You Think You’ve Aged? Items From the Early 1900s and How They Have Changed

Grocery stores these days have everything you need under one roof; however, things weren't like this at the beginning of the 1900s'. The milkman delivered the milk, the butcher took care of your meat and poultry, and the greengrocer freshly picked fruit and veg.

The local supermarket would hold mostly dry essentials and not household devices like today. In addition to that, the cash register, an important part of the grocery store, has dramatically changed, from a manually operated machine to a computerized register today.

Not only devices and places have changed, but even man's best friend, the dog, has been through some changes. Breeding, genetic adaptations, and other issues interfered with by humans, have managed to cause such a change in some species of dogs. Over the years, many changes have influenced the original characteristics of many species, such as average weight that had decreased, the back legs positioning, and the coat condition.

Many changes are a natural consequence of global warming, a change of habitat, and evolution. However, a lot of changes are in human hands' responsibility.

Roller skates are a symbol of the 1970s and 1980s, and rollerblades weren't late to follow in the early 1990s. They were originally intended for ice hockey players and became a sport and commute essentials that are seen all over the parks until this day.

The first roller blades that came to life were not as appealing as the ones we know today, and by the photos we found, weren't so comfortable either. By its looks, they resembled more of a miniature size car prototype than any other device intended for leisure.

The urge to listen to music not only in a live concert has been around for over 100 years. In the 1900s, a horn was added to a music producer box, which the sounds were produced from. This magnificent piece of history is called the Edinson cylinder player or a gramophone.

These days, modern speakers are small, compact, and don't have to be connected to an electric line to operate. With modern technology, Bluetooth is doing wonders, as our favorite tunes can be heard out and aloud from anywhere at any time.

Up until 1914, airplanes were used mainly for mail. Just before the 1920' kicked in, far distance traveling changed humanity for good. Salt Lake City to Los Angeles with a stop in Las Vegas was the first route taken for a rich passenger's journey by plane. The journey was noisy, crowded, and very uncomfortable.

Today, thankfully, things are different. From luxurious first-class or business class to the low-budget economy class, everyone travels. Business, or pleasure, with or without a suitcase included, free meal or free selection of seats, planes are the way to see the world.

Before being a great decor item, lamps were simply intended to produce light. Years and years ago, table lamps were made from a simple metal frame and bulbs. People didn't invest or have an interest in home decorating like today, and the image here says it all.

Today, table lamps come in all shapes and sizes, in all colors, and from all materials. They are an essential part of the home decor and complete the atmosphere you want to create. We wonder what atmosphere was created back in the 1900s with those designs.

What on earth did people do before the vacuum cleaner? At first, the vacuum cleaner was heavy and not the easiest device to work with. It was intended to clean carpets and rugs only, not thinking that years later it would be the main cleaning device in most households.

These days, the modern vacuum cleaners clean rugs and have added parts to be used in the car, separate parts for corners, and even cleaners that can wash the floors after the vacuum is done. The next step is probably a vacuum cleaner that will cook dinner and wash the clothes.

Old fashioned calculators were intended to calculate simple mathematical problems. There was no way to solve complex tasks. The calculators were big in size and quite primitive in use as most simple calculations could be done in one's head.  These days, calculators can do so much, and make us think so little.

There are graphic calculators which enable users to create graphs making this device much more than just a calculator. We wonder what kids in the early 1900s did when trying to solve their math homework without a proper calculator. We assume that those kids actually used their brains.

The tropical, yellow, loved by all fruit has a long history, and you might be amazed but this delight wasn't as yummy as it is these days. Bananas have been around for thousands of years, but not in the form we are all familiar with today.

Crossbreeds of this fruit have been formed repeatedly to improve the appearance and flavor. Were there banana splits or banoffee pies back then? We will never know, but what we do know is that with bananas looking as they did, they would probably go under the name of Banana Spills or Band off Pie.

Women's bathing suits in the early 1900s were basically short, tight dresses that could be worn in the water. It was shorter than the day-to-day dresses worn back then but far less revealing than the modern bikini. The variety of lengths and styles we can easily find in any high street store did not exist.

The days went by, as did the fabric, and the suits became progressively shorter, until 1946 when the bikini came to life. These days, the fuller styles are coming back in style, making the 1920's ladies fit in perfectly with the local scene.

The car's dashboard went through changes that have much more impact on the driver's wellbeing when behind the wheel. When the car came to life, the intention of the car was to take you from A to B in a four-wheeled vehicle.

There was no investment in the dashboard's facilities, keeping it only for showing you how fast you are driving and how much gas you have left. These days, the car dashboard holds the music system, aircon control, camera, and basically anything you can think of to make your car a no-reason-to-leave vehicle.

Who sewed the first pair of socks and when was it? If you can answer these two questions, you definitely know your socks and footwear history. The first pair of socks originated in Eygpt where pharos and princes pulled up their "Piloi" — ancient animal hair socks.

These days, socks are mainly worn between the foot and the boot. They can be found in all colors of the rainbow and are used not only to keep those pinky toes warm but also as a fashion statement.

Playgrounds have been around for years, providing an escape oasis for children (and their parents who enjoy sitting on benches, doing nothing while their kids play). Over 100 years ago, playgrounds were a bit different than what they are today. The slides, swings, and other elements were made mainly from metal, making the playground not really a safe place for kids.

These days, the playgrounds are colorful and made from sustainable and recycled materials. Most children all over the world, spend their first few years in and around the playground, granting their parents some peace and quiet.

Football. The national American sport has been around for years. It is a merge of soccer and rugby and is one of the most famous sports games played. The football helmet, one of the uniform's essential parts, has evolved over the years and doesn't look like it did when first introduced.

It started as a leathered extra large-cap and as the years went by, the leather gave its way to a hard plastic shell forming the helmet we are all familiar with today.

For years and years, coffee machines existed only to serve the cafe's clientele. They were noisy, badly designed, slow, and took too much space on the counter. However, they produced the addictive aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans. These days, almost every household has its own personal coffee machine.

It's small, easy to operate, and unfortunately, the aroma is nowhere near the ones the older versions produced. They are well designed and have become a piece of kitchen decor even if you're not a coffee drinker.

Resembling a barrel more than anything else, the old-fashioned life jackets weren't very useful. We find it hard to believe anyone could move around in one of these, let alone signal for help.

These days, life jackets are more human-friendly and don't hide your curves or your sixpack. We are curious to know if these jackets will appear in a future list of this sort, showing how it evolved into a fashion accessory, found in every high street clothes store.

If you were to pick up an old-fashioned razor, you would ask yourself how on earth wasn't a pack of bandaids attached to each blade. The old shaving blades were heavy metal made and were not disposable like the ones we use today.

Razor blades today are made with plastic handles, are much safer than the old ones, and you can find them in a variety of colors, shapes, and ridiculously high prices.

Apparently, snow is more blinding than the sun, so many years ago, the residents of the Arctic, came up with these dark shades to help get by the day when the blinding snow was all around. Like many other things, the sunglass's original purpose has skipped away and these are commonly used for blocking the sun's strong rays.

Today, sunglasses can be found with optical lenses, with or without UV filters, and in any color or shape imaginable. All major fashion brands have their own unique sunglasses line, making this item a must on your accessory list.

Could you imagine having to push and pull and push and pull really hard to get your clothes clean? Well just a few decades ago, that's what it took. A lot of pushing and pulling. Washing clothes wasn't as easy as it is today and the vintage machines required physical strength to operate.

Modern machines are a must-have in every household, and even a three-year-old kid could easily put on a wash. Just one button to click and you're free to do your next chore.

Bars have been around for years, always playing a significant part in daily escapism for the regular working-class man. Not too much was invested in decor or scenery, and there was no thought behind the liquor arrangement or variety on the shelves.

Today, thousands of dollars are invested in interior design, lighting, and furniture, making the bar not only a place to stop by after a day's work but a place to spend and enjoy an entire evening. A gathering place for friends, with a story behind each and every bottle displayed.

There is no need to detail how toilet paper looks and feels today, as we all use it daily worldwide. Toilet paper is known to be used in far China for over 1500 years. It was introduced to Europe in the mid 19th century. However, it was sold in a very different manner.

Sheets of paper were stocked in packages resembling a sort of notebook packed in a paper bag. We can say that we are very glad evolution hit toilet paper as well and that we are privileged to use it in its updater form.

Believe it or not, but not so long ago, men's bathing suits were all one piece. Something that is almost only a woman's thing these days. In the 1930s, men began removing the top part of the suits. This phenomenon kicked off in Europe and gradually made its way to the United States of America.

These days men wear different lengths and styles of bathing suits, challenging others with innovative and daring designs. From shorts to Speedos, from Hawaiian style trunks to red Baywatch-designed shorts, they are everywhere and all over posing off their preferred style.

