The Winnipeg-based company K-Tel has a fascinating history, though it’s known mostly today for selling music compilations. Starting in the ’60s, K-Tel had a knack for making products you didn’t really need–or even would have dreamed of needing–but they designed them well, packaged them handsomely, marketed them intelligently, priced them fairly and they sold. The ubiquitous TV ads made Veg-O-Matics, Bonsai knives and Bionic Glue famous. (Thanks Dangerous Minds.)