemy aircraft. Western front, 1917.
7
Eighteen-year-old inventor, H. Day wearing headphones attached to a wireless under his top hat on May 1922 in the UK.
8
Les Paul, age 14, in 1929. Although he would eventually become famous for guitars, he also invented the harmonica holder rack.
9
Firefighter wearing König's smoking helmet with water spray, Hamburg-Altona, Germany, 1900s.
10
The 'Isolator,' by Hugo Gernsback: a helmet for insulating the senses against distraction; from the journal Science and Invention. 1925.
11
Designed to be easily transported, these 1953 monopod seats could provide a quick and easy place to sit when on the go.
12
A model is seen trying on a spiral electric bra at the “20th International Show of Inventions” in Brussels on March 13, 1971. The bra claimed to develop and strengthen the bust and was designed to vibrate while the person wearing it was at work.
13
Hugo Gernsback, Luxembourgish-American inventor and "Father of Science Fiction," wearing the "TV Glasses" he invented in 1963.
15
An air turbo head massaging machine.
16
Paula Byrne demonstrates an electronic slimming device on actress Alison Frazer in 1968.
17
Portable radio in a straw hat, 1931.
18
Devise designed to let blind people “hear” light, 1912.
19
Heated police jacket, 1932.
20
One of the first ever portable radios.
21
Glasses for reading in bed, 1936.
23
Rainy Day Cigarette Holder, 1954.
