ake a journey back to 1958 through the pages of Popular Mechanics and discover how technology and society were shaping up in the post-war era. This issue showcases groundbreaking ideas and futuristic innovations, including:
Solar-powered furnaces: Yes, even in the 1950s, solar energy was being promoted as the future of home heating.
Muscle-building advertisements: Fitness was already becoming a huge trend, with various products promising quick results.
Grow orchids at home: Surprisingly, men were being encouraged to cultivate beautiful orchids as a hobby.
Atomic-powered submarines and nuclear fleets: Bold plans for a nuclear-powered naval fleet were in motion, although these dreams didn't quite come to fruition.
Early electronic banking: An incredible electronic machine that memorizes depositors’ accounts using giant magnetic strip cards – something you don’t see every day!
Military tech innovation: New tools for the battlefield, including land mine planters, and an operator working directly under three rockets!
Home innovations: From ceiling heaters and ice cube ejectors to fold-away ironing boards and a three-burner stove placed over a refrigerator, the home of the future was on display.
ADT security systems: See an early version of remote security monitoring with a room full of operators using computers and printed sheets to run the system – something quite advanced for the 1950s.
