With each event, their inventory of weird inventions grew too and in the end, they decided to unite all these silly ideas under one roof.
Today, hundreds of pieces are spread across the museum’s three large buildings, with new items added by the founders on a regular basis.
They include, for example, a soup plate with a plug, which allows you to discreetly drain the food when you’ve had enough.
“It’s one of my favourite pieces. I wish I’d had one of those as a kid,” said Machac.
Another highlight is “the world’s one and only collection of famous button holes”, concealed inside little square boxes with transparent lids.
“This is the third button hole from the top of Napoleon’s military vest,” explained Machac with a serious face, pointing to one of the empty boxes. “while that one was worn by Austria’s foreign minister during the signing of the republic’s treaty of independence (in 1955).”
There is also a rifle with its barrel twisted backwards so that the muzzle faces the shooter – the ultimate, and final, “selfie”, indicates a small note next to the glass display.
But the spaghetti travel case, tricycle for twins and champagne cork retainer also hide a more serious message: they reflect a subtle critique of the modern consumer society, according to Machac.
“It’s a philosophy of life: these are all things that we don’t really need, but at least we’re admitting that we really don’t need them.”
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