17 Forgotten Inventions That Were Way Ahead of Their Time
Discover 17 fascinating inventions from the past that were so advanced, they baffled their eras and vanished before their time.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
History is filled with remarkable ideas that showed up long before the world was ready. Some of these innovations were dismissed or overshadowed by less impressive successors. Here’s a list of 17 forgotten inventions that were light-years ahead, and still spark curiosity today.
1. The Antikythera Mechanism (circa 100 BCE)
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A mysterious ancient Greek device was used to track planetary positions and eclipses. Found in a shipwreck, its gears resembled those in 18th-century clocks.
2. Tesla’s Wireless Power Tower (1901)
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Nikola Tesla’s dream of sending electricity through the air via Wardenclyffe Tower never got full support. The tech promised global wireless energy, but financiers backed out.
3. The Baghdad Battery (250 BCE - 250 CE)
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This ancient clay pot found near Baghdad may have generated low-voltage electricity. Its function remains debated, but it hints at ancient experimentation with electrochemical reactions.
4. Pneumatic Tube Transport (early 1900s)
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Once used to transport letters in cities like New York and London, this vacuum-powered tube system was tested for human transport, too. However, the cost and logistics buried the idea.
5. Babbage’s Difference Engine (1822)
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The world’s first mechanical computer, on paper, by mathematician Charles Babbage. Had it been funded, it would’ve launched the computing age 100 years earlier.
6. The Telharmonium (1897)
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This was an early electronic instrument that transmitted music over phone lines. It weighed 200 tons and needed massive power but could’ve changed how we share sound.
7. Dynasphere (1932)
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This was a one-wheeled electric vehicle shaped like a giant wheel that could reach 30 mph. Invented in the UK, it promised a new kind of personal transport.
8. The Chronovisor (alleged 1950s)
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This was claimed to be a Vatican device that could “see” into the past via electromagnetic radiation. While likely a hoax, the idea fascinated many.
9. The Water-Powered Car (1970s)
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Inventors like Stanley Meyer claimed to build cars running on water through electrolysis. Despite public interest, the science remains controversial.
10. The Aeolipile (1st Century CE)
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An ancient steam-powered device by Hero of Alexandria that spun when heated, it was essentially an early steam engine. It was treated as a toy, not a tool.
11. Air-Conditioned Hats (1950s)
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Fashion meets function: these hats had built-in cooling fans. Marketed to keep wearers cool in summer, they were bulky and never caught on.
12. Mechanical TV (1920s)
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Before electronic TVs, spinning disc systems displayed moving images with low resolution. John Logie Baird made it work, but better tech quickly replaced it.
13. Solar-Powered Steam Engines (1860s)
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Inventor Augustin Mouchot used mirrors to concentrate sunlight and power a steam engine. France praised it, until coal became cheaper.
14. Floating Cities (1960s)
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Visionaries designed full cities on the ocean to solve land shortages. One U.S. project, “Freedom Ship,” even had an airport.
15. Pedal-Powered Blimps (1900s)
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Combining human-powered flight with balloon travel, these early airships were tested for fun and sport. One even flew over Paris.
16. The Monowheel (late 1800s–1930s)
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Single-wheeled motorcycles looked cool but were hard to balance and control. Inventors kept improving them for decades.
17. The Reading Machine (1930s)
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Inventor Hugo Gernsback created a head-mounted gadget to read mini books using magnifying lenses. It aimed to modernize reading for speed and portability.