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View Full Version : Nothing new under the sun


VintageMusclecar
10-31-2007, 06:58 PM
As the old saying goes...

Today I was browsing through some old car magazines when I happened upon the December 1956 issue of "Motor Life". While perusing its pages, I noticed that several of the advertisements in them sounded strangely familiar...

I'm sure that by now, most everyone has seen, or maybe just heard about the new-fangled "electric superchargers" that have been listed on eBay for quite some time now. If not, check this out (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Electric-Supercharger-All-Makes-All-Models-HP-Turbo_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33741QQihZ013QQit emZ230186761417QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW). http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Turns out this idea isn't so new after all...it's been around for at least 50 years!

Check out the ad below:

(sorry for the blurry pics)

http://www.vintagemusclecarparts.com/Electric_supercharger2.jpg

Look at how much the prices have dropped in the last 50 years!

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

Up next, we have "engine overhaul pellets."

http://www.vintagemusclecarparts.com/Engine_overhaul_pellets.jpg

Sound familiar? (http://www.restoreusa.com/)

http://www.restoreusa.com/images/restore-left-1.jpg

This next one's a real doozie...as if dropping rabbit t*rds into your engine weren't enough, these people wanted you to squirt some sort of mystery goo into it!

May I present "piston seal". http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

http://www.vintagemusclecarparts.com/Piston_Seal.jpg

Scares me to think of what that stuff might've actually done inside an engine. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

Last, but certainly not least, we have a set of super-trick, double-whammy carburetor trim screws, guaranteed to cure that fat-running carburetor. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://www.vintagemusclecarparts.com/Trimscrew.jpg

Seems like a nifty idea at first, doesn't it?...until you stop and think about it and ask yourself : "self--why don't you just adjust the factory trim screws instead?...after all, that's why they're <u>adjustable</u>!" http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Again...nothing new under the sun.

I wonder how many people back in the day bought these items compared to how many people that fall for these gimmicks today?

Just thought y'all might get a kick out of these.

Eric http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif