Mankind has been crafting all sorts of weird and wonderful inventions since time began. Some of them appeared way before their time and were underappreciated. 

Others are intriguing curiosities, often with unexpected uses and hidden surprises. 

The Museum of Curiosities is a Twitter account that's dedicated to collecting these trinkets, gadgets, gizmos and oddities. It's well worth following in order to see some brilliant curiosities. We've collected some of our favourites for you to enjoy. 

A curious orange

Here's a neat little thing. A set of perfume bottles that are designed to look like an orange.

Here's a neat little thing. A set of perfume bottles that are designed to look like an orange. Each segment is an individual bottle with a total of eight being held inside the skin. 

A multi-purpose radiator

From the Victorian era comes an invention that's ideal for multi-tasking. This is a radiator but one that also doubles as a bread warmer. 

From the Victorian era comes an invention that's ideal for multitasking. This is a radiator but one that also doubles as a bread warmer. 

Others have suggested that you could also use it to dry your shoes out or use it as a cat bed. 

A bonkers tricycle

Here's a bonkers tricycle from the 1930s. Designs back then were bright, bold and in-your-face. Would we see kids riding this sort of thing down the street now?

Here's a bonkers tricycle from the 1930s. Designs back then were bright, bold and in-your-face. Would we see kids riding this sort of thing down the street now? Probably not.

Tiny books within books

In 1757 a bookbinder in the Netherlands apparently made a tiny bookshelf with miniature books and nestled it away inside another bigger book. 

Book lovers are bound to appreciate this one. In 1757 a bookbinder in the Netherlands apparently made a tiny bookshelf with miniature books and nestled it away inside another bigger book. Weird and wonderful. 

Efficient reading

If you like multitasking then you'll surely love this. It's a 300-year-old contraption for opening (and reading) multiple books at once.

If you like multitasking then you'll surely love this. It's a 300-year-old contraption for opening (and reading) multiple books at once. Why just read one when you can read seven?

In-car coffee machine

In the late 1950s, Volkswagen was apparently installing optional coffee machines in its vehicles. Convenient, but probably not terribly safe. 

You've probably marvelled at the various accessories you'll find conveniently installed in modern motor vehicles. But car manufacturers have been putting things inside cars for years. 

In the late 1950s, Volkswagen was apparently installing optional coffee machines in its vehicles. Convenient, but probably not terribly safe. 

Complex wiring

This photo from the late 1950s shows what could now be seen as a "primitive computer", but at the time was a marvel of IBM engineering. 

We love seeing how technology has changed over the decades. And this photo from the late 1950s shows what could now be seen as a "primitive computer", but at the time was a marvel of IBM engineering. 

Retro radios

Radios might not have been as fancy as modern music tech or even as the phone in your pocket but that doesn't mean they couldn't look great.

Radios might not have been as fancy as modern music tech or even as the phone in your pocket but that doesn't mean they couldn't look great. Here are some awesome-looking Art Deco radios from the 1930s. 

Razzle Dazzle camoflauge

This was a type of camouflage painted on allied ships during WW1 to confuse the enemy. It was intended to make it difficult to range the ships accurately.

You've probably heard about modern stealth technology used on military aeroplanes and vehicles but have you ever seen Razzle Dazzle camouflage?

This was a type of camouflage painted on allied ships during WW1 to confuse the enemy. It was inspired by British marine artist Norman Wilkinson and was intended to make it difficult to range the ships accurately. Thus making them harder to hit. 

Double wide limo

Jay Ohrberg is famous for creating some pretty bonkers cars including experimental vehicles for TV shows and movies.

Jay Ohrberg is famous for creating some pretty bonkers cars including experimental vehicles for TV shows and movies. This is one of his creations, a "double wide" limo. Not really practical, but certainly curious. 

Casio EG-5 Cassette Player

This creation dates back to the 1980s. It's a guitar/cassette recorder combo. Ideal if you want to jam out and record your own music at the same time?

This awesome creation dates back to the 1980s. It's a guitar/cassette player and recorder combo. Ideal if you want to jam out and record your own music at the same time?

Weird TV

Here's a weird and wonderful Philco Predicta Television from the 1950s. Sure, it might be tiny compared to modern TVs but its design is certainly quirky. 

Here's a weird and wonderful Philco Predicta Television from the 1950s. Sure, it might be tiny compared to modern TVs but its design is certainly quirky. 

Reusable shopping list

Using a piece of paper and pen to write a shopping list is so archaic. But using your phone to note it down is a bit too dull too. How about this instead?

Using a piece of paper and pen to write a shopping list is so archaic. But using your phone to note it down is a bit too dull too. How about this reusable shopping list instead. 

Air conditioned lawn mower

Some of these inventions are clearly way beyond their time and perhaps verge on being a bit unnecessary. 

Some of these inventions are clearly way beyond their time and perhaps verge on being a bit unnecessary. 

Like this ride-on lawnmower that also has air conditioning. There's a reason they aren't commonplace several decades after they were first invented.