Archives February 2001 - May 2001
By Mary Bellis
Henry Maudslay was a British inventor who invented the first metal lathe in 1797. Industrial Revolution
Sylvester Graham invented Graham Crackers in 1829. Graham Biography
The keyless combination lock or letter-lock was invented in the early 17th century England by an unknown inventor. American, Linus Yale Jr. invented the modern combination lock based on the letter-lock in 1862. The History of Locks
"The universal joint (Cardan Joint) was actually invented around 300 B.C. by the ancient Greeks. It was later re-invented in the 16th century by the Italian physicist Geronimo Cardano who used it as a mounting gimbel for holding a ship's compass horizontal in rough seas. Finally, it was re-re-invented in the 17th century by the English mathematician Robert Hooke who used it in its common form for transmitting torque." (Source of Quote Driveline - 101 - Author R.C. Brown) Clarence Spicer re-re-re-invented the Cardan or Universal Joint for use in cars in 1902.
The father of the modern necktie was the American tie manufacturer Jesse Langsdorf, who in 1920 patented the all-weather wrinkle-free tie. The modern necktie is part of the evolution of men's neckwear that has taken place for hundreds of years. The History of Ties
The electroscope, a device for detecting electric charge, was invented by Jean Antoine Nollet in 1748. Electroscope
Cotton swabs or Q-Tips® were invented in the 1920's by a Polish-born American named Leo Gerstenzang.
Thomas Edison holds the record for being the most prolific inventor and holding the most patents. The second most prolific inventor is Melvin De Groote. The third most prolific inventor is Elihu Thomson. The fourth most prolific inventor is F. H. Richards.
In 1767, the first drinkable manmade glass of carbonated water was created by an Englishmen, Dr. Joseph Priestley. The History of Pop
The first fiber tip pen was invented by Yukio Horie in 1962 in Japan. A highlighter is a fiber tip pen filled with transparent brightly colored ink. The Avery Dennison Corporation trademarked the name Hi-Liter®, they invented the name highlighter, but they did not invent the pen. History of Pens
Dr David Warren of Australia invented the "Black Box" flight data recorder. He was the first person to conceive of the idea of recording the flight crew's conversation on an airplane and of protecting that recording in the event of a crash or fire. The purpose of the black box was to help identify the reasons for a plane crash, by recording any clues in the flight crew's conversation. The black box was invented in 1953 and in production by 1957. More about the black box.
The Pillsbury Doughboy was created by an ad agency called Leo Burnett. On October, 1965, Pillsbury debuted the loveable 14-ounce, 8 3/4-inch character in a Crescent Roll commercial. The Pillsbury Doughboy
Dee Horton and Lew Hewitt invented the first sliding automatic door in 1954. However, this was a mat actuated device. Shopping Innovations
The Magic Lantern is the forerunner of the modern slide projector. No one can say for sure who invented the first one. However, one of the first ones was the Sturm Lantern invented in 1676. Source
The Yellow Kid created by Richard Felton Outcault in 1895 is recognized as the first "comic strip" or "comic book". Outcalt was the first person to use the balloon, a space where what the characters said was written. The History of Comics
James Faria and Robert Wright of Monsanto Industries co-invented AstroTurf in 1965. The History of AstroTurf
Charles Fritts invented the first true solar cell in the late 1800s, but it did not work very well. Solar Innovations
Dry Ice is the generic name for carbon dioxide in its solid form, frozen at -109.3 ° F or -79.5° C. Dry Ice was not invented. Dry Ice was discovered. Dry Ice does not melt - it sublimates. Sublimation is the process of going directly from a solid to a gas, giving it its name "Dry" Ice. The Dry Ice Corporation of America first trademarked the name Dry Ice in 1925.
My Little Pony is the registered trademark belonging to Hasbro Industries for their very popular toy pony. The inventors of the first "My Little Pony" are listed on the design patent; they are Bonnie D. Zacherle of Norwood, MA, Charles Muenchinger of Providence, RI, and Steven D. D'Aguanno of Greenville, RI. - From My Little Pony
The German Baron Karl Drais von Sauerbronn invented the "Laufmaschine" or "Running Machine", a type of pre-bicycle. The Laufmaschine was made entirely of wood and had no pedals; a rider would push his/her feet against the ground to make the machine go forward. More on the history of the bicycle.
Allen Gant Sr. invented panty hose. In 1959, Glen Raven Mills of North Carolina introduced panty hose, underpants and stockings all in one garment With the addition of an opaque nylon top; pant hose eliminated the need for multiple "foundation" garments. In 1965, Glen Raven Mills developed a seamless version that coincided with the introduction of the miniskirt. Allen Grant Sr. is a descendant of John Gant, who founded the textile mill in 1902. - From Who Invented Panty Hose?
The word grenade comes from the French word for pomegranate, early grenades looked like pomegranates. Grenades first came into use around the 15th century and the first inventor cannot be named. The first safe grenade was the Mills bomb, invented by Englishmen, William Mills in 1915. - From The History of Grenades
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