I’ve always been a sucker for mid-century vintage modern, that period from about 1945 to 1965 when convenience trumped many other considerations and design tended toward the practical (except for automobiles, which became more bizarre). Post-World War II was a boom time; disposable income was high and the generation that had served in the war was looking for easy ways to do things.

This was a time when modern technology replaced the hand labor previously required for many tasks. Automatic dishwashers, clothes washers, and dryers were just a few examples of appliances designed to create more leisure time. Along with automatic functions came “automatic” names. Click on any image for a larger version.

I’m not sure when this trend first appeared; the oldest image here, from Williams Ice-O-Matic refrigerators, appeared in 1929. (A company called Ice-O-Matic still exists, and it produces ice-making machines.)

And how can you not include the great Kodak Instamatic camera in the list?

There seem to be more “O” matics than “A” matics, and quite a few just “matics.” I found quite a few “O-Mats,” too.

There were Walk-a-Matics, Roll-a-Matics, and even Fruit-o-matic vending machines. If it made life easier, it often incorporated some sort of “matic” into the name.

Go to page 2 to marvel at the time-saving device that was the Bra-O-Matic.