Early 20th century shopkeepers only had one cash register which was made of brass. This heavy, expensive machine would basically add up the prices and provide a total amount to be paid. Club member discounts or reward points were unheard of.

The points had to wait for the 21st century, where the cash registers can not only calculate the amount to be paid, but can also add the reward points for each item, deduct the discount on selected items, and offer you goods you didn't think of buying, you have no use for, and will probably end up throwing away.

The desktop fan started with 2 blades turning around and blowing air that was basically the same temperature as the air in the room. However, the air was in motion, making people feel cooler and fresher. The old-fashioned fans cannot be compared with the modern air conditioner, but modern ones have not called the day, as their performance is no better than the old ones.

Bottom line is, not all modern devices are an improvement of the old. We can hear "I told you so" from hoarders all the way to here.

A classroom at the beginning of the 20th century consisted of a blackboard, chalks, desks, chairs, pupils, and a teacher. The system was strict, the pupils were miserable, and the 21st century delivers a brand new view of child education. The blackboard is replaced by a smartboard, the table arrangement, and classroom interior are diverse and adjustable.

We must ask if the educational pannels have finally reached these amazing conclusions of updating the school's environment, why on earth isn't the content being taught updated? Give us one example of using the Pythagorean theorem these days!

One hundred years ago, the car key was simply a regular key, usually with the car's manufacturer's symbol engraved into it. The keys were simple keys used for opening and locking the car door. These days, opening the car door is not their main purpose.

They open the trunk of the car, control the music pannel, operate the rooftop, turn on the AC in your home, and switch on the massage button attached to the car's seats. Who needs a vehicle these days? All we need to make our life better is a set of keys.

Over the years, phones have gone through many changes in design and size but the biggest change of them all is when they became mobile. Back in the day, telephones were used for communication via speech, and today, the communication platforms are unlimited, starting with verbal, text written, video calls, and more.

The phone today is one of the most important devices for humanity, making it almost impossible to lead a normal life without it. Basically, if we held a survey asking people what would they choose first, an arm or a phone, we all know the answer to that.

Baby strollers became popular in the mid 19th century but kept the same structure for several decades. Somewhere along the 20th century, it became more of what we know today. The stroller was first designed with a metal frame and a not-so-comfortable inner piece, making the baby regret the moment it chose to come out, knowing that the womb was far more pleasant.

Today's strollers are definitely smaller, made from friendly material, and provide our babies a great spot for napping, as more and more parents find the stroller the easiest place to put the little ones to sleep.

Sewing machines are not a device used by many these days. Going back a few decades, everyone, and we mean everyone, had one of these machines, as they were essential like an iron or a cooker. If your kid fell, scraped their knee, and ripped their pants, how do you think a patch was stitched on?

From a stable, attached-to-table machine, to a compact portable, lightweight friendly device, the sewing machines have no need for pedals at the base and definitely come in handy when something needs stitching (and no, this won't work on stitching wounds).

We put little thought into something we set our eyes on almost every day, not realizing that the traffic lights we use are probably one of the most important inventions ever. Controlling traffic and saving lives, they haven't been always so driver-friendly.

Starting off with the support of semaphore hands, the traffic lights in the old days were manually operated. It took a few decades before they became 100% computerized as they are today. So next time you're in your car, waiting for that green light, remember Garrett Morgan who invented these lights, making the roads safer for us all.

People have always got married. But what has changed in the way we get married today? What differs us from those 20th-century couples who make us occasionally long for those times to return? Black tie was the accepted dress code for weddings back then, and this was followed by a very formal ceremony and dinner party.

Today, a wedding can be held in the morning, noon, or night. You can wear whatever you feel comfortable in, and the gender of the couple can vary. A serious venue that's become a totally lighthearted event that we all wait for.

In 1985 Novo Nordisk Invented the first insulin pump pen. This was a breakthrough because up until then, diabetics could only have the insulin dose through a syringe, making it painful and inconvenient. The first pump pen was primitive in design and in order to use it, a trip down to the hospital was required. As if being diabetic wasn't enough.

Great minds worked on improving the pump pen, and today's design makes insulin delivery much easier. It can be used anywhere and anytime. Thank god for modern medicine.

When stories are passed down from generation to generation, small details and unprecise facts might be dropped and forgotten along the way. The camera created by man prevents this from happening as we have the ability to freeze time and capture moments that will never return.

