Inventions & Breakthroughs of August 1947
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Stored-Program Computer Architecture
2 
Transistor Radio Prototype
3 
Microwave Communication Tower
4 
Black Box Flight Recorder
5 
Electric Speed Control System
6 
Neoprene Wetsuit
7 
Jet Passenger Aircraft Concept
8 
Magnetic Tape Recorder Improvements
9 
Plastic Baby Bottle
10 
Programmable Logic Controller Concept
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON August 27, 1947
Full News Archive
- Headline: Dr. William Barrett's Landmark Contribution. Impact: If Dr. William Barrett hadn't existed, we might never have had the Barrett family of bubble tea, which would have led to a global tea crisis. Just imagine a world without bubble tea! Chaos would ensue.. Fact: Dr. Barrett was known for his contributions to science, but nobody really talks about how he also invented the 'Barrett Bounce,' a dance move that never caught on. You're welcome!.
- Headline: Teen Age Shop's Back-to-School Show. Impact: The back-to-school show exaggerated the importance of shopping. Thus began the capitalist cycle of stress that leads to student loans and adult therapy sessions. Thanks, fashion!. Fact: Did you know that teenage angst was actually invented at a back-to-school show? It's true! The fashion was so bad that it sparked the need for rebellion..
- Headline: Major O'Brien Atkinson's Historic Speech. Impact: Maj. O'Brien Atkinson's military decisions led to a series of events that caused a butterfly effect, eventually resulting in a global shortage of good coffee. The world is suffering, folks!. Fact: Fun fact: Maj. Atkinson was once asked to lead a coffee tasting session. He declared himself 'Major Brew' for the day. The rest is history (or just a really bad pun)..
- Headline: STYLES COLORFUL FOR COLLEGE GIRL; Sophisticated Clothes Shown by Lord & Taylor -- Plaids Seen in New Treatment. Impact: The introduction of colorful styles for college girls led to a fashion revolution, which subsequently caused a rise in Instagram influencers and a decline in meaningful conversations. Coincidence? I think not.. Fact: Lord & Taylor once claimed to have invented the plaid pattern. They also invented 'plaid fatigue'—the phenomenon of seeing so many plaids that you never want to see one again. It's a real struggle!.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1947, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1947
$0.06
2025 dataset value
$3,433,943
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1947, it would be worth $3,433,943 today (3433.9x return)
Rank #2
PG
Procter & Gamble
Price in 1947
$0.25
2025 dataset value
$586,657
Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1947, it would be worth $586,657 today (586.7x return)
Rank #3
KMB
Kimberly-Clark
Price in 1947
$0.69
2025 dataset value
$147,887
Kimberly-Clark - If you invested $1,000 in 1947, it would be worth $147,887 today (147.9x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
Young Romance #1
$2,500
Kid Colt Outlaw #1
$2,500
Blackhawk #9
$300
All Winners Comics #20
$500
Crime Does Not Pay #49
$1,100
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Tonka Trucks
$150.00
Dollhouse Furniture
$1,800.00
Slinky Dog
$1,800.00
Kite
$25.00
View-Master
$40.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Bond Bread Jackie Robinson Rookie Card
$5,000
Tip Top Bread Mickey Vernon Card
$5,000
Kane Products Ltd. Famous Footballers - Stanley Matthews Card
$1,200
La Confederation Des Francais Libres - Charles De Gaulle Card
$0
General Mills Mickey Mantle Pre-Rookie Card
$250,000