Inventions & Breakthroughs of August 1951
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
First Commercial Computer (UNIVAC I)
2 
Microwave Popcorn
3 
Nuclear Power Generation
4 
Automatic Transmission (Hydramatic)
5 
Electric Hedge Trimmer
6 
Television Color Broadcasting
7 
Artificial Pacemaker
8 
Jet Passenger Aircraft Service
9 
Transistorized Hearing Aid
10 
Industrial Robot Concept
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON August 10, 1951
Full News Archive
- Headline: Clare Boothe Luce Receives Newman Award. Impact: This award inspired Boothe Luce to pen more works, which in turn encouraged a generation of playwrights to think that politics was a form of entertainment—truly a case of the pen being mightier than the sword, or at least more entertaining.. Fact: Clare Boothe Luce was not only a playwright but also a diplomat, proving you can excel in both snark and serious business..
- Headline: Poland Orders Closure of U.S. Office. Impact: This diplomatic spat led to countless espionage novels and movies portraying Poland as the ultimate bad guy, setting the stage for the '70s Cold War cinema trend where everyone was a spy.. Fact: You know things are serious when a government office closure makes headlines—maybe they just ran out of paperclips?.
- Headline: PRESIDENT ASKS AID FOR U.N. CHILD FUND; Seeks 12 Million, but Approval Is Uncertain--Emphasis Now in Asia, Latin America. Impact: This request for aid likely led to a cascade of bureaucratic red tape that delayed the funds long enough for a new generation of children to grow up thinking the U.N. was just an elaborate charity event.. Fact: Truman asking for aid was the 20th century equivalent of sending a GoFundMe request to all your friends who obviously have more money than you!.
- Headline: RAIL VIEW DIVERGENT DESPITE ARBITRATION. Impact: The rail negotiations turned into an epic saga of labor rights that inspired countless 'David vs. Goliath' stories in books, movies, and of course, workplace drama.. Fact: It's ironic that in the age of arbitration, unions still felt the need to hold meetings that could have been emails—some things never change!.
- Headline: AGED WOMAN DEAD, FORTUNE IN HOUSE; Sister of Jersey City Recluse Found Near-by in Starving Condition by the Police Not Seen for a Week. Impact: The tragic situation of C Fafflock highlights the often-overlooked struggles of the elderly, leading to a societal shift towards more awareness of senior citizen needs—a butterfly flapping its wings in the face of neglect.. Fact: Finding a fortune in a house is the real-life version of a treasure hunt, but with much grimmer circumstances..
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1951, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
PG
Procter & Gamble
Price in 1951
$0.25
2025 dataset value
$586,657
Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1951, it would be worth $586,657 today (586.7x return)
Rank #2
MO
Philip Morris
Price in 1951
$0.00
2025 dataset value
$23,651,345
Philip Morris - If you invested $1,000 in 1951, it would be worth $23,651,345 today (23651.3x return)
Rank #3
CVX
Chevron
Price in 1951
$0.31
2025 dataset value
$474,914
Chevron - If you invested $1,000 in 1951, it would be worth $474,914 today (474.9x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
Action Comics #157
$150
Detective Comics #168
$10,200
Vault of Horror #17
$42,000
Batman #66
$150
Young Men #24
$150
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Colorforms
$250.00
View-Master (continued popularity)
$150.00
Magic 8-Ball
$75.00
Mr. Potato Head
$150.00
Betsy Wetsy Doll
$300.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253
$90,000
1951 Topps Red & Blue Back #10 Yogi Berra
$20,000
1951 Topps Ringside Boxing #32 Rocky Marciano
$14,400
1951 Berk Ross Jackie Robinson
$10,000
1951 Topps Magic Football #7 Tom Fears
$1,500