Tech of the Past: 14 Innovations from Global Fairs

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Edited By: Bhavesh B.

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Step right up and travel back in time to a world of wonder and innovation - the World's Fairs! In the days before social media, these global exhibitions were the hottest ticket in town, showcasing the newest and most cutting-edge creations. From 'picturephones' to glass cars, inventors and visionaries from around the globe came to dazzle audiences with their groundbreaking inventions.

Here are 14 of the most fascinating inventions that debuted at these iconic fairs, offering a glimpse into the past and the future.

1. William Avery showcases his gliding skills at the 1904 World's Fair.

2. A futuristic vision of grocery shopping presented at the General Motors Pavilion at the 1964 New York World's Fair.

3. Lois Kendall, playing the bass with the robot 'Elektro' at the 1939 New York World's Fair.

4. ‘World's Largest Knife and Fork,’ on display by the Beaver Falls Cutlery Company at the 1876 World's Fair in Philadelphia.

5. The Perisphere, a futuristic structure, was the main attraction of the 1939 New York World's Fair. It was connected to the Trylon, a tall, pointed building, by the world's longest escalator at the time.

6. An exhibition of industrial machinery, World Fair in Paris, 1889.

7. T.C. Benbow in his "METEOR" at the 1904 Saint Louis World's Fair on October 25, 1904.

8. Two American warships and their crews at the Naval Show during the 1904 World's Fair at the Pike.

9. The Sky Ride at the World's Fair in Chicago, 1933.

10. Driving simulators were a highlight of the 1962 Century 21 Exposition in Seattle.

Related: A Look Back at How 15 Famous Inventions Started Out

11. Pontiac's ‘Glass Car’ on display at the 1939 World's Fair in New York.

12. Dinosaurs on the Hudson being transported by barge to the New York World's fair. 1964.

13. AT&T demonstrating their “picturephone,” 1964.

14. At the 1939 World's Fair, RCA introduced television to the world. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was televised dedicating the 1939 Worlds Fair on the screen.

All images: eBaum's World

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