The first camera invented was heavy, a fuss to operate, and had no added features or filters like we have today. Besides being smaller and lighter, making it possible to carry around, the quality of photographs these days, has turned this into an art, introducing top photographers, bringing objects and people, to life.

It is so easy these days to transfer your data on a USB key, transfer information through Bluetooth, send an image on your WhatsApp and save it on your mobile device. But how was data stored years ago before all these technology delights were invented? Believe it or not, paper cards were used. It is only natural to ask, what did they do when a cup of coffee was spilled nearby?

For those born over 30 years ago, memory cards were as common as cars, and they could not imagine storing information on any other material.

The first motorcycle resembles a big bike.  A big bike with an engine. The thrill of riding one of these down a curvey road was probably there even on the old version of the motorbike. However, technology and engineering have definitely turned the modern motorbike, as we know it today, into a road monster.

The fastest motorbike these days is the Dodge Tomahawk reaching 420 mph, it costs over 500K dollars, and looks slightly better than the one Gottlieb Daimler created in the late 1890s.

The first ballpen patented, didn't do wonders when the cold winter days came, as the ink became thick and couldn't flow easily around the ball and paper. Since then, many adaptations were made, and the ballpen exists and works perfectly even today.

There are many designers and sizes to choose from, and the colors are endless. Even though typing is becoming more and more common, and the art of writing seems to drift away, we have a feeling that pens are going to stick around for good.

The first refrigerators were so big, they took up almost half the size of an average kitchen. Now, don't envy the 1900's people for having extra-large fridges. It was the engine, being too big, not the space within. They resembled kitchen cabinets more than anything else, and the design was at no one's concern.

These days, refrigerators do more than keep food cold. They control the humidity level, they are an integral part of the kitchen's design. High-end models have a transparent door, so you can see how much milk you have left without even opening it!

A gas station is a gas station. It's there to provide gas. And only two customers at a time. That's how it was a few decades ago and things have surely changed since. The modern gas station can serve a number of customers at a time and offers much more than just gas.

You can actually do your entire weekly shop at a gas station, as you can find groceries, toys, daily essentials, and basically anything you set your mind to.

Although actual writing hasn't changed in centuries, and the alphabet used today is the same alphabet used in the 19th century, books have gone through some changes. The books you hold today are not the ones held by your ancestors. Books used to have only hardcovers, and the papers were of a brownish color and much thicker.

Today, the covers may be hard or soft, the pages are mostly white or cream-colored, and the cover itself usually has an image or illustration, in relation to the book's title. Presumably, having all books look-alike would make reading boring. Don't you think?

Items and devices that we use on a daily basis don't receive the slight thought and attention they deserve. Did you know that your home shower has gone through a lot of changes in the last century? It started off with a plastic curtain, hung on a metal frame with a shower tap above. Not very appealing.

These days, people spend a lot of thought and investment into their shower, as nothing can beat a nice pampering one, at the end of a hard day's work.

If you have kids, you could not imagine their first year without a baby monitor. These monitors literally allow you to get some sleep at night. You can watch them while they're having a nap during the day and monitor their movements at night.

The first baby monitors might have done the job for those who had trouble hearing, but by the looks of it, that's about all it did. They were aligned with the first radio developed, and likewise, had their own share of evolution. Today, the monitors have it all. Video, audio, and babysitting services all day long.

Have you ever thought of hospitals back in the early 1900s? Over 50 people sharing the same room, not enough medication for everyone, and we don't want to start even discussing the sanitary condition of the wards. These days, in some hospitals you could accidentally think you have walked into a hotel room as they are comfortable, clean, and inviting.

All rooms are equipped with the best treating machines, you can choose a city or sea view and sharing is unheard of (if you have loads of money). 21st-century hospitals, here we come.

We ask ourselves, how many times did the old beer truck lose a few barrels on its way to delivery? You can see by this image, that back in the day, beer went through a few stages of hell before reaching its final destination. With weather conditions and unsafe storage on the truck, we would be surprised if anyone got their drink on time.

Today's trucks are safe, good looking, they protect their content with grace, and assure whoever wants a cold beer to celebrate the weekend will have one.

As you could guess, the old-fashioned irons were, indeed, made of iron. Very heavy iron. They had to be heated on stoves, filled with coal, and basically, make everyone's life harder than what it was already.

However, the wise people of those times came back to the drawing board, changed the iron into quality plastic, designed a hole for water to boil, and voila — the modern iron was created.

