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“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
World,SocietyDEC 10, 2025

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)

Rūta Zumbrickaitė
Ugnė Bulotaitė
Rūta Zumbrickaitė and Ugnė Bulotaitė
40
12
Sometimes we take things we have around for granted. Basically, we assume that this one useful thing we always have available will be like this whenever we travel around the world. And then we learn how wrong we were.
Just like these inventions named in today's listicle. Apparently, they're only popular among people from certain countries and not elsewhere. So, just imagine getting used to utilizing in your day-to-day life only to learn that doing that outside of your country's borders is nearly impossible, because it simply doesn't exist there.
More info: Reddit

#1

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
The „Superfest“ Glass. Scientists in the GDR developed it, trying to make standard glass more durable. They used the ion exchange method, replacing sodium ions on the glasses surface with potassium ions, this is the same method Gorilla Glass is fastened with. The glass was 15 times more durable than normal glass. When they tried to sell the glasses to other companies and into other (western) countries, they failed, because no one wanted to sell glasses that don’t break. After the reunion of Germany the production got stopped, but today there are still plenty of glasses (mostly in eastern Germany) in use, just because they are so durable.
Franzzbrot, Franzzbrot
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32points

#2

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
The *harrumph* "Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher", a device for people with OCD who also like a boiled egg in the morning. You place it on the egg, pull the ball up and let it *clack* fall down. Creates a perfectly round defined breaking circle to lift the head of the egg...☝️😀...!
Don_Krypton, Don_Krypton
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24points

#3

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
Sauna sausage pipe. You put the sausage in the stone cylinder, place it on the sauna stones and you get a cooked sausage as a post-sauna snack.

Maybe the reason it didn't become an international success is that it makes the whole sauna smell of sausage grease.
PersKarvaRousku, PersKarvaRousku
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23points

Quite a lot of people dream of being the inventors of something big and meaningful, especially when they’re little. In the young days, such a dream seemed like an inviting career path.

Then, over time, you start realizing that, in reality, becoming a renowned inventor might not be as easy as it looked, and you start looking for other career opportunities. And yet, for many, his dream remains in the back of their minds, even if it is an unrealistic one. 

#4

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
Automatic pasta machine. Guzzles flour and eggs, craps tagliatelle.
SomeWeirdBoor, SomeWeirdBoor
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22points

#5

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
The dish drying cabinet was developed in Finland in the 40s. It was build in practically every kitchen but has declined a bit in popularity since dish washing machines have become popular. Still very useful for non-machine-washable stuff.
bubophile, bubophile
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22points

#6

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
In Australia (predominantly in South Australia), we have the 'Stobie Pole' - it is a utility/power line pole that is made of two steel beams with a slab of concrete in between them. It was invented out of necessity due to a lack of suitable timber. You can ask permission from the power company to paint artwork onto the pole.
FlorisLDN, FlorisLDN
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20points

In fact, some even go out of their way to try to make it a reality. Whether doing that in their free time or in their job, sometimes giving up on a dream might seem more impossible than realizing it. And it’s not like no one is successful in doing that – some people do make it as inventors. 

Then, they have to go through with filing a patent, which would grant them exclusive rights for their invention, so no one else could take the credit for it, make, use, or sell the creation. Of course, the process of patent filing depends from country to country, but the general idea of it still stands. 

#7

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
The Minitel, used before internet became mainstream. Minitel made it possible to use services (like book train tickets, buy stuff, chat, check opening hours etc., all this just through the telephone lines. As far as I know it never took off outside of France...
pax_fiat, pax_fiat
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19points

#8

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
Kimchi fridges.

Honestly not exactly useful outside of Korea I guess.
CommercialChart5088, CommercialChart5088
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19points

#9

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
The famous Dutch 'trekmuur' (pull-wall). Deep fried snacks that are kept warm like this. You pay with coins (or card for modern ones) and you pull on the lid to open and get an unhealthy snack. Found in cities, amusement parks etc. Really popular at 02:00 in the night with all the drunk folk looking for some food.
_Steven_Seagal_, _Steven_Seagal_
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18points

Just as the possibility of patent rejection. Just because you think you invented something big, doesn’t mean that the people who are responsible for giving out patents will think the same thing. 

The fault in getting the patent might fall to inadequate disclosure while filling out the application, or a lack of utility to be patentable. The creation might be viewed as not enough of an “improvement” of the existing creations or just as not a novel thing at all. 

#10

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
Girolle.

While a lot have some kind of Fondue pot or Raclette device, I never saw this in a private household outside of Switzerland.
Highdosehook
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18points

#11

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
Ham Holder/Stand. Don’t really know how to call it in English. It is very common here in Spain to buy and cut ham legs yourself. For that purpose, we have this ham holder to cut ham confortably. Also we have specific ham knifes that I don’t know if they are useful besides cutting hum.

Edit: hahaha I’m sorry friends.I definitely failed in my “Spanish-only device”. Looks like this device is all around the world.🤣.
el_gran_gatsby, el_gran_gatsby
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16points

#12

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
Bottle scraper. You use it to scrape the contents out of a bottle or jar that you normally would throw away along with the bottle. Purest example of Dutch thrift.
Freya-Freed, Freya-Freed
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16points

Yet, this shouldn’t be taken as a discouragement – after all, we live during the times where a few innovation booms have passed. Here, solely from 1900 to 1949, many groundbreaking inventions, such as airplanes, radios, and safety razors, were made. Not to mention the boom of technology innovations in the second half of the 20th century and the first part of the 21st century. 

And that’s just taking into account the most well-known innovations. Besides them, there are plenty of others that are known only in certain contexts. Just take a look at the list we’re serving you today.

#13

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
I guess this tortilla press. You use it literally to make homemade tortillas. Surely they exist in the southern US or something but I would imagine nobody else has it.
Jlchevz, Jlchevz
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15points

#14

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
Hjell. Wooden rack used for drying fish outdoors in cold, windy coastal climates.
Peromano
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15points

#15

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
The lunch dabba! There’s a whole network of workers called [dabbawalas]
mbmba, mbmba
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15points

It’s full of people listing things that are a grand creation in the countries they’re from, but not really anywhere else. Sometimes, some innovations shouldn’t be groundbreaking on a global scale; just a nationwide scale is more than enough. 

Does your country have anything that you have never seen anywhere else? What is it? 

#16

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
I was very surprised to not see this so often outside of post-Soviet countries

Not particularly an invention but still

edit with explanation: it's a champagne/ vine cork putten into a metal lid handle. It doesn't take heat so you can take a lid off without using pot holder

edit2: I was told that champagne ones work much better so here is some more knowledge for you
EugeneStein
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14points

#17

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
In Poland when we go to the beach we take that thing called "parawan" and make our own small private spaces. Not only that but it also stops wind which is common on beaches at the Baltic sea. I don't think I ever saw something like this anywhere else.
Peterkragger, Peterkragger
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14points

#18

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
Behold the Brazilian eletric shower.
Known_Natural2143, Known_Natural2143
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13points

#19

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
I believe garbage disposals are very uncommon outside the US
Scar1203, Scar1203
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13points

#20

“Does Your Country Have An Invention That Never Made It To The Outside World?” (38 Answers)
A bicycle made out of plastic. Go figure why it failed.
Peuxy, Peuxy
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13points
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