This Day in History May 5, 1809

Nothing like a straw hat for a lady to look especially chic, right?  And the Patent Act of 1790 opened the door for any U.S. citizen to protect his/her invention with a patent.  I am sure that most did not figure women would get in on this--especially back in the date.  Most women didn't even try to patent their ideas.  However, Mary Dixon Kies had other ideas.  She had invented a way to improve hat-making.  Betsy Metcalf actually invented a method of straw weaving, but she didn't patent her invention.  She said she didn't want her name going to Congress.  (I probably wouldn't have minded back then, but in light of today, I can understand her trepidation!  I don't know I would want my name going to today's Congress.)  Kies didn't have the same concern.  She patented her way of weaving straw with silk.  Unfortunately, she didn't make any money with her invention, and she died penniless.

For more information:
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/nation/jb_nation_maryk_1.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Dixon_Kies
http://famousdaily.com/history/first-woman-issued-patent.html

This Day in History February 16, 1937

Well, ladies, it was a momentous days for those lovely nylon stockings we "love" to wear.  On this date in 1937, Wallace Carothers filed a patent for nylon--technically called Nylon 6-6 (because of the six atoms in its molecules).  Carothers had been searching for a substitute for silk, due to our strained relations with Japan.  It took him three years, but he finally accomplished his goal.  Sadly, he suffered from depression, and  in spite of all of his research and findings organic chemistry, he committed suicide on April 28, 1937 through ingestion of cyanide dissolved in lemon juice (to speed up the process).  How sad that a very intelligent man such as he would meet such an untimely end.

For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_Carothers
http://thepeoplehistorytoday.blogspot.com/2013/02/king-tutankhamen-1923-burial-chamber-of.html
http://inventors.about.com/od/nstartinventions/a/nylon.htm
http://famousdaily.com/history/wallace-carothers-patents-nylon.html

This Day in History September 24, 1889

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IBM_time_clock.jpg#file

This is an early time clock, and it was on this date in 1889, that Alexander Dey patented his dial time recorder. It used to be that times that employees worked were kept on handwritten logs.  This made it a much more scientific, accurate process.  By 1910, they were commonplace.

Dr. Alexander Dey treated the wife of Mr. Gamble (Proctor & Gamble), and he cured her of a serious illness.  Out of gratitude, Gamble helped Dey get his clock business up and running--the Cincinnati Time Recorder company in 1896.

Be sure to check out these sites for more information:
http://www.brainyhistory.com/days/september_24.html
http://www.antiquetimeclocks.com/events.html
http://www.k-grayengineeringeducation.com/blog/index.php/2011/09/24/engineering-education-today-in-history-blog-time-recorder-inventions/ (written by the child of someone who bought that company--interesting stories!)

This Day in History August 26, 1902

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cezaryborysiuk/4497211501/

Okay, so where would we be without the flashlight (or torch)?  How did we live before this wonderful invention came along?  On this date in 1902, Conrad Hubert was awarded patent 737,107 for a flashlight with an on and off switch.  He was a Russian Jew, and it was the Russian persecution of Jews in 1890 that caused him to immigrate to U.S.  His birth name was Akiba Horowitz, but when he arrived in Ellis Island in 1891, he did what most immigrants did--changed his name.

The family business and his training was in the distillery business, but in New York City he had to start all over again.  He actually founded  the American Electrical Novelty and Manufacturing Company which eventually became the Ever Ready Company.  And I, for one, am sure glad he invented the flashlight!

For more information, please check out:

http://famousdaily.com/history/conrad-hubert-patents-flashlight.html

http://www.enotes.com/topic/Conrad_Hubert

http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/flashlight.htm

http://wn.com/conrad_hubert

This Day in History August 24, 1869

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathanmcintosh/3751958052/

You may have heard that it is National Waffle Day today, but do you know why?  It was on this date in 1869 that the first patent was given out for a waffle iron.  And do you know to whom that patent was issued?  Cornelius Swartwout.  His design was very simple.  Essentially, he put a lid on a hinge to a cast-iron skillet.  Then he added two dividers into the pan for making individual waffles.

It was forty years later in 1911, that Thomas Steckbeck helped General Electric make the first electric waffle iron.  In this model, they added the special feature of a thermometer so the waffles would not burn.

I am one who has always liked waffles--especially with berries and cream.  It's almost like having dessert for breakfast!  I prefer Belgian Waffles since they are lighter and fluffier.  This is certainly a momentous day for me!  But I already ate breakfast, so I don't plan to have any waffles today.

For more information, please check out:
http://www2.wjbf.com/news/2012/aug/24/national-waffle-day-ar-4402703/
http://www.punchbowl.com/holidays/2012/8/24/national-waffle-day
http://www.swarthoutfamily.org/Famous/Waffle.htm
http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2012/08/24/national-waffle-day/?hpt=ea_mid

This Day in History March 14, 1794

I remember this inventor--Eli Whitney.

He applied for a patent for his revolutionary cotton gin in 1793 and it was on this date in 1794 that he received the patent.  This machine was a revolution in the cotton industry since with this machine, one could clean 50 pounds of cotton per day.  It made the job easier and faster.

Sadly, there were legal battles, and he nearly went bankrupt.  He died at the age of 59, leaving behind a widow and four children.

The significance of this invention/patent?  This was where the concept of mass merchandising/production in this country began.

For more information, please check out:
 http://rhapsodyinbooks.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/march-14-1794-eli-whitney-patented-the-cotton-gin/
http://www.invent.org/hall_of_fame/152.html
http://blogs.archives.gov/todaysdocument/2011/03/14/march-14-eli-whitneys-patent-for-the-cotton-gin/

This Day in History February 16, 1932

Ready for this earth-shattering bit of information today?  On this date in 1932, James Markham was given the first ever patent for his peach tree.  You see, he crossed two peