Most objects you see today are used for the purpose they were designed for – or at least, something in the same realm. But others were created for surprisingly different reasons. From chainsaws to high-heeled shoes, check out these items that are used for very different reasons than when they were invented.
High-heeled shoes
The history of high-heeled shoes dates back to 10th century Persia – modern day Iran – where they were primarily worn while horse riding to lock the rider’s feet in the stirrups and provide stability, especially when using weapons. In 17th century Europe, heels were a symbol of aristocratic status and masculinity, but they came to be seen as women’s footwear in the 18th century.
Chainsaw
The chainsaw was originally created to assist in childbirth and is now used to cut down trees. The current adaptation is electric and much larger, but the idea of using a smaller, manual device to cut through a person’s body without anaesthesia is still hard to fathom.
In the 1780s, the tool was used to amputate parts of the body and cut out diseased bone sections. Additionally, to assist in difficult childbirth, the chainsaw was used to cut through the mother’s pelvic bone and cartilage faster in cases where a baby had become trapped.
Bubble wrap
What is now a great item to fidget with was created as a textured wallpaper in the 1950s. The design didn’t take off, however, as consumers found the plasticky bumps unappealing. If you think about it, those walls would have become an interactive toy, eventually losing their bubbles. The creators soon realised that bubble wrap had far bigger potential in the shipping industry as a protective packaging material.
Kleenex facial tissues
During World War I, Kleenex crepe paper was developed as an absorbent material for use inside gas mask filters to trap poisonous vapours. After the war, the company adapted that crepe paper to create women’s sanitary products. Later, it began making facial tissues for removing make-up and face cream, marketing the tissues as disposable handkerchiefs.
The electric tattoo needle
The tattoo needle was meant to be an electric pen.
You may be wondering, “What is an electric pen?” That’s because the invention, created by Thomas Edison in 1875, never took off as intended.
The design was adapted by tattoo artist Samuel O’Reilly in the 1890s to invent the first-ever electric tattoo needle, revolutionising the industry and keeping the original electric pen design in use.
