Posts Tagged Inventors

The Dimple Machine shown in an advertisement on the left while a women poses with the face device in the right photo. Photo Credit: Modern Mechanix/The Babble

In 1936, Isabella Gilbert of Rochester, New York developed a “machine” to create dimples. In order to create the desired indentations, this device was worn over the cheeks while two knobs press into the cheeks. According to the advertisement, after continual use, the device “soon make a fine set of dimples.” The American Medical Association argued that the “Dimple Maker” would not make dimples or even enlarge original dimples. They also stated that prolonged use of the devise may actually cause cancer.

Not only is the “Dimple Maker” an unfortunate invention, but it also sounds (and looks) like it would hurt!

The first crossword puzzle, created by Arthur Wynne, published in the New York World on December 21, 1913. (Source)

On December 21, 1913, the first crossword puzzle appeared in newspapers. Now considered “the most popular and widespread word game in the world,” the puzzle was invented by British-born Arthur Wynne.

At nineteen, Wynne immigrated to the United States. He worked for various newspapers until he landed at the New York City-based New York World. His editor asked Wynne to create a new game for the Sunday “Fun” section. As a child, Wynne played a game called “Magic Squares.” Played in ancient Pompeii, the game’s goal was to arrange words that read the same way across and down. Wynne took the basic concept of “Magic Squares,” added a larger complex grid as well as gave the player clues to help solve it. He also pioneered the use of adding blank black squares to the puzzle

The first crossword puzzle was diamond-shaped and was initially called “word-cross.” It was a huge success with the newspaper’s readers. The name was soon changed to “crossword” after a typesetting error. Soon other newspapers were running the puzzles. Initially, the only major American daily to refuse to use the puzzle was the New York Times. The crossword finally found its way into the paper’s Sunday edition eighteen years after the puzzle’s introduction. It has since become a staple of the newspaper and just the word “crossword” seems to be synonymous with the New York Times.

Almost one hundred years later, Wynne’s invention proves to be more than a fad. Books of crossword puzzles can be found in stores. Puzzle applications can be downloaded onto cell phones. Perhaps more importantly to Wynne though would be the fact that the puzzle still dominates the “Fun” section of most major newspapers.

Sources
“Inventor of the Week: The Crossword Puzzle,” Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Aug. 1997.
Eric Shackle, “The World’s First Crossword Puzzle,” fun-with-words.com, 2002.
Mary Bellis, “The History of Crossword Puzzles,” about.com.

Wallace Kirkland—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

“Four-man bicycle is powered by five chains and has brakes on both its wheels. The bike was built by Art Rothschild (top position) who broke three ribs while learning how to ride it.”

The Original Ronald McDonald, played by Willard Scott ca. 1963

Ronald McDonald, the famous mascot of McDonald’s was created by media personality and weatherman Willard Scott. Known for being the Today Show’s centenarian birthday wisher since 1983, Scott created and played the popular red, yellow and white clown from 1963-1966 and, at times, as late as 1971. In his 1982 book The Joy of Living, he describes how he came up with the idea of the clown.

At the time, Bozo was the hottest children’s show on the air. You could probably have sent Pluto the Dog or Dumbo the Elephant over and it would have been equally as successful. But I was there, and I was Bozo… There was something about the combination of hamburgers and Bozo that was irresistible to kids… That’s why when Bozo went off the air a few years later, the local McDonald’s people asked me to come up with a new character to take Bozo’s place. So, I sat down and created Ronald McDonald.

Source

First Band-Aid Brand Adhesive Bandage Package, 1921. Photo Credit: Kilmer House

Band-Aids. I am struggling to write an introduction for the history of Band-Aids since, frankly, these adhesive strips speak for themselves. For me, the klutz magnet, Band-Aids have always played an intricate role in my life. It is to the point that just thinking about my klutziness actually makes me bleed. To combat my random cuts and lacerations, I stock up on the newest and greatest Band-Aids available. I am even adult-enough to admit that my favorites are recently released Mickey Mouse ones (see below)! But I, of course, digress. The point is it is hard to believe that these everyday necessities are not even a century old.

Earle Dickson the inventor of Band-Aids. Photo Credit: Kilmer House

To be exact, they were created in 1920. Earle Dickson, a cotton buyer for Johnson & Johnson, invented the Band-Aid, but the credit should really go to his wife Josephine. Perhaps I am distantly related or am a reincarnation of her since she sounds like a major butterfingers herself. According to Johnson & Johnson, Josephine tended to injure herself frequently through cooking and housekeeping tasks. (Funny, I usually get injured while avoiding those same exact things….) Earle found it difficult and cumbersome to continue to use cotton balls and wrapping on Josephine’s minor cuts, so he sought an easier way for a person to bandage themselves up. The Band-Aid was born.

When they hit the market in 1920, Band-Aids were handmade and came in strips that were two and a half inches wide and eighteen inches long. The person would cut the Band-Aid to the specifications they needed. However, in the early years, this new and improved bandage did not sell very well. In the first year only $3,000 worth was sold.

