Buggy Whips & Other Bygones : 1 Quiz

Answer: Calculator

In 1614, John Napier discovered the logarithm which made it possible to perform multiplications and divisions by addition and subtraction. This was a great time saver but mathematician still had to look up two logs, add them together and then look for the number whose log was the sum.

In the years that followed people refined the design into a sliding bar held in place between two other bars. It remained the calculating tool of choice of scientists and engineers for the next three hundred years, until pocket calculators became widely available and affordable.

Answer: Cartoon character

"Winky Dink and You" was a favorite kids program broadcast at 10:00 AM Saturday mornings from October 10, 1953 until April 27, 1957 on the CBS network. It and was the pioneer in interactive programming, as kids could send away for a kit that had a plastic screen that stuck to the TV screen.

When an on-screen character needed special help, children would be asked to draw on the screen with a crayon. If a character needed to cross a river with no bridge, the viewer would draw a line so a crossing could be made and escape trouble.

Answer: Winston

The U.S. Government's 1970 ban on cigarette advertising on television may have improved Americans' health, but it certainly put many musical jingle writers out of business.

Answer: Border boulders

Imagine that! A whole generation of American (and other) children grew up with games and activities that required skill and creativity, and no batteries or electricity! Only the future will tell how kids will turn out that played games where stealing cars and shooting policemen are rewarded.

Answer: Mighty Mouse

Izzy Klein originally had the idea of an insignificant animal with Superman-like powers, and proposed "Super Fly" to Terrytoons in 1942. Paul Terry, the head of the studio, later came up with the idea of a mouse instead of a fly, and "Super Mouse" was born. The character later became Mighty Mouse and "The Mighty Mouse Playhouse" premiered on television in 1955.

Answer: Can opener

Before the development of pop-top cans, many people carried small tools that punched a triangular hole in the top of a beverage can. Perhaps because of the fact that these instruments resembled the large keys used of open huge church doors, they came to be known as "church keys". They often had a bottle opener on the opposite end, as twist-off caps were also a thing of the future.

Answer: Teacher

A generation of American children knew Dr. Frances Horwich simply as 'Miss Frances', who hosted "Ding Dong School". Her 1952 approach was to speak to young viewers as if they were sitting right in front of her, a technique later used by Mr. Rogers. NBC cancelled her educational show in 1956 in favor of "The Price Is Right". Undaunted, Dr. Horwich resigned from NBC and took her show into syndication until 1965.

Answer: Pistol

While American television was flooded with westerns during the late 1950s, Mattel Toy Company's "fanner fifty" cap pistol was the weapon of choice for many young cowboys. Later models actually fired small plastic projectiles. Imagine the field day that federal watchdog agencies of the 21st Century would have with a toy like the Mattel "Shootin' Shell Fanner 50".

Answer: Chocolate milk

Captain Midnight and his sidekick Icabod Mudd led the Secret Squadron in the worldwide fight against evil in the mid-1950s. At the end of each episode, Captain Midnight would give a secret message to his viewing squadron members who needed a decoder ring to get the message. Ovaltine, a chocolate, malt and milk mix, sponsored the show and to get the decoder ring, one had to send in many foil tops from Ovaltine along with a quarter, which was no small financial obligation in 1954.

Answer: An indicator that the television was on and tuned

In the early days of American television, networks only broadcast for a select few hours a day. Instead of "snow" being seen on an off-the-air station, many broadcast a test pattern, often resembling a target or a design and often accompanied by an annoying droning sound.

It could be used to adjust the camera. Probably the most famous American black and white test pattern was the so-called "Indian Head" monoscope pattern. This pattern was originated by RCA in 1939.