Inventions & Breakthroughs of September 1940
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Photocopier (Xerography)
2 
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Concept
3 
Jet Engine Flight Demonstration
4 
Synthetic Detergent
5 
Mass-Produced Nylon Stockings
6 
Proximity Fuse
7 
Electronic Fire Control System
8 
Polyurethane Foam
9 
Early Speech Recognition Machine
10 
Automatic Anti-Lock Brakes Concept
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON September 6, 1940
Full News Archive
- Headline: Madeline S. Buchanan: Novelist and Teacher. Impact: Madeline S. Buchanan’s writing teachings eventually led to the rise of countless terrible self-help books in the 21st century. Thanks, Mrs. Buchanan!. Fact: Being a writing teacher means you’re always only one bad student away from a novel that should never see the light of day..
- Headline: $3,100,000 GOLD RECEIVED; Shipments From Portugal and Venezuela--Pound Steady. Impact: The $3,100,000 gold influx from Portugal and Venezuela led to a nationwide obsession with shiny things, resulting in a brief but passionate craze for gold-plated everything, including pets.. Fact: Gold is not just a metal; it's also a great way to confuse your cat. Ever seen a gold fish? Exactly!.
- Headline: BURKE CHALLENGES THIRD TERM GROUP; Contrasts Vote in '28 Against Principle With Support of Roosevelt Today DEFENDS CALLING UP BILL Hearings in Single-Term Plan Opened to Senators Favoring Limit in Coolidge Days. Impact: Burke's challenge against the third-term group created a rift that sparked a series of political memes that haunt us to this day. Who knew politics could lead to such cringe-worthy humor?. Fact: The term 'political theater' could have been literally taken if Burke had just put on a play instead of trying to limit presidential terms..
- Headline: CHARLES F. GLUECK, INSURANCE OFFICIAL; He Was a 2d Vice President of the John Hancock Company. Impact: Charles F. Glueck's insurance career led to an unforeseen increase in people considering insurance as a 'fun fact' at parties, which is as thrilling as it sounds.. Fact: Being a vice president of an insurance company is basically like being a vice president of boredom..
- Headline: U.S. Mission in China Bombed. Impact: The bombing of the U.S. Mission in China led to heightened tensions that inspired a future generation of diplomats to take up yoga, believing that inner peace could solve all international conflicts.. Fact: Bombing missions may lead to a lot of chaos, but they also lead to great stories—just not the 'happily ever after' kind..
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1940, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1940
$0.06
2025 dataset value
$3,433,941
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1940, it would be worth $3,433,941 today (3433.9x return)
Rank #2
PG
Procter & Gamble
Price in 1940
$0.25
2025 dataset value
$586,657
Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1940, it would be worth $586,657 today (586.7x return)
Rank #3
KMB
Kimberly-Clark
Price in 1940
$0.69
2025 dataset value
$147,887
Kimberly-Clark - If you invested $1,000 in 1940, it would be worth $147,887 today (147.9x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
Batman #1
$2,220,000
Flash Comics #1
$1,500
Green Lantern #1
$150,000
Detective Comics #38
$42,000
All Star Comics #3
$2,500
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Lone Ranger Frontier Town
$150.00
Red Ryder BB Gun
$250.00
Sorry!
$30.00
Paper Dolls
$35.00
Microscope Kit
$200.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Walt Disney Comics and Stories #1 Card
$800
Superman Gum Cards
$800
G-Men and Heroes of the Law
$11.00
1940 War Gum Cards
$1,500
1940 Play Ball Baseball Cards
$3,000