A restless night at a noisy roadside motel in the early 1960s is said to have inspired the creation of the first-ever white noise machine. The Sleep-Mate, a rotatable dish that conceals a soft whirring fan, could once be found in the pages of a Sears catalog. The gentle ambient hum and unique compact design of this mid-century sleep sound device have helped it stand the test of time and over the years it's assisted millions in getting their forty winks. Now, reach over to the nightstand, switch on this "fan in a pan", and let the soft, airy sound of this simple analog invention help you drift quickly off to sleep. 35.17223, -103.71644