Hacker News Reader

Comment by Daub | Hacker News Reader

For another example of a manual that employs humor, check out the Tigerfibel. This is the users manual for the Tiger tank, and is easily one of the most effectively designed books ever. As well as humor, it employs comic book style drawings next to photos, poetry, analogy and even a bit of nudity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigerfibel

https://archive.org/details/Der-Generalinspekteur-der-Panzer...

View on HN

There are lots of great little training films from the past. In WWII especially they had to bring in a lot of people with little experience with the sophisticated new technologies that were often only developed during the war. Search Youtube for phrases like "world war II training films".

Some examples:

https://youtu.be/gwf5mAlI7Ug - (Mechanical Computers) U.S. NAVY BASIC MECHANISMS OF FIRE CONTROL COMPUTERS MECHANICAL COMPUTER INSTRUCTIONAL

https://youtu.be/s1i-dnAH9Y4 - (Mechanical Computers) Basic Mechanisms In Fire Control Computers

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9cQ2Ddo6YCwNcDh15h2I... - Mechanical Computers (navy series)

https://youtu.be/yYAw79386WI - Around The Corner - How Differential Steering Works (1937)

https://youtu.be/ezRP1h6x2GE - Vintage training film - Manhandling - 1962

https://youtu.be/-34vk-rahPk - BODY SEARCH | Spy Training Film (Vintage, ca. 1942-1945)

https://youtu.be/acGXBJv6AT4 - Vacuum Tubes 1943 Training Film (The TRIODE) Signal Corps Army Air Force Radio

https://youtu.be/0OmOQs0ziSU - 16 Inch Gun Training Film (1955)

Agreed. These are beautiful, and so very clear.

Also the classic safety training movie Staplerfahrer Klaus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ivFQNSifm8

A great one!

Better quality here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzS5xdSeS10

Thanks!

I would have never expected a tank training manual to have so many naked breasts. Otoh given the audience at the time were young men in their prime this method of stimulating the reader is kind of obvious.

This is what I aim for when writing documentation. It’s more fun to make and people are more likely to read it!

There were no naked ladies in the tank, neither anywhere nearby. The naked ladies were for those who didn't go to the front.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com