In the past, one whole chicken would feed a family of three. Today, one chicken is enough for a family of six. No, they are not eating more, it's the hormones and steroids that are turning chickens into monsters. Farmers, scientists, and veterinarians are claiming differently, but research shows that if modern food and modern medicine are affecting us, humans, it is surely affecting animals and especially the ones we eat.

We wonder how many people one chicken will feed in 20 years. It will probably be a "chickrich". A cross between a chicken and an ostrich.

The first-ever pair of spectacles (or glasses as most of us call them), were the "John Lennon" glasses we are all familiar with. Round metal frames, giving a sophisticated and classy look. Today, frames are made from various materials such as plastic, bamboo, wood, and more, turning the frames into a daily accessory.

The lenses have been upgraded as well,  with short sight lenses, long sight lenses, and any color in the book lenses.

Besides the pizza and the pasta, the Romans bequeathed the world with the drill. In ancient Rome, slaves would use these old-fashioned drills for archaeological uses, which involved a lot of physical work. You can see how different the ancient drill is from what we know today.

These days, every handyman has a decent drill for fixing, hanging, building, and ruining whatever comes in hand.

Unfortunately, most of us were introduced to camouflage through wars, although mother nature with her own grace and pride shows us how it's done naturally! Troops and equipment used this method for disguise, and in some way, we are glad that time has made things escalate. We cannot imagine these objects seen in the battlefields of today.

A more friendly way of disguising yourself is used by all. Shades of brown and green are spread on, merging the troops with nature.

If only today's kids would appreciate the richness of their toy collection. If only the kids of today would be grateful for what they have. We bet if you told them, that 100 years ago, a small car model and playing with sticks were the day's highlight, they would probably not believe you.

These days, PlayStations and Xbox's are the devices that rule the world, however, classics such as Lego, Barbie dolls and Playmobile, never seem to lose their wonder.

Now, there are cars and there are luxury cars. The first so-called luxury car was introduced to the world in the first half of the 20th century and since then had become leisure preserved for the rich and famous. The Ford Thunderbird is considered the first car that had unique featured and was different from regular vehicles people drove in those days.

However, people will argue and some believe that Rolls Royce is the first brand to present such a luxury. These days, luxury cars are seen more often and the names of cars considered luxurious are endless.

These boots aren't meant for walking. Like most clothing in the early 1900s, infant shoes too were stylish (for those days), and besides looking good, nothing else was considered. Not health issues or comfort. Children only began wearing proper shoes and boots in the 19th century and all were made of leather.

These days, infant and toddler shoes are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, colors, materials, with or without velcro straps, flashing lights, and basically, if you can think of it, you'll be able to find it.

In the early 1900s, Louis Glass created magic. He took the stylish Edison phonograph (which was the best a man could get those days) placed it in a beautiful oak wooden cabinet, added a slot for inserting coins, and ladies and gentleman, the first Jukebox was born.

Now we know most people don't have a jukebox in their home, but we must agree that the current 21st-century version does look good.

So very many years ago, the most common way to send mail, was via a mailman. Mailboxes were scattered all over the streets, the mailman would empty it twice a day, and then off it went to be sorted and delivered. The old-fashioned mailbox can still be seen today, however, only a few are still in use.

Some mail is still used by the traditional way of posting but as the years go by, everyone is shifting to online communication. All you need is a device (computer, tablet, smartphone), an email account, and a message to send. Life has never been easier.

Penicillin was introduced to the world halfway through the 21st century. Up until then, even the smallest wound needed the most complicated treatment. The medication offered usually involved herbs, plants, and anything the pharmacists could get their hands on. It consists of home remedies and basic elements that were unheard of.

Thanks to modern science, medicine today is advanced and the introduction of penicillin to the world changed the rules of the game. Although not all medical conditions can be fully treated, the transformation it has gone through over the years has changed human life forever.

In the early 1900s, most people were entertained through theater and live shows. Few were privileged to enjoy a night out at the movies (and between you and me, the cinemas were not all that great back in the days). The sound was poor, the seats were uncomfortable and the variety of movies to watch, well... it was no Netflix.

These days, the VIP cinema rooms are more comfortable than the sofa you have at home, the dishes offered on the menu cover more than just popcorn, and the variety is endless. They are even re-launching old movies with new technology so the choices are there, you just have to make one.

