Famous Inventions

Famous Inventions, Adhesives/Glue
Around 1750, the first glue patent was issued in Britain for a glue made from fish.
Adhesives/Tape
Scotch Tape or cellophane tape was invented in 1930 by banjo playing 3M engineer Richard Drew.
Aerosol Spray Cans
The concept of an aerosol originated as early as 1790.
Agriculture Related
Learn the history behind agriculture innovations, tractors, cotton gins, reapers, plows, plant patents and more.
Aibo
Aibo – the robotic pet.
Air Bags
In 1973, the General Motors research team invented the first car safety air bags that were first offered in the 1973 model Chevrolet as an option.
Air Balloons
The early history of air balloons.
Air Brakes
George Westinghouse invented air brakes in 1868.
Air Conditioning
Willis Carrier brought us the comfort zone with air conditioning.
Air Ships
The history behind balloons, blimps, dirigibles and zeppelins.
Airplane/Aviation
Wilbur and Orville Wright invented the manned engined airplane, which they patented as a “flying machine.” Learn about other aviation related innovations. See also Airplane Parts Of
Alcoholic Beverages
Evidence of intentionally fermented beverages exist in the form of beer jugs dated as early as the Neolithic period.
Alternating Current
Charles Proteus Steinmetz developed theories on alternating current that allowed for the rapid expansion of the electric power industry.
Alternative Energy Related
A list of articles related to the invention and the history of alternative, earth-friendly energy sources.
Altimeter
An instrument which measures vertical distance with respect to a reference level.
Aluminum Foil – Aluminum Manufacturing Process
The first mass-produced and widely used metal foil was made from tin. Tin foil was replaced by aluminum foil in 1910. Charles Martin Hall discovered the electrolytic method of producing aluminum cheaply and brought the metal into wide commercial use.
Ambulance
The concept of ambulance service started in Europe with the Knights of St. John.
Anemometer
In 1450, Leon Battista Alberti, the Italian artist and architect, invented the first mechanical anemometer. The anemometer is a device that measures wind speed.
Answering Machines
The history of answering machines.
Antibody Labeling Agents – Antigen and Antibody
Joseph Burckhalter and Robert Seiwald invented the first practical and patented antibody labeling agent.
Antiseptics
History of and key figures.
Apple Computers
The Apple Lisa was the first home computer with a GUI or graphical user interface. Learn about the history of the Apple Macintosh, the most famous Apple home computer.
Aqualung
The history of Scuba or diving equipment.
Arc Transmitter
Danish engineer, Valdemar Poulsen invented the arc transmitter in 1902. The arc transmitter, contrary to all previous types of radio transmitters in history, generated continuous radio waves.
Archimedes Screw
An archimedes screw is a machine for raising water, invented by the ancient Greek scientist and mathematician Archimedes.
Armillary Sphere
Miniature representations of the earth, moon, and planets in the form of terrestrial globes, terrain models and armillary spheres have a long history.
Artificial Heart
Willem Kolff invented both the first artificial heart and the first artificial kidney dialysis machine. Read about the history of artificial hearts.
Asphalt
The history of roads, road building and asphalt.
Aspirin
In 1829, scientists discovered that it was the compound called salicin in willow plants, which is responsible for pain relief. But it was father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, who first discovered the pain relieving properties of the willow plant in the 5th century, B.C.
Assembly Line
Eli Olds invented the basic concept of the assembly line and Henry Ford improved it.
AstroTurf
A patent for synthetic grass-like playing surfaces or Astroturf was issued to Wright and Faria of Monsanto Industries.
Atari Computers
The history of the entertaining game computer.
ATM – Automatic Teller Machines
The history of automated teller machines (ATM).
Atomic Bomb
In 1939, Einstein and several other scientists told Roosevelt of efforts in Nazi Germany to build an atomic bomb. It was shortly thereafter that the United States Government began the Manhattan Project, whose research produced the first atomic bomb.
Atomic Clock
The US primary time and frequency standard is a cesium fountain atomic clock developed at the NIST laboratories.
Audio Tape Recording
Marvin Camras invented the method and means of magnetic recording. The history of sound recording.
Auto-Tune
Dr Andy Hildebrand is the inventor of the voice pitch-correcting software called Auto-Tune.
Automated Electrified Monorail Systems
Ronald Riley invented the automated electrified monorail system.
Automatic Doors
Dee Horton and Lew Hewitt invented the sliding automatic door in 1954.
Automobile
The history of the automobile spans over one hundred years — the famous early car models, view timelines of automotive development and discover who made the first gasoline powered car. See Also -Automobile Pictorial Timeline

National Inventors Day

National Inventors Day, Benjamin Franklin once said, “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”

A group of children at Vance Air Force Base trod in Franklin’s footsteps Tuesday, as they took part in the base school-age program’s initial Invention Convention.

The event was held in conjunction with National Kid Inventors’ Day, which is held annually on Jan. 17, the anniversary of Franklin’s birth. Franklin, who would go on to invent the lightning rod, bifocal glasses and the Franklin stove, created his first invention — a pair of swim fins for his hands — when he was just 12.

Sara Schubert, Vance school-age coordinator, said the children have caught the invention bug.

“It’s really inspired the kids quite a bit,” she said. “They are loving it, so we are going to keep an ongoing invention (activity) area in our facility.”

There were nine inventions on display. Children were on hand to explain and demonstrate their inventions, then attendees were asked to vote on the best overall invention, as well as the best idea, design and presentation. The winner, who will be announced today, will receive the “Bright Minds, Big Ideas,” award. All the children, who range in age from kindergarten to the sixth grade, will receive participation awards.

Inventions ranged from The Amazing Robot, by Konnor Wright and Christian Laws, which was designed, according to an accompanying sign, to “Help the CIA by taking down criminals.” The robot, whose head consisted of a foam wig stand, was mounted on wheels and featured a light for spotlighting said criminals.

The Amazing Helping Frog, by Ethan Laws and Kenny Kirk, could be used to hold glasses or could secure papers in its hinged mouth. And, as the boys explained, if a child needed to be disciplined, you could clip the frog to the recalcitrant youngster’s ear.

Sidney Mcalear’s invention, The Timer, was designed to help her time her steps while jumping rope.

The Water Pillow, created by Connor Hayes, is a pillow that also holds water and dispenses it through a tube, thus enabling someone lying in bed to get a drink without having to get up.

Other inventors and their inventions were Emma Eckstein’s The Tocking Dog, Kaeligh Swain’s The Big Bubble, Lyndsey Lewis and Marriannah Perez’ Butterfly Alarm Clock, Jade Henderson’s Cat Heaven and Marrisa Hudson’s The Traveling Bag.

Thomas Alva Edison

Thomas Alva Edison, Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. Dubbed “The Wizard of Menlo Park” (now Edison, New Jersey) by a newspaper reporter, he was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of mass production and large teamwork to the process of invention, and therefore is often credited with the creation of the first industrial research laboratory.

Edison is the fourth most prolific inventor in history, holding 1,093 US patents in his name, as well as many patents in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. He is credited with numerous inventions that contributed to mass communication and, in particular, telecommunications. These included a stock ticker, a mechanical vote recorder, a battery for an electric car, electrical power, recorded music and motion pictures.

His advanced work in these fields was an outgrowth of his early career as a telegraph operator. Edison originated the concept and implementation of electric-power generation and distribution to homes, businesses, and factories – a crucial development in the modern industrialized world. His first power station was on Manhattan Island, New York.