TIME MACHINE

1981

In 1981, we tested the future of convenience foods – all packed in retortable pouches. Everything from chicken a la king and Salisbury steak to sweet and sour pork was consumed and in more than 50 per cent of the trials, pouch food was rated as equal to or better than frozen.

1981

If you’ve ever heard a professional or amateur singer suddenly breakdown in mid-song with a harsh, rasping gasp, you’ll be glad to know that technology has come to the rescue. The Humid Mike from Voice-saver contains a humidifier to moisten a performer’s parched throat.

2000

The cover story of our November 2000 issue looked at the United States secret Lenticular Reentry Vehicle (LRV) programme. Thanks to its disc-shaped design, these LRVS could very well have been the mysterious objects that we’d been describing as UFOS. Designed by engineers at the Los Angeles Division of North American Aviation, under a contract with the US Air Force, the project was classified until May 1999. The LRV was 12 metres in diameter and weighed 20 412 kg.

1979

If splitting logs was a bit too boring, then you might have been interested in a screw-type log splitter. They could be powered by anything from your car’s engine to a garden tiller’s driveshaft. Just be sure to not get any of your clothing caught on the rotating auger’s tip.