Friday, February 18, 2011

The puff chart

Cigarette manufacturers have claimed ridiculous statements, but nothing like the "puff chart" - that shows you that you are "always ahead". According to this piece, the product is better because it "makes the smoke travel further and makes it mild".

Amazing. And it guards against throat-scratch too!


"Always ahead", 1949
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Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Electric health


"Electric Health", 1924
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A bigger version of the "Violet Ray machine", the "Elco Health Generator" has the added benefits of ozone generation and "mechanical vibration".

It claims to be useful to cure conditions so severe as "Deafness", "Pain" and "Obesity" - now, how it works to help restore hearing or to help lose weight, is not explained in the ad and the reader has to get the free booklet to find out more about this miraculous machine.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Electronic Miracle


"Electronic Brain", 1964
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The "complete working mechanical equivalent of an electronic brain" is not even electronic. It's a mechanical device and it does not use electricity. This ad walks the fine grey line between legit and scam.

The outrageous blurb about "problem-solving of missile countdown and satellite reentry" is just that. Blurb.

It is highly improbable that a $4.98 mechanical calculator made out of styrene plastic is a Turing Complete computer...or electronic brain.