30 Ways to Shock Yourself

I'm not even sure what that is.

This is probably an old water heater, with exposed electric terminals. The cables are supposed to go to here.

Alas, the electric baby warmer went the way of many failed inventions.

No, no, baby. the hooka is here.

missing sock.

i guess this is how people started saying; that will knock your socks off

by getting electrocuted ?

The plug isn't even properly inserted...

Anyway, the baby is ugly! LOL

30 Ways to Shock Yourself by bre pettis.

Here are 30 illustrations from the book Elektroschutz in 132 Bildern. These diagrams outline causes of electrical accidents.

If you end up linking to this, it would be nice if you attributed me as bre pettis and linked to brepettis.com/blog.

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Comments

ChrisJ. says:

OMG, this is awesome. Where did you find it?
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

evilnick says:

hehehe. these are great.

Not sure about the validity of cc-licensing this though.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

bre pettis says:

good point! these images are likely in the public domain as it is.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

the_urchin says:

what exactly *IS* that device? it just looks like two wires connected to the wall,... with handles... made for the purpose of shocking yourself... life was way more dangerous back then.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

SpikeDspiegel says:

Before the days of standardized plugs attached to devices, you had to put a separate lead to each terminal of an electric appliance.

One for positive, and negative, each with a conducting center, and an insulated handle.

Seems the baby put one in his mouth, and his thumb in the other.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Veronica Belmont says:

Bre, what exactly is going on in this particular one?
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Wind Energy says:

Oh, that he were little Carl Rove!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Lara Sobel says:

Clearly, that baby is feeding off the current. A bottle of milk is not enough for Electrobaby.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

f_heaney says:

Is this like the 1930s version of the "baby in the microwave" myth?
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

elocin277 says:

that is truly disturbing
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

mandiberg says:

The date is 1931? So *not* Public Domain? Orphaned work? great images.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

~wishiwasanotter~ says:

...take it off pleeezzzz...I'm pissing myself with laughter. I can't figure how on earth these were meant to be taken seriously (I guess 1931... blah, blah)
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Count Spatula says:

The baby's bewildered expression kills me. Like he's thinking "What the ... Which of my brilliant parents left this by my crib?"
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

tuckerch says:

The early versions of the Wii controller, demonstrated the wisdom of using rechargeable batteries and not house current.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

evilnick says:

The standard copyright terms are 70 years from the death of the originator.
But it could be considered to be the work of a corporation (the publishers) especially if there is no art credit. A staff artist working for the company would have deemed to assign copyright to his employers. In which case in Europe, where the book was published etc etc., it would be 70 years after publication, which would mean it is in fact Public Domain

I think the baby is enjoying it. but where is his other sock?
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Mmm Figgy says:

This baby looks extremely concerned. Like someone just shoved that lead into his mouth and hand. "Wait, if I know my science, won't this KILL ME? What are you trying to do, mom?"
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

ang.d says:

In proportion to the other ojects in the picture, that is one GIANT baby. Must be a side effect of electric shock.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

rolypolyrolypolyrolypolyrolypoly says:

Baby?? Look carefully... that's an 81-year old man!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Kevbo says:

Someone's confusing the power adapter for the morphine drip control.

P.S. Achtung, Baby!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Marta mira alrededor... says:

Enlazado:
www.lacoctelera.com/martamiraalrededor/post/2 008/12/14/30...

Gracias!!
Marta.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

katey lady says:

What I imagine is going on here is that that's the power cord for the electric heater for the baby bottles? Still not smart to leave around a baby but it almost makes sense.

Why there are nipples on the hot pot is another question...
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

~wishiwasanotter~ says:

THIS IS SO WRONG IN...IN...SOOOOO MANY WAYS!!!!

baby: " So .... I'll just wait like this till you get back then, will I "?
mom: "that's right sweety, and that button in your hand...don't push it"
baby: "so don't pu....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzttt"!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

juffrouwjo says:

The wires should have been attached to the devide on the table, probably a heater for milk.
Many appliances back then had plugs to connect to the socket in the wall.
It probably hasnt got a on/off switch, you just unplug it or as in this case, the wires with plugs have been removed and 'nanny' has left the room for a moment.
The drawing shows what really could, and sadly did happen.
I myself have received the occasional shock from 1930s devices.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

bine_bardi says:

bhauhauahauahauahauahauahauah LOL
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

tsancio says:

Hi Bre, we miss you hosting the Make: video podcasts.

There must be a DIN norm for the cable, the pushbutton, the plug and perhaps even for the baby itself.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Guided by VOIP says:

Baby's not gonna get a good toke like that. Look! He's forgotten to hook the inhale nozzle into the vaporizer! Rookie mistake.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

larsenstexas says:

The germans tested all these ideas before writing this book. Three times.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

jasonsargo says:

Good Lord, Debbie Downer! Juff, did those occasional shocks remove your sense of humor?

These are absurdly disturbing illustrations from a time we are not familiar with, and even nervous humor would be an appropriate response.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

juffrouwjo says:

Just because I don't see anything funny about these images it doesnt mean I dont have a sense of humour, its just a differend kind then yours.
I dont find these images absurd and the time is familiar to me.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Ray2Jerry says:

juffrouwjo - "I myself have received the occasional shock from 1930s devices."

This is from the same person that repeatedly posts in this photo set that all her appliances are from the 1930s but are still all working perfectly and are safer than modern ones.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

juffrouwjo says:

Indeed, with other words, I have had more problems with modern appliances then with old ones.
They have given me more shocks.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

j u 5 says:

rofl!! at the pic more the comments thouygh.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

TheBlackAdder says:

GREAT MOMENTS IN HISTORY
Herr Wolfgang Sony carried out trials of the prototype of the new electrical game "PlayenStazion 1 mit HandKontroller" during late 1938. Sadly the outbreak of war meant product release was delayed by almost 70 years.

The child in the illustration is Willibert Neudorf, whose family fled to Australia when war broke out. After name change he became famous as a TV presenter Bert Newton. The damage to his cerebral cortex proved to be an advantage in this role.
Posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

Cristian PLATAnazo says:

i like your design pictures and illustrations so much!
Posted 4 weeks ago. ( permalink )

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30 Ways to Shock Yourself

Comments

ChrisJ. says:

evilnick says:

bre pettis says:

the_urchin says:

SpikeDspiegel says:

Veronica Belmont says:

Wind Energy says:

Lara Sobel says:

f_heaney says:

elocin277 says:

mandiberg says:

~wishiwasanotter~ says:

Count Spatula says:

tuckerch says:

evilnick says:

Mmm Figgy says:

ang.d says:

rolypolyrolypolyrolypolyrolypoly says:

Kevbo says:

Marta mira alrededor... says:

katey lady says:

~wishiwasanotter~ says:

juffrouwjo says:

bine_bardi says:

tsancio says:

Guided by VOIP says:

larsenstexas says:

jasonsargo says:

juffrouwjo says:

Ray2Jerry says:

juffrouwjo says:

j u 5 says:

TheBlackAdder says:

Cristian PLATAnazo says:

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bre pettis' photostream

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