Five rounds. Two strange stories each. Only one made the paper. Choose, then see the proof.
Sleep, rain, mice: the patent office had an answer.
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The five historical items from this edition, with their newspaper proof. Play first if you want to guess.
A newspaper miscellany described a French invention: a bed with a music box released by a foot-operated spring. It promised lullabies and an end to insomnia. The promise belongs to the old report, not to modern sleep science.
Morning Register · 1908-07-31 · p. 2
Open the original newspaper ↗Ed Jack of Wyandotte, Kansas, sought a patent for a rubber-webbing bridle that held a sleeper’s mouth shut. The paper repeated his theory that this would prevent snoring. It is a historical invention claim, not a recommended remedy.
Daily Eugene Guard · 1899-02-10 · p. 1
Open the original newspaper ↗Portland inventor R. V. Hoyt patented a rack that locked an umbrella, coat and hat in place. Its token let the owner recover them, addressing a familiar problem: the umbrella entrusted to somebody else that mysteriously vanishes.
Morning Oregonian · 1903-02-03 · p. 10
Open the original newspaper ↗A roundup of glass inventions described a transparent mousetrap. The inventor argued that passing mice would see another mouse enjoying the bait and join it. The same report admitted the device had not become popular.
Daily Eugene Guard · 1895-12-20 · p. 3
Open the original newspaper ↗Among the glass novelties in this patent-office report were children’s roller skates fitted with glass rollers. The writer mentioned them alongside glass building blocks as prospective presents, not as a proven commercial success.
Daily Eugene Guard · 1895-12-20 · p. 3
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