Johnson & Johnson decided to use a different marketing strategy. Deciding that their main clients were families, mainly mothers, they distributed free Band-Aids to the people they felt would need them the most – Boy Scouts. After giving away an unlimited number to Boy Scout troops across the U.S., Band-Aid sales began to increase.

In 1939, Band-Aids became completely sterilized, just in time for World War II. When the war broke out most factories and corporations converted themselves into war effort machines. The same was with Johnson & Johnson factories. During the war, they sent millions of Band-Aids overseas and the bandages were even included in standard mess kits. As the soldiers came home at the end of the war, Band-Aid’s reputation and sales increased greatly.

If you are wondering what ever happened to Earle Dickson, don’t worry, Johnson & Johnson did not forget about him. Earle was promoted to a vice president position and held it until he retired in 1957. After his retirement, he was a member of the board of directors until his death in 1961. By this time Band-Aids were well-known and a hot seller for the company. At the time of Earle’s death, around $30,000,000 worth of Band-Aids sold each year. Quite an accomplishment from its first year total of $3,000!

Additional Facts about Band-Aids

• The red string that is used to open the wrappers first appears on the box in 1924.
• Decorative Band-Aids were not introduced until 1956.
• In 1963, Band-Aids went into space for the first time with the Mercury astronauts.
• John Travolta and Brooke Shields both appeared in separate Band-Aid commercials in the 70′s.
• Barry Manilow composed the famous Band-Aid jingle (“I am stuck on Band-Aid brand, ‘cause Band-Aid’s stick on me!”).
• The year 2001 marks the anniversary of 100 billion bandages made.

My personal favorite!

Come on! How are these not the coolest band-aids?!

Sources
Craft, Dr. Naomi. The Little Book of Medical Breakthroughs. New York: Metro Books, 2010, 102.
Johnson & Johnson website
“Inventor of the Week,” Massachusetts Institute of Technology website.
Katie McLaughlin, “Barry Manilow: Audiences connect with a guy who’s telling the truth,” cnn.com, June 23, 2011.

Abraham Lincoln created the model with his own hands out of wood. It is on display at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History.

President Abraham Lincoln was the only president to hold a patent.

Information & Photo via the National Museum of American History

(Source)

“Whether you think that you can, or that you can’t, you are usually right.”

- Henry Ford

The Remington Model 1

Christopher Latham Sholes, a Milwaukee inventor, helped create the first practical typewriter. In early 1873, Sholes sold his portion of the typewriter for $12,000. E. Remington and Sons purchased the patent and produced the Remington Model 1, which went on sale in 1874.

Smithsonian Institution, Timelines of History, New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2011, 29.

Topsy the elephant performing. (Photo from LIFE)

Coney Island has been entertaining and delighting visitors since the 1880s. Among some of the amusements in the early years were domesticated elephants. One of the most famous Coney Island elephants was the six-ton, 10-foot-high Indian elephant by the name of Topsy. Topsy’s fame is not necessarily due to his rouge circus life, but rather, her execution in 1903.

Topsy with electrodes and copper-lined sandals attached. Photo Credit: Ephemeral New York Blog

Topsy the elephant’s owners decided that she was too much of a liability and a safety issue since she had killed three trainers within three years. In the years following her death, many have defended the elephant’s violent behaviors and stated they were due to the poor treatment she was given (as well as the treatment many early circus animals were received). One of the trainers Topsy killed was J. Fielding Blunt. Blunt, who was considered drunk at the time, tried to feed the animal a lit cigarette before she smashed him to death.

Initially, Topsy was going to be hanged but the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals opposed this idea. Electrocution became the decided upon form of execution because it was believed to be more humane. The person who suggested the elephant be electrocuted? Thomas Edison.

At that time, Edison was involved in a very public rivalry with George Westinghouse to prove that his direct current electrical system was superior to any of Westinghouse’s alternating current. Smithsonian.com compared the Edison and Westinghouse rivalry to that of Bill Gates and the late Steve Jobs.

Westinghouse (left) and Edison (right)

Edison agreed to handle Topsy’s execution mainly because he wanted the publicity that would come with it. Edison used Topsy’s execution as a stunt to discourage the use of AC by showing that it was far more dangerous than his DC.  The day of the execution was a cloudy January morning, with a crowd of over a thousand people. The New York Times called the entire event “a rather inglorious affair.” Topsy was fed cyanide-laced carrots to make the execution easier. Electrodes covered her body and she was fitted with copper-lined sandals before an AC current of 6,000 volts killed her quickly and quietly. Topsy was 28 years old.

Edison and his company used many animals in their electrocution experiments but Topsy was the largest. Wired.com summed up Edison’s experimentation with AC currents in the following way: “In the end, though, all Edison had to show for his efforts was a string of dead animals, including the unfortunate Topsy, and a current that quickly fell out of favor as AC demonstrated its superiority in less lethal ways to become the standard.”

