Mr. Traugott Beek of Newark, New Jersey, came up with a pretty fun futuristic life-preserver design for his time. Instead of just keeping someone afloat, it was a tiny survival shelter.

The upper section worked as a floating buoy, giving the wearer enough freedom to move their head and arms while staying above water. It could also store up to a month’s worth of food and drinking water. Not sure that the design as illustrated showed how it could keep that much food and water. Maybe it would be dragged behind?

If the weather turned rough, a cover could be pulled shut to protect the occupant from the waves. A small window provided visibility, and a curved breathing tube supplied fresh air.

The whole thing was made from waterproof sailcloth stretched over metal rings. It included watertight pants and rubber boots reinforced with metal bands to help protect against rocks and, according to the inventor, “voracious fish.”

Original illustration:

    • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayBanned from communityOPEnglish
      33·
      16 days ago

      The original drawing is included, so enjoy that if ya want. Or ignore. Or block community. Or block me. Or, less productively, try to save the world by boycotting AI.

      I support whatever you decide, brother!

      I don’t really have the cash to download the plans, find the materials, recreate it using those historical materials, go to a large body of water, test it, photograph it, then post it to Lemmy. So AI is a good choice for me. :)

      I’d definitely help support you doing all that so we could get a real photo of it though! Let me know how I can help ya. Thank you!

      • Bev's Dad@lemmy.caBanned from communityEnglish
        41·
        16 days ago

        No need to recreate the whole thing bud. Just post the original image and skip the slop. It doesn’t add anything of value.

        • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayBanned from communityOPEnglish
          33·
          16 days ago

          But it does add value to me, bud.

          The original image is a drawing. I like to see how things would look as if they were real photos. So I’ll keep doing it. My comm, my rules, and you are totally free to disregard. As is all of Lemmy. Won’t stop me though. It’s fun! Thank you!

    • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayBanned from communityOPEnglish
      11·
      16 days ago

      Maybe for rocks as when you are washing ashore on jagged rocky beaches? This thing is almost a good idea. If this thing was insulated, and made for dragging a dehydrated stash of food on a floatie behind ya, it would almost work!

        • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayBanned from communityOPEnglish
          21·
          16 days ago

          Um… oh yeah. Good point. LMAO

          I’ve been looking up so many wacky retro inventions last several days and researching them, that I’m starting to think the way they do, and overlook the much more practical realistic solutions. 🤣