Inventions & Breakthroughs of December 1938
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Ballpoint Pen
2 
Atomic Fission Discovery
3 
Polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon)
4 
Duplex Transmission Radio
5 
Gas Turbine Engine Improvements
6 
Automatic Telephone Switching
7 
Instant Coffee
8 
Television Camera Tube Improvements
9 
Aircraft Cabin Oxygen Systems
10 
Electric Hearing Aid
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON December 19, 1938
Full News Archive
- Headline: Orphan Asylum Changes Care Approach. Impact: This shift in orphan care might have led to a shortage of sad violin music in movies for decades. Who knew child welfare could impact film scores?. Fact: The Brooklyn Hebrew Orphan Asylum was once a bustling hub—now it's just a reminder that change is inevitable and often painful..
- Headline: LAW CHANGE SEEN IN TOBACCO VOTE; Growers' Rejection of Crop Control Brings Predictions of Farm Act Revision Borah Sees End of a Theory LAW CHANGE SEEN IN TOBACCO VOTE New Legisation Conceded Low Total of Negative Votes. Impact: The rejection of crop control might have led to farmers growing more tobacco than they ever intended, resulting in a tobacco shortage in the 2040s. Thanks, Borah!. Fact: The politics of tobacco are like a bad habit—everyone knows it's harmful, yet here we are!.
- Headline: German Retail Trade Up. Impact: When retail trade in Germany booms, it usually means a heightened awareness of lederhosen fashion trends. That’s right, folks, history has its priorities.. Fact: German retail trade going up is just a reminder that there’s always someone out there beating you at shopping..
- Headline: CONCERT IN GREENWICH; Winter Series in the Public Library Is Opened. Impact: The concert series in Greenwich opened the floodgates for every wannabe musician with a guitar and a dream. Thanks, public library, for the musical chaos!. Fact: Public libraries are not just about books; they're also a great place to discover that your neighbor's rendition of 'Wonderwall' isn't quite ready for the big stage..
- Headline: London Speculates on Object and Outcome Of Last Week's Visit of Dr. Schacht. Impact: Speculation on Schacht's visit likely led to a flurry of conspiracy theories about what really goes on in high finance, paving the way for the internet's obsession with wild theories.. Fact: Speculating on political visits is like trying to predict the weather—everyone has an opinion, but nobody really knows what's coming..
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1938, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1938
$0.06
2025 dataset value
$3,433,940
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1938, it would be worth $3,433,940 today (3433.9x return)
Rank #2
PG
Procter & Gamble
Price in 1938
$0.25
2025 dataset value
$586,656
Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1938, it would be worth $586,656 today (586.7x return)
Rank #3
CVX
Chevron
Price in 1938
$0.31
2025 dataset value
$474,914
Chevron - If you invested $1,000 in 1938, it would be worth $474,914 today (474.9x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
Action Comics #1
$8,000
Detective Comics #16
$10,200
Adventure Comics #32
$50,000
Famous Funnies #47
$1,200
The Funnies #12
$42,000
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Scrabble
$250.00
Märklin Electric Trains
$300.00
Monopoly
$200.00
Tinkertoys
$150.00
Radio Flyer Wagon
$120.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1938 Gum Inc. Horrors of War #1 It's War
$2,500
1938 Churchman's Boxing Personalities Joe Louis
$32,000
1938 Wills's Three Castles Film Stars Clark Gable
$80,000
1938 Player's Cigarettes Film Stars Second Series Charlie Chaplin
$250,000
1938 Gallaher Famous Cricketers Don Bradman
$15,000