In the 1920s, the blow dryer made its way into women's homes. Up until then, only salons would provide such services and only the rich could afford it. One of the first designs of the manual blowdryer was metal-made, heavy, too hot, too strong, and kind of scary looking.

The 21st century brings us blowdryers that can do much more than just dry your hair. It has hot air functions, cold air functions, low speed, high speed, curly hair, straight hair, and the list goes on and on.

So, basically, the toilets back then were for one use and one use only. To say the least, they were not the most comfortable place to be in, and as soon as you were in, all you wanted to do is get out.

Today, modern toilet rooms have turned into the most popular room in the house. Toilet seats can be found heated, round, squared, attached to the floor or the wall, they come in a variety of colors and, let's face it, it's the quietest and calmest space in the house.

At the beginning of the 20th century, only 20% of the population owned a toothbrush. The ones available were made of wood and with hard bristles. Now, we are not saying that people didn't brush their teeth (even the cavepeople used to brush), however, they used to use other techniques, and the common way of brushing was preserved for the second half of the 1900s.

And today? Today the variety is endless. There are the standard brushes that have soft, medium or hard bristles, and there are the electric ones that have turned into another merchandise device. It can be found with all of the latest Disney characters, and even a family set kit with one engine and a tooth-head for each member.

The 1930s are known as the golden era of the radio. It became popular in many homes and was the main source of entertainment. There was one station, one type of music, and only certain hours for broadcasting. Slightly different than what we have today.

The modern radio (which is not commonly used due to the fact that everyone today has a smartphone that doubles as a radio) is a small device that can fit into the palm of your hands, the stations are numerous, and it plays 24/7.

You say baseball player at the beginning of the 20th century, you say Babe Ruth. So, what were the main differences between the players back then to the ones of today? The uniform especially. And the size. The players of today are much bigger (and fitter) in size than what they used to be apparently.

And saying that, some things don't change and never will. Baseball players have always been and always will be mega superstars, worshipped by all, and serve the pride and joy of nations.

Back at the beginning of the last century, if you worked the land, you worked really hard. The farm tractors were maybe as big as they are today but they didn't do half of what they are capable of these days. The farmer pretty much had to do all the work while the tractor followed behind.

And today, if you can operate a car, then you can probably operate a farm tractor. It really doesn't take much more than turning on the switch and keeping the lines straight.

Just like the still camera, the 20th-century film camera has gone through a bit of evolution itself. The first video camera was intended for TV use only and it took a while before it caught people's eyes and became part of their Christmas gift list.

Today, video cameras are used everywhere (they are even installed on our smartphones), and modern technology has turned these babies into much more than a device that takes videos.

At the beginning of the 20th century, just like today, there were rich people. And these people had homes. And those homes were big. However, not as big as they are today. On second thought, they were big as today but didn't have all the additional elements rich people's homes have these days.

So what do these homes include besides the house? Parking facilities for more than one car, at least one swimming pool, a steam room, a sauna room, stables, huge garden, cocktail party area, family party area, only-you-and-me party area, and on and on and on.

Money has been around since biblical days. At one point camels and sheep were as good as any silver coin. By 1920, the small-sized notes as we know them today were introduced, however, even those have had their share of evolution since.

These days we are seeing fewer and fewer money notes around and the world is transforming to paying online. If you have a smartphone and you download the right app, you are ready to go. You don't even need a physical credit card.

1908 was the year George Ellery Hale built his reflector, known as the modern telescope. The old telescope was huge and not something one would purchase and bring into their home. They were used only by scientists and the amateur scientists or kids, had to wait for a few more years before they could have one of their own.

Today's telescope has abilities only dreamt of back in the 20the century and it can see and analyze space magnificently. As we say, only the sky is the limit.

Funnily enough, something as common and as simple as tea has been through some changes. Over 100 years ago, tea bags did not look as they do today. Portions of tea would be tied in small sacks and used over and over again. It was only in the second half of the last century, that tea bags became a one-use deal.

Today, besides the astonishing variety of tea flavors, the actual tea bag looks totally different. It can be round, square, or even pyramid-shaped.

Watercoolers were invented in the early years of the 20th century. They were big and clumsy, took too much space, and were not intended for a standard-sized kitchen. We assume that most people in the 1900s drank room temperature water as this was not something everyone had.

fast forward to the 21st century where every household has either a water filter, cooler, ice maker, or kiosk-refrigerator.