In 1944, a fire surged through Luna Park (the part of Coney Island where Topsy spent her last years). The fire was called “Topsy’s Revenge.”

The Coney Island Museum honored Topsy with her own memorial sculpture on July 20, 2003.

Edison filmed Topsy’s execution and released the footage in late 1903. It is called Electrocuting an Elephant and can be found on YouTube. [Note: The video may be unsettling to some.]

Sources
Tom Vanderbilt, “City Lore; They Didn’t Forget,” New York Times, July 13, 2003.
“New York Honours Electrocuted Elephant,” BBC News,  July 21, 2003.
Tony Long, “Jan. 4, 1903: Edison Fries an Elephant to Prove His Point,” wired.com, January 4, 2008.
Gilbert King, “Edison vs. Westinghouse: A Shocking Rivalry,” Smithsonian.com, October 11, 2011.
LIFE

Mary had a little lamb and Thomas Edison

“Mary had a little lamb,” is perhaps the most popular children’s song. In 1830, Sarah Josepha Hale of Boston wrote this popular rhyme after hearing a story of a lamb following its young owner to school. It was published in the fall edition of Juvenile Miscellany, a children’s journal that Hale was editor of.

On November 20, 1877, Thomas Edison recorded the first words of human speech into his phonograph. Those first words were “Mary had a little lamb.”

Panati, Charles. Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things. New York: Harper & Row, 1987, 196.

[Photo]

Kies’ invention boosted the hat industry. Photo Credit: Library of Congress

• Mary Anderson (1866-1953) received a patent on November 10, 1903 for her development of an earlier device that would later turn into windshield wipers.
• Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919), was an African-American washer who up until the age of 37, worked for meager wages. She made her money through her discovery of a hair tonic that would help de-kink hair. Between her hair tonic and real estate ventures, Walker became a very wealthy woman.
• New York socialite, Mary Phelps (1891-1970) created the bra. It was patented in 1914 and the first version was made with two handkerchiefs.
• Gertrude B. Elion (1918-1999), was a biochemist who holds 45 patents in medicine that help fight illnesses such as leukemia and malaria. She also patented a medicine that suppresses the immune system for organ transplants. She was the first woman inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
• Stephanie Louise Kwolek (b.1923), a chemist is attributed to the development of Kevlar, commonly used in body armor equipment.

United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Female Inventors
Walker’s New York Times obituary

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin played a pivotal role in the founding of this country, but he was a lot more than just a figurehead for colonial revolution.

• His love of literature persuaded him to create the first public lending library in 1731.
• Fires were always a constant threat and possibility. Because of this, Franklin formed Pennsylvania’s first fire department in 1736 along with the Philadelphia Contributionship, the colonies’ first successful fire insurance company.
• Franklin became the first US Postmaster General in 1775 when the Second Continental Congress elected him.
• When writing, he has used both male and female pseudonyms such as Richard Saunders, Silence Dogood, Harry Meanwell, Alice Addertongue and Timothy Turnstone.
• He was considered the first American international celebrity, having visited 10 countries during his time as a diplomat.  
• Other inventions attributed to Franklin include the following: swimming fins, bifocal glasses, odometer and lightning rods.
• While Franklin was a strong patriot, his son (illegitimate) William was loyal to England. Scholars have stated that William even spied on his father and reported his activities to the royal crown.
• He also uttered the following popular quote:

“In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes”

[Information found at pbs.org, photo via America's Library]

Ferris Wheel, 1893. Photo Credit: Hyde Park Historical Society

The original Ferris wheel was first displayed at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. Its inventor was George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., a Pittsburgh-based bridge-builder.

- It stood 265 feet tall.

- One revolution took 10 minutes.

- Each of the 36 seating compartments could carry 60 people for a maximum total of 2,160 passengers.

- The wheel weighed just over 2 million pounds.

- On November 22, 1893, three years after his invention debuted, Ferris Jr. died of tuberculosis.

More photos of the Ferris Wheel at Chicago’s 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition here.

Hyde Park Historical Society

Lincoln Logs

John Wright, the son of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, invented the Lincoln Logs in 1918. During a trip to Tokyo with his father, John got the idea of interlocking wooden beams from the design of the Imperial Hotel. By interlocking the beams it would allow the structure more stability and support.

The Imperial Hotel in Tokyo

- The original logs also came with instructions on how to build “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and President Lincoln’s log cabin.

- By the time the Lincoln Logs became popular, Wright had already sold the rights to the toy.

- The original logs were made from real wood, usually redwood.

- Unlike popular belief, President Lincoln was not the inspiration for the name. It was actually named after John’s father’s real middle name. Frank Lloyd Wright’s middle name was Lincoln but he changed it to Lloyd to honor his mother’s family when his father left the family.

[Photos - Lincoln Logs and The Imperial Hotel]