Here is a large conversion of a Holt tractor into a quasi-tank, used for training US Navy recruits in land operations (Popular Mechanics, Sept. 1917). Unfortunately for a vehicle intended for use in rough front line terrain, it was quite tippy, all the weight being very high up.
Apparently, this is an 1882 unicycle (Popular Mechanics, Sept. 1917). Looks like a good way to get a foot lopped off!
Early robotic horse (Popular Mechanics, Oct. 1917) drawing hay wagon.
Ultimate bad-ass snowmobile (Popular Mechanics, Nov. 1917):
Allan Alexander “Scotty” Allan, one of Alaska’s most famous dog team trainers and handlers, designed this 60hp propeller-driven sleigh. He also trained 450 dogs for the French in WW1 and served in the Alaska Legislature! (Popular Mechanics, Nov. 1917).
This portable soundboard to enhance the transmission of “bugle Morse code” seems to have been a non-starter (Popular Mechanics, Oct. 1917):
Giant ocean-going “wheel” ship, “theoretically capable of great speed.” Don’t think they managed a scale model, let alone a prototype (Popular Mechanics, Dec., 1917).
Duck hunting with nets attached to the winds of a biplane (because it was illegal in California in 1921 to shoot wild fowl from a plane!). You needed a darn strong prop for this sport (Popular Mechanics, Feb. 1921).
The 1921 “Auto-Bandit Chaser in artist’s impression (Pop. Mech. Feb. 1921) and reality. A “trench gun” was a Winchester Model 1897 pump action shotgun–and that’s a story in itself!