You would assume crosswords have always been the way they are today. I mean, it's words and definitions we're talking about here. How much could they have changed? Well, apparently they have. The first crossword puzzles were diamond-shaped with no black cubes between words as we know them today.

These days, besides the traditional ones we are all familiar with, online crosswords are available which can be great fun (and easy) as you don't have to assume the answer is correct. The app will green it immediately.

The first commercial hearing aid was introduced to the world in the early years of the 20th century. Up until then, nobody heard a thing about it. The first hearing devices looked more like smoking pipes than anything else.  The modern hearing aids look, how shall we put it...slightly different.

Modern technology has managed to create hearing aids that one can barely notice. They have transformed the quality of life for many people.

The small screen we escape to on a daily basis only became available in the early 1920s. What did people do until then? (Oh, you know, just read books, went to the theater, and communicated with each other.) Up until the late 1970s, the home TV set was nowhere near what it is today.

And today? Well, today the small screens are much more than a device for watching shows. The TVs of today are computers, music players, game consoles and are our best friend almost every night of the week.

Charles Strite was a savior for the restaurant industry way back in 1919. Strite from Minnesota invented the first popup toaster which made life much easier for the caterers as we all know that the level of toastiness is what makes or breaks your sandwich.

The toasters of today have become a designed device decorating our kitchen counters and are for sure something you can't live without.

The parking meters were irrelevant up until the day vehicles began to be a common thing to have. So, the 1930s brought the annunciation when it came to cars and when it came to parking meters. These days, the parking meters are part of...yes, our smartphones.

But even before the smart parking applications, the parking meters have significantly changed over the years. What started as a coin-only operating device, transformed into a coin, paper note, and eventually credit card accepting meter.

The milk over 100 years ago was purely milk. The 20th century carried with it the wonders of pasteurization which made milk safe for drinking. Up until then, no one really knew what they were putting inside of their bodies. The milk was usually distributed by a cart up until it became more and more commercial.

The 21st century carries all milk alternatives, as lactose intolerance has become more and more common. Milk these days is produced from literally anything. Rice, almonds, and oatmeal are only part of the list.

The first device that could be defined as a computer, came to life in 1900. IBM (yes yes, the same IBM we all know today) was the government and other big businesses' main supplier of punch-card tabulating systems during 1920, however, these were very primitive in comparison to the digital computers that came not so long after.

Computers as we know them today practically rule the world. All electric and digital devices have a computer in one format or the other. Cars, refrigerators, smartphones, and even restaurant menus are all operated by a computer.

The first computer game was only invented in the mid-1900s. And it too has changed dramatically over the years. Spacewar was the first game, which, believe it or not, was about taking part in a war up in space. Was it a huge hit? We're not sure, as only the rich and the famous had the privilege of owning a computer in those days.

Today, computer games have turned into a communication tool between kids. If you can't speak the slang, you're left out.

The beginning of the 20th century were the days when the paler you were, the more fashionable it was. Lemon juice was used as acid to try and make the completion of the skin brighter and paler. Walking down Fith Avenue with a tan was a big no-no.

These days, the natural look rules. If you're pale, you're pale, if you're tanned, you're tanned. Anything goes. The variety of cosmetics on the market is overwhelming and there is no need to use lemon juice, except for your cooking.

The children of the 1930s were privileged to enjoy the everlasting Lego Brick game. It kicked off in Denmark and only arrived in America in the early 1960s. The simplicity of putting bricks together and forming anything one could imagine has transformed into one of the most successful brands on the market.

From just a few bricks in a variety of colors to TV show plots and movie scenes, Lego has become every household's favorite.

The iconic fragrance Chanel No. 5 was launched in early 1920, and what a revolution it was. The luxurious French brand felt it was time to create a woman's fine fragrance as part of their ongoing collection. Chanel No. 5 was different than any other perfume as it consisted of ingredients never used before in that industry.

The Chanel No. 5 of today is nowhere near the Chanel No. 5 of yesterday. Due to regulations, the composition has changed assuring the fragrance is adapted to evolution. Does it smell the same as it did back then? You tell us!

What seems to be a piece of underwear clothing, that has been with us for years, was unheard of before 1914. The bra (or better we say brazier) was invented about a century ago, which for sure was revolutionary and changed women's comfort (and appearance). The first bras were big, unattractive, and used for their primary purpose which was to support breasts.

Today, the lingerie industry roles millions. The modern bras come in all colors, designs, materials and besides being a great supporter, they must also compliment you.