Children's picture book - museum of inventions

I’m trying to identify a children’s picture book that I once read. The book’s conceit was that it was a tour through a museum of inventions. The objects were presented in categories and ranged from simple household objects to vehicles such as submarines and tanks. The inventions were often nefarious or dangerous. The inventor of each was often mysterious or insane. One section was dedicated to inventions created by or for children. These included a cross country running suit that made the runner look like they were wearing shorts and a running shirt, but allowed the runner to be warmly clothed beneath it. Another was a fake textbook with various amenities built into it, including a small television.

It's not quite a children's book, but the heavily illustrated work The Museum at Purgatory (1999) shares some the elements you mention.

Do you have an idea of what year you might have read this?

Thanks, MB. I don't think that's it.

I read the book certainly between 1993 and 2000. Based on the illustrations I would estimate it to have been published in the early 1990s.

Furthermore, the illustrations were on the cartoonish side.

Hi Foretopman, did you identify this book in the end? I don't suppose it had an underwater inventions room (with mechanised crabs?) and a room was a large machine that did your homework for you, amongst other things? I have been trying to locate a book I had in the 1980's which sounds very similar to what you are looking for (particularly the running suit)... My parents think I dreamt the book up, as they don't remember it at all...

hhickey, that is exactly the book I'm trying to identify. I recall exactly the underwater inventions room and the mechanized crabs. That room also included a personal submarine. I vaguely recall a homework machine, but have less of an image in my memory, but such a machine is exactly the sort of thing to be found here.

It's encouraging that someone else remembers the book. Is there anything else you can remember about it or things in it that might help identify it? Pretty much anything would help.

Could it be Crazy Inventions, by Jeannette Fidell and Tom Funk? I'm having difficulty finding pics, or a detailed description, but one site says:

Scholastic, 1980. Softcover. "Here's an hilarious, fully illustrated collection of the nuttiest gadgets, weirdest machines, and wackiest inventions ever dreamed up. And they are all 100% real."

Another description:

New York, Scholastic Book Services. 59 pages. " Crazy Inventions" - Does your chicken need glasses? Could you use an alarm clock that throws you - literally - out of bed? Feel lazy in the pool? How about a portable swimming machine? Here's an hilarious, fully illustrated collection of the nuttiest gadgets, weirdest machines, and wackiest inventions ever dreamed up. And they are all 100% real.

Also, here's an example of Tom Funk's illustration style: http://www.users.waitrose.com/~vgd/tf/propellor.gif

Thank you librarianjen, but unfortunately I don't think that's it. It's easy to overlook mentioning this sort of thing, but the things in the unknown book were certainly not real.

You're right, although one of the descriptions of this book alluded to the fact that they were 'real' not because they existed, but because they all had had submitted patents.

I sure hope someone knows the name of this book, because it sounds really good. So does the Crazy Inventions book suggested by librarianjen1. Another book I never heard of yesterday, but now absolutely must read! :)

My only thought is the Hamper and Trivet Catalog, but while it sounds somewhat similar, I don't really think it's the book being described because it's a catalog, not a museum.

It probably isn't, but could it be Rodney Rootle’s Grown-Up Grappler and Other Treasures from the Museum of Outlawed Inventions?

Thank you to everyone for your help, particularly tinymouse. That's it, alright. "Museum of Inventions" was even in the title. Looking back I'm pleasantly surprised my initial description was pretty good. I've already found and ordered a $6 hardcover.

Thanks again, everyone.