🧠 Inventions of 1938
Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.
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
The biggest hits of the year — Top 10 Pop & Country chart toppers
HEADLINES ON December 25, 1938
Full News Archive
- Headline: Legacy of Major J. W. Hills. Impact: Major J.W. Hills' push for women's rights in the 1900s inadvertently led to a future where everyone has a say about everything, including a certain someone’s Twitter rants. You're welcome, world.. Fact: Hills was ahead of his time, advocating for women’s rights while most people thought 'feminism' was just a fancy word for 'nagging.'.
- Headline: Wind Causes $1,000,000 Damage. Impact: The wind causing a million dollars in damage illustrated how Mother Nature's mood swings can lead to future insurance claims that make your head spin—because who doesn't love a good gust of chaos?. Fact: One killed, 18 hurt, and a million dollars in damage—sounds like a bad day at a windy picnic!.
- Headline: U. S. LEADS GERMANY IN EXPORTS TO BRAZIL; But Reich Is Expected to Increase Efforts During 1939. Impact: The U.S. leading Germany in exports to Brazil set the stage for future international trade agreements that would ultimately lead to a confusing array of tariffs and trade wars. Ah, progress!. Fact: You know you’ve made it when your exports can be counted on two hands, while your trade disputes require a legal team the size of a small country..
- Headline: PAIR HELD IN EXTORTION; Charged With False 'Arrest' of Police Applicant. Impact: The attempted extortion case had future ramifications for public trust in law enforcement, leading to a series of unfortunate events where 'the cops are coming!' became the ultimate party buzzkill.. Fact: Attempted extortion from a police applicant? That’s like getting scammed by your own shadow!.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1938, here's what it would be worth in 2025.
Rank #1
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1938
$0.06
Value in 2025
$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
Value in 2025
$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
Value in 2025
$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