Antiques are special because they’re a glimpse into the past. They tell a story. They were part of somebody’s life. And they show us how people once thought. The World’s Fair was an annual international exhibition of achievements and inventions, a place full of wonder and science and discovery. Here are some of the most interesting inventions from the World’s Fair!
The Telephone
It’s wild to think that the telephone was first introduced publicly at the Philadelphia World’s Fair in 1876. Alexander Graham Bell did a demonstration that led to Brazil’s Emperor Dom Pedro famously exclaiming, “My God, it talks!” Now we don’t think twice about this technology, which continues to improve year after year. In fact, it’s not even enough for most people — many prefer texting or video calls.
The Ferris Wheel
The Ferris Wheel is seen as a staple of any fair or carnival. It’s often even seen as a bit boring and mundane. But the Ferris Wheel was once an unheard of concept, wowing everyone at the World’s Fair in 1893. It cost 50 cents per ride, a good amount at the time, but everyone lined up to try it out. The Ferris Wheel was created by George Washinton Gale Ferris Jr, who wanted to one-up the Eiffel Tower that was revealed the previous year.
Self-Driving Cars
In 1964, General Motors showcased the Firebird IV at the New York World’s Fair. The car was not functional at the time but investors claimed it was a prototype for a vehicle that wouldn’t need to be driven and would work on automated highways. It was said at the time that the car would drive itself through a pre-programmed automated highway interface, which is quite similar to what many car manufacturers say today about their autopilot features. This unfortunately never went beyond a prototype but it’s still a dream many car enthusiasts and commuters have: a car that doesn’t need to be driven.
Zippers
Previously known as “clasp lockers,” zippers were first revealed in 1893 by inventor Whitcomb Judson. He presented the invention with salesman Lewis Walker at the Chicago World’s Fair. In 1913, a patent was filed and in the 20s, the name was changed to “zipper.” Zippers seem so simple — almost a given — so it’s funny to think of them as an invention worth announcing at such a fair.
Ice Cream Cones
For a while, ice cream was only eaten out of a cup. The iconic ice cream cone came into play in Italy and then had its first public appearance at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904. As the story goes, Ernest A. Hamwi was selling a waffle-like dessert next to an ice cream vendor at the fair. The ice cream vendor apparently ran out of cups and Hamwi decided to roll up his waffles to hold the ice cream within. Viola!
Video Calling
The phone was first introduced in 1876 but people already wanted something bigger. Enter video calling. You probably didn’t know that video calling dated back to the 60s. Bell Lab introduced the Picturephone in 1964, presenting it at the World’s Fair in New York. The video calling back then allowed each person to see each other as they were speaking on the phone. People at the fair could step into booths to video chat with people that were in Disneyland in California.
By 1975 or so, 100,000 of these devices were made. But the service was insanely expensive to use. A three-minute call with the Picturephone would cost up to $27, which is now over $250.
Looking for your own link back to the past? Eloquence has a huge collection of antique furniture as well as antique reproductions, meaning you can find any style to match your decor. An antique reproduction will allow you to get the vibe of that time in history with modern improvements, sort of like all of these inventions throughout the years.
