Big idea. No Sale.

Bohn Aluminum and Brass Corporation, Detroit, Michigan, were known for their futurism illustrations. One of their least bazaar concepts was a future commuter train. Its basic design came to reality in 1956 as the experimental Aerotrain, General Motors' two highly styled train sets. Their automotive designs were the inspiration and if one looks closely at Bohn's version, they may spot port holes (or not) that were closely associated with GM's Buick division. GM decided to use their city bus shells as coaches to save weight and cost. The lightweight coaches gave an unsettling ride for high-speed rail travel. Despite testing with major railroads, only the Rock Island Railroad bought them for use only in commuter service.

More on the Aerotrain here.

Fruit Smacked in Nebraska

 

Kool-Aid is an American brand of flavored drink mix invented by Edwin Perkins in Hastings, Nebraska. All of his experiments took place in his mother's kitchen. Its predecessor was a liquid concentrate called Fruit Smack. To reduce shipping costs, in 1927, Perkins discovered a way to remove the liquid from Fruit Smack, leaving only a powder; this powder was named Kool-Aid. In 1931, Perkins moved production to Chicago and Kool-Aid was sold to General Foods in 1953. Currently, Kool-Aid is owned by Kraft Heinz. Strangely, the colors in Kool-Aid will stain, and hence the substance can be used as a dye for either hair or wool. A yearly summer festival called Kool-Aid Days falls on the second weekend in August in honor of Hasting's claim to fame. Kool-Aid is known as Nebraska's official soft drink. 

See Hastings Museum.