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These 30 Ways To Die From Electrocution From A 1931 Book Shows How Much The World Has Changed
Vintage books and magazines can tell you a lot about the way people used to live back in the day. When this old publication resurfaced on the internet, however, it raised more questions than the answers it provided.
It's from 1931 and it's called Elektroschutz in 132 Bildern (Electrical Protection in 132 Pictures). The book simply lists ways people could've gotten electrocuted and while some of them totally make sense (for example, touching a lamp), there are some that look... bizarre, to put it lightly. Like, that one about the guy peeing off a bridge. Continue scrolling to check out what I mean!
(h/t vintageeveryday)
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#1
Bell 7 years ago
My grandmother lived on a farm and when kids would come in from town, her brother would convince them to pee on the fence, shocking them.
Calvin Hester 7 years ago
This was relevant in 1932 because of lack of and improper grounding. anything and anyone could become the ground.
Hamlets twin 7 years ago
I thought this was disproven as we don't pee in a laminar flow so it won't conduct unless you were basically touching the electrical line with your d**k
Dian Ella Lillie 7 years ago
It's highly improbable if the live wire is this far from the 'outlet', as the stream will have separated into drops with insulating air in between. That said, if one pees close enough to an electric fence one can suffer the indignity and pain of a shock...
Timothy Mathews 7 years ago
They should never have gotten rid of all the trams. The tram companies got bought out by big oil so they could dismantle the tram networks to make people buy more gas and have to drive everywhere.
Molly Block 7 years ago
I am ashamed to be German right now. These illustrations clearly are German in nature, and with the German words. Wow, I cannot believe we Germans could have been so stupid!
movie maven 7 years ago
You're not nor is Germany. Be proud to be German, as there is much more to your countries rich past despite all of the wretched evil death camps, sufferings & war crimes which shall forever never be forgotten. You are not blame. Besides many countries thought & believed similar things concerning the scary brand new electric technological world & it's dangers - past & current histories, fears & paranoia all swimming together towards an unknown future. Not stupidity really.
Load More Replies... Xina Imad 7 years ago
yeah this has been debunked. it's fine since urine isn't a steady stream but it trickles and drops are close but not close enough to create constant stream.
Sandra Lawrence 7 years ago
I know guys who have been electrocuted from peeing on electric fences to keep livestock in yards. They didn't die but it did hurt.
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#3
Bonnie Blue Bird 7 years ago
I'm getting the feeling that this artist is not pro-electricity :P
#4
Nathaniel Bong 7 years ago
The electricity traveled through her body and exited, of all places, through her butt...
#10
Meghan Turnis 7 years ago
I'm really confused as to why the pitchfork is floating in his...region...
#13
Ladies and Gentlemen 7 years ago
The fckrs never die this way and they cut all the wires all the time!
#15
Roger Haywood 7 years ago
Who the heck sits at a (very tiny, I might add) sink with a hairdryer?
#19
Analyn Lahr 7 years ago
That probably did happen from time to time. People didn't understand the dangers as well back then.
#20
Roger Haywood 7 years ago
Notice how the ladder is leaning on the window pane? More likely to die being impaled on broken glass.
#27
Ben Steinberg 7 years ago
Maybe the electrocuted contractor laying by the newly installed mailbox would have been a tip -off
#28
#30
Add New Image
What do you think ?
anarkzie 7 years ago (edited)
The moral of the story is if you see a big red arrow pointing at something then don't touch it, it's a trap.
Brivid 7 years ago
This was probably when they still used dc current (a lot more dangerous) and wire insulation was nonexistent or not very good.
Parmeisan 7 years ago
Yes, the common thread seems to be that any bit of metal may have current running through it at any time. e.g. if a lamp is plugged in, you must assume that every surface on the lamp carries a charge.
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phil blanque 7 years ago
Great illustrations...and good simple advice in a world where electricity in the home was new, circuits were not grounded, and exterior wires were not insulated. Outstanding post!!
Christopher Mack 7 years ago
I agree, the illustrations are very well juxtaposed and detailed.
