Summer romance

A full-page ad from the mid 1930s in cartoon format - the manufacturers are keen to remind the reader that girls don't date guys with body odour.

Nothing shady or un-politically-correct with this ad; just very nice art-deco charm.

"Summer romance", 1935
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Radium, anyone?

"Radium Rays", 1923
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Using the "potency of radium" to eradicate facial birthmarks would qualify as one of the most dangerous uses of radioactivity. More so complicated by the fact that -back in 1923- nobody really knew much about the links between radiological contamination and malignant cancers.

This newsclip hurts just by looking at it.

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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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.

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.