Inventions which never saw the light

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And sales of household gizmos are booming, with gadget company Lakeland reporting a 20 per cent increase in sales.

Middle England, it seems, just can't get enough of banana trees and electric omelette makers.

But some, however original, don't quite hit the mark.

We delved deep into the archives to bring you some of the wackiest and most useless gadgets past and present.

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Bra Warmer: Save yourself a short, sharp shock in the morning from those satin undies - just what the doctor ordered

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The Sun Pod: Ever craved a bit of peace on a noisy beach? In the Eighties, sun worshippers could opt for this unusual sunbathing experience. The brightly coloured cocktail costs extra

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Meowlingual: This is the cat's whiskers, an electronic feline interpreter from Japan. Now your moggy can tell you about the mouse hidden under the sofa. This followed hot on the paws of the dog interpreter - the Bowlingual