Load More Replies... Martha Meyer 7 years ago
Judging by the comments on some of the pictures, some people even today don't seem to understand how current discharges happen.
diane a 7 years ago (edited)
Get the feeling they used electricity before they discovered the benefits of insulation and earthing??
ispeak catanese 7 years ago
The comments were both educational and hilarious!
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Chyppa Homer 7 years ago
From the golden days of electricity, when no one bothered with insulation :D
Captain Marvel 7 years ago (edited)
Oh my god, along with the golden comments in this post, I couldn't get over their faces! The woman in #8 (currently) reminds me of Nicolas Cage :P
Eliyahu Rooff 7 years ago
I've seen these online before, and I'm calling them a well-done hoax. The biggest giveaway is the modern hair dryer design that didn't exist back then. Same with the really unlikely scenarios such as peeing off a bridge onto streetcar wires.
Jessica Hepler 7 years ago
Some of these make me wonder if they either had no concept of how electricity worked or just had absolutely crappy technology. The other ones are just natural selection or someone who is too tired to think before touching everything
April Simnel 7 years ago
Ach, it's Germany. Have you seen their illustrated fairy tales from back in the day? Those will give you 24-hour-mares. Also, even in the US at that time, effective insulation on electric devices and widespread adoption of electricity hadn't happened yet (look up the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority), and people needed to be taught about how to, uh, conduct themselves around electrical outlets, appliances and so forth. OTOH, after looking at the first drawing, I started humming "Dumb Ways to Die" to myself, so there's that...
Martha Meyer 7 years ago
That is EXACTLY how electricity travels. Without proper insulation your body becomes the grounding conductor.
Load More Replies...
anarkzie 7 years ago (edited)
The moral of the story is if you see a big red arrow pointing at something then don't touch it, it's a trap.
Brivid 7 years ago
This was probably when they still used dc current (a lot more dangerous) and wire insulation was nonexistent or not very good.
Parmeisan 7 years ago
Yes, the common thread seems to be that any bit of metal may have current running through it at any time. e.g. if a lamp is plugged in, you must assume that every surface on the lamp carries a charge.
Load More Replies... phil blanque 7 years ago
Great illustrations...and good simple advice in a world where electricity in the home was new, circuits were not grounded, and exterior wires were not insulated. Outstanding post!!
Christopher Mack 7 years ago
I agree, the illustrations are very well juxtaposed and detailed.
Load More Replies... Martha Meyer 7 years ago
Judging by the comments on some of the pictures, some people even today don't seem to understand how current discharges happen.
diane a 7 years ago (edited)
Get the feeling they used electricity before they discovered the benefits of insulation and earthing??
ispeak catanese 7 years ago
The comments were both educational and hilarious!
Load More Replies... Chyppa Homer 7 years ago
From the golden days of electricity, when no one bothered with insulation :D
Captain Marvel 7 years ago (edited)
Oh my god, along with the golden comments in this post, I couldn't get over their faces! The woman in #8 (currently) reminds me of Nicolas Cage :P
Eliyahu Rooff 7 years ago
I've seen these online before, and I'm calling them a well-done hoax. The biggest giveaway is the modern hair dryer design that didn't exist back then. Same with the really unlikely scenarios such as peeing off a bridge onto streetcar wires.
Jessica Hepler 7 years ago
Some of these make me wonder if they either had no concept of how electricity worked or just had absolutely crappy technology. The other ones are just natural selection or someone who is too tired to think before touching everything
April Simnel 7 years ago
Ach, it's Germany. Have you seen their illustrated fairy tales from back in the day? Those will give you 24-hour-mares. Also, even in the US at that time, effective insulation on electric devices and widespread adoption of electricity hadn't happened yet (look up the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority), and people needed to be taught about how to, uh, conduct themselves around electrical outlets, appliances and so forth. OTOH, after looking at the first drawing, I started humming "Dumb Ways to Die" to myself, so there's that...
Martha Meyer 7 years ago
That is EXACTLY how electricity travels. Without proper insulation your body becomes the grounding conductor.
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