Idlewild (JFK) Airport Air Traffic Control Tower, 1952

Originally called Idlewild Airport, it was renamed JFK Airport in 1963, after the President’s assassination. This workman-like, competent but hardly spectacular cutaway illustration by Sloane shows the 11-story so-called “supertower” that allowed air traffic controllers in the early Fifties to track and guide up to 1,000 aircraft a day (real capacity was likely much less).… Continue reading Idlewild (JFK) Airport Air Traffic Control Tower, 1952

Mercury Moll: Mrs. Linda Plannette

We’re barely out of the 1940s–1952, to be exact–and this lovely lady is presaging the Sixties already by wearing cut-off jeans shorts, no doubt called “dungarees” at that time.  She’s a missus, too:  Mrs. Linda Plannette.  Looks like a sunny but cool Spring day in Southern California, judging by the long sleeves.  My guess is… Continue reading Mercury Moll: Mrs. Linda Plannette

Golden Gate Bridge, 1968

Golden Gate Bridge 1968

It’s a pretty fanciful look at a double-decker Golden Gate Bridge that never happened.  The neighboring Oakland Bay Bridge is double-decker, but not the Golden Gate Bridge. No information about this cutaway found on Flickr than the artist is Michele and the date is 1968. Click to Enlarge to:  1211 x 792 px Source:  JoeKane17

Turtle Personal Tank, 1952

Turtle Personal Tank 1952

As far as I know, this one-man tank never left the mind of Les G. Scherer. Scherer designed this personal-sized tank to weigh 7,000 pounds, pack two .30 caliber machine guns, and have 650 ports arrayed around the driver with each port containing a shotgun shell that could be electrically fired.  Main selling point of… Continue reading Turtle Personal Tank, 1952

Atomic-Powered Heating System for Building, 1952

Atomic-Powered Heating System for Building 1952

This was real, not Fifties fantasy:  a building heated by atomic energy. Appropriately enough, the building, located in Harwell, England, was the center for that nation’s atomic research.  Waste heat from the nicknamed “Bepo,” one of the atomic piles, was diverted to heat the 330,000 cubic foot/80 office building.  The system cost $42,000, but it… Continue reading Atomic-Powered Heating System for Building, 1952