A bizarre heated motorbike helmet was invented in the 1950s

  • A heated helmet called the ‘Thermoscaphe’ was invented in the 1950s
  • This weird-looking helmet is believed to be a French creation
  • The Thermoscaphe helmet featured a transparent, 360-degree design

Published on Aug 14, 2024 at 12:17 PM (UTC+4)
by Daksh Chaudhary

Last updated on Aug 14, 2024 at 12:18 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Tom Wood

In the 1950s, the world saw one of the strangest inventions – a heated motorbike helmet called the ‘Thermoscaphe.’

This weird-looking helmet is believed to be a French creation and designed to keep the riders warm during chilly rides.

This Thermoscaphe helmet featured a transparent, 360-degree design to give riders an excellent view of the road.

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Thermoscaphe was the wildest motorbike helmet ever created

A video of the earliest use of this helmet was posted on Facebook by INA.

A man casually turned on the helmet, put it on, and then set off on his moped for a ride.

Surprisingly, the helmet didn’t have a chin strap, relying instead on safety tethers, which raised doubts about its overall security.

The heating system in the helmet was as bizarre as its design but quite an innovative idea for that time.

Thermoscaphe used an alcohol lamp to heat air, which a battery-powered fan then pushed through a metal tube.

The warm air was supposed to keep the rider comfortable, but with the lamp precariously attached to the side of the helmet, there were obvious safety risks.

Evolution of the helmets

Sometimes, looking back at the technology from the past can be really surprising.

Much like the Thermoscaphe helmet, self-driving cars that existed in the 1970s were the start of something new and interesting.

Helmets have evolved far beyond these early attempts at innovation.

For instance – helmets today are far more safer and come with features like built-in ventilation systems, anti-fog visors, and even Bluetooth connectivity.

On the other hand, helmets made by Lockheed Martin are the most advanced ever.

These so-called helmets are used by fighter jet pilots and cost a staggering $400,000.

While the helmets like Thermoscaphe are no longer in use, it’s still worth looking at – especially given the fact that something like this was invented back in the 1950s.

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Meet Daksh: Not your typical pro, but definitely a pro at being fascinated by supercars, tech, and all things futuristic. When he's not nose-deep in work, catch him glued to anime screens or lost in the pages of a good book.