Scout's Atomic Flash

The 1948 Davis Divan - An adaptation of the 1939 [Frank] Curtis, three-wheel ‘Californian’ roadster, by a group of talented engineers from the aerospace industry for the Davis Motor Company, Van Nuys, California. (bottom image via Show Me Fact)

The most unique feature of this 'car of the future’ was the built in jack for each of the 3 wheels - these were fabricated out of military surplus hydraulic cylinders and lifted the car by flipping the appropriate switch. Only eleven Davis Divan’s were produced - Davis Motor Co. came to an ignoble end when the company was seized and liquidated by the LA District Attorney’s office after Gary Davis was hit with fraud and other charges related to failures in meeting contractual agreements. (via The Makes That Didn’t Make It)

In search of the permanent wave: Hair wound ready for permanent-waving, with (on top) root winding for use with tubular heaters and (sides) point winding for use with croquignole heaters.

Wireless permanent-waving machine introduced in 1934 by Icall Limited to satisfy a demand for a machine in which there was no direct connection to electricity when the heaters were applied. The heaters were disconnected before applying to the head, known as the "falling-heat" method. Because such heaters started cooling as soon as they were applied to the hair, they were bulkier so as to provide a greater heat sink. Even so, timing had to be longer because of the cooling of the heater and waves tended to be softer.

(via Wikipedia)

Suburban Chicago, 1957 - Photo by Vivian Maier

The Shell Factory, Inc., Fort Myers, Florida (image via SwellMap)

A 1960s view of the Shell Factory sign at Fort Myers, Florida. The postcard’s description on the back:

Neon & Night in Black and White - Photographer: Alfred Statler, New York, 1950 (image via Pulp International)

The 1964 GM-X Stiletto - A General Motors advanced dream car concept vehicle debuted at the 1964 New York World`s Fair - strongly influenced by aerospace design, the X Stiletto featured aircraft-style steering controls and dashboard, a maintenance monitoring system with toggle switch controls, a three-way communication inside/outside speaker system, and cockpit designed seating. (image via imgur)

The Fulgur Dream Car by SIMCA - Designed in 1958 by Robert Opron for Simca and first displayed at the 1959 Geneva Auto Show. (via Car Styling) The concept car was intended to show what cars in the year 2000 would look like. It was to be atomic powered, voice controlled, guided by radar, and use only two wheels balanced by gyroscopes when driven at over 150 kph.

Fulgur is Latin for "flash," and Simca stands for "La Société Industrielle de Méchanique et de Carrosserie Automobile"

Kim Jong Il takes a test drive of an amusement park combat plane ride in Taesong amusement park, in Pyongyang, North Korea on October 2, 1977. (via The Atlantic)

A girl’s best friends, 1932 - Photographer unknown (image ©Michael Donovan)

Space Patrol Cadets - Photographer: Yale Joel for LIFE magazine, Washington, D.C., 13 January 1954.

Astroman at Astroland (image via 4peepsake & Coney Island History/Astroland Archive)

Astroland was the first ever Space Age theme park. It was located on Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York - opened in 1962 it was formally closed on September 7, 2008.

Race in Auteuil, 1952 - Photographer: Sabine Weiss (image via The Red List)

Interior of the Sky Top Lounge -  The Milwaukee Railroad’s streamlined Hiawatha passenger trains featured a variety of distinctive observation cars. The fourth and final design was the Sky Top Lounge, styled by industrial designer Brooks Stevens and produced by the Milwaukee Shops in 1948. The cars' round ends were 90% glass and included 24 revolving chairs, plus a drawing room. (image via Milwaukee Art Museum)

Spiegel Publishing House in Hamburg, 1969 - The employee-only swimming pool located in the basement of the famous German news magazine’s modernized premises in 1969 in Hamburg’s Ost-West Street. Designed by Danish furniture and interior designer Verner Panton. (image via COLOURlovers)

The Tallest Man In Iceland - They Be Giants: Johann Petursson, was born in Dalvík, Iceland on 9 February 1913 and was known as "The Viking Giant", and as "Jóhann Risi" (Johann the Giant) and "Jóhann Svarfdælingur" (Johann from Svarfaðardalur) in his native country of Iceland. He had a normal development till the age of 15 after which accelerated growth occurred. At the age of 17 he was very strong and could lift a lorry, but at the age of 20 he was weak and suffered from walking difficulties. His height was thought to be 231 cm. (7 feet 7 inches), his weight was 135 kg (298 lbs). His artists names were “Olaf” and “der Nordische Riese Olaf” in Germany and “the Icelandic Giant” or “the Viking giant” in the US. Johann Petursson is buried in Dalvik (Iceland).

Throughout his sideshow career he often dressed up in a suit and top hat, or his more famous Viking costume. While exhibiting himself in Sarasota, Florida he often claimed to have stood 8 ft 8 inches tall. He wore European size 62 shoes. He was the tallest Icelandic man on record. In addition to being a circus performer, he starred in several movies, most notably Prehistoric Women (1950) where he played the role of a giant cave man. 

(via TheTallestMan.com)

Swimwear by Jantzen - 1954 (image via Vintage Treasures & Cherished Memories on Facebook)

Rocket Scoot (?) - This photo is often credited to French independent photographer Charles Chusseau-Flaviens and dated 1931, but Chusseau-Flaviens’ career spanned the years 1890s - 1910s and it could not be located in either the George Eastman House or the Getty Images archives. Mysterious...