The Printing Press Made of Jelly

You can actually print documents using a tray of wiggly gelatin. This low-tech invention turned standard kitchen materials into a functional duplicating machine for offices and schools.

Known as a hectograph, this clever device relies on the ability of gelatin to absorb special ink from a master copy. Once the ink transfers to the jelly pad, you can press fresh sheets of paper onto it to pull off dozens of duplicates. It was a revolutionary way to copy records before modern photocopiers took over. Even today, artists sometimes use this method for its unique, handmade aesthetic.