When a French politician remarked that a monument should be raised in honour of American independence at a dinner party in 1865 he probably didn't imagine that the result would become an international icon of freedom. ...

The first load of passengers queuing for the Bennie Railplane in Glasgow; the inventor George Bennie is third in the queue. The streamlined cars are self propelled, driven by air screws in front and behind, and hang from a steel girder. (Photo by J. A. Hampton/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). 4th July 1930

Hasty Pudding Theatricals Woman of the Year Sandra Bullock gets kisses from Vice President John Blickstead (L) and President of Hasty Pudding Theatricals Clare Putnam (C) in Harvard Square February 12, 2004 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Photo By Douglas McFadd/Getty Images)

Trainers from Tianjiao Special Guard/Security Consultant Ltd. Co. engage trainees dressed in swimming suits as they crawl on the beach during a training session in Sanya, Hainan province January 8, 2012. (Photo by CHINA DAILY/Reuters)

A fruit importer's lorry at Covent Garden, London, with its driver's cabin in the shape of an apple. (Photo by Harold Clements/London Express/Getty Images). October 1928

German field telegraph operators at work in Warsaw. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). 1st October 1914

Fuse TV VJ's Marianela and Juliya attend the store opening of “Nigo's A Bathing Ape” with Pharrell Williams January 11, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)

Some of London's telephone operators and engineers, trying out their gas masks at the anti-gas civilian training centre in Gloucester, where they were taught how to deal with gas attacks. (Photo by Harry Todd/Fox Photos/Getty Images). 13th February 1937