Inventions & Breakthroughs of December 1974
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Personal Computer Prototype
2 
Optical Barcode Scanner
3 
Magnetic Bubble Memory
4 
Digital Calculator (Handheld)
5 
Electronic Voting Systems Pilot
6 
Voice Response System
7 
Automated Weather Satellite
8 
Computer Graphics Workstation
9 
Medical Ultrasound Imaging Refinement
10 
Automotive Emissions Control Catalytic Converter
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON December 13, 1974
Full News Archive
- Headline: Ford Urged to Support Car Sales Boost. Impact: If only President Ford had embraced the gasoline tax, we might have avoided the long line of people arguing about electric cars decades later. But hey, who doesn't love a good traffic jam?. Fact: Did you know that the average American spends over 100 hours a year stuck in traffic? Thanks, Pres Ford! You really knew how to keep us entertained..
- Headline: Peking Issues Fewer Exit Visas After Hong Kong Bars Fugitives. Impact: The decreased flow of immigrants from China might have set off a chain reaction, where people started to believe that borders could actually be closed. Who knew?. Fact: Fun fact: The only constant in history is change—except when it comes to people trying to migrate. Then it seems our societies have a hard time figuring it out..
- Headline: Carey Assailed by G.O.P. For Not Naming Key Aides. Impact: Carey's delay in naming aides probably paved the way for the political equivalent of a game of 'hot potato,' where no one actually wants to take responsibility.. Fact: Did you know that political aides often have the best stories? They just can’t tell them because they’re too busy trying to figure out who’s in charge..
- Headline: CONGRESS WIDENS PAY HELP FOR IDLE; BACKS PUBLIC JOBS. Impact: Congress’s decision to widen pay help for the idle probably sparked an entire generation of people who believe that sitting on the couch should be a legitimate career path. Thanks, Congress!. Fact: Did you know that the average person spends around 5 hours a day watching TV? Clearly, they were just waiting for Congress to give them a paycheck for it!.
- Headline: 2 Legislators to Offer 12 Kuh Measures to Alter Criminal Law. Impact: Kuh's measures to alter criminal law might have led to a future where everyone is just trying to figure out the legal loopholes—because who doesn’t love a good loophole?. Fact: Did you know that the law is often referred to as a 'living document'? It’s alive! Just like the endless stream of legal loopholes people keep discovering..
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1974, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
CVX
Chevron
Price in 1974
$0.66
2025 dataset value
$222,233
Chevron - If you invested $1,000 in 1974, it would be worth $222,233 today (222.2x return)
Rank #2
MO
Philip Morris
Price in 1974
$0.02
2025 dataset value
$2,553,677
Philip Morris - If you invested $1,000 in 1974, it would be worth $2,553,677 today (2553.7x return)
Rank #3
BA
Boeing
Price in 1974
$0.13
2025 dataset value
$1,592,290
Boeing - If you invested $1,000 in 1974, it would be worth $1,592,290 today (1592.3x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
The Incredible Hulk #181
$39,000
The Amazing Spider-Man #129
$1,500
Giant-Size X-Men #1
$13,300
Jungle Action #6
$40,000
Tomb of Dracula #25
$300
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Dungeons & Dragons
$250.00
Tonka Mighty Dump Truck
$75.00
Shrinky Dinks
$25.00
Playmobil Figures
$150.00
Rock'em Sock'em Robots
$150.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Maze War
$500.00
Gran Trak 10
$20.00
Tank
$33,400.00
Spasim
$200.00
Qwak!
$89.12
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1974 Topps Hank Aaron #1
$5,000
1974 Topps Dave Winfield Rookie #456
$5,000
1974 Topps Reggie Jackson #130
$33,500.00
1974 Topps Nolan Ryan #20
$49,620.00
1974 Unocal 76 Coins Hank Aaron
$1,500