Better Off Dead: 22 Hilarious Photos of Early Safety Products

Cameron Fetter Published 14 hours ago in Funny

Glancing at this old-fashioned safety equipment will make you wonder if human life was just not as important once upon a time. Seriously, what were they thinking? These pics of protective pieces range from gear that is hilariously unsafe to gear that may be safe, but is such a crime you’d be better off just going in your pajamas.

Some of this equipment lacks form, some of it lacks function, and still more of it seems to have been created in a universe where neither of those concepts exist. Check them out.

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1.
A swimming mask designed to protect women’s skin from the sun. 1920s
2.
A mask that supposedly protected against the flu. Circa 1918.
3.
Testing a bulletproof vest in New York City, circa 1920s
4.
Protective gear for a golf caddy. 1920s
5.
Firefighter suit with built-in sprinkler, 1910s
6.
‘Floater coat’, capable of providing flotation for three days, 1942.
7.
An engineer attaching a telephone cable to a new support wire London, 1920s
8.
Early life jacket from World War I. 1916.
9.
Siberian bear hunting armor from the 1800s
10.
Early bike helmet circa 1900s. Looks more like knight’s armor.
11.
A mesh ‘health shirt’ used in a 1953 expedition to Mt Everest. It let air flow more freely.
12.
Lucy Smith climbing a mountain in petticoats. Circa 1908.
13.
Driving suit and goggles, circa 1900
14.
Female mountain climber outfit from 1911.
15.
Driving suits, 1907
16.
Football player wearing safety gear in early 1900s
17.
Cold weather flying clothing, 1941
18.
Radiation protection suit from 1912
19.
Football player wearing padded pants, 1901
20.
Radiation protection suit from 1934
21.
Oldest known diving suit, dating back to 18th century Finland
22.
Floating suit

1.
A swimming mask designed to protect women’s skin from the sun. 1920s
2.
A mask that supposedly protected against the flu. Circa 1918.
3.
Testing a bulletproof vest in New York City, circa 1920s
4.
Protective gear for a golf caddy. 1920s
5.
Firefighter suit with built-in sprinkler, 1910s
6.
‘Floater coat’, capable of providing flotation for three days, 1942.
7.
An engineer attaching a telephone cable to a new support wire London, 1920s
8.
Early life jacket from World War I. 1916.
9.
Siberian bear hunting armor from the 1800s
10.
Early bike helmet circa 1900s. Looks more like knight’s armor.
11.
A mesh ‘health shirt’ used in a 1953 expedition to Mt Everest. It let air flow more freely.
12.
Lucy Smith climbing a mountain in petticoats. Circa 1908.
13.
Driving suit and goggles, circa 1900
14.
Female mountain climber outfit from 1911.
15.
Driving suits, 1907
16.
Football player wearing safety gear in early 1900s
17.
Cold weather flying clothing, 1941
18.
Radiation protection suit from 1912
19.
Football player wearing padded pants, 1901
20.
Radiation protection suit from 1934
21.
Oldest known diving suit, dating back to 18th century Finland
22.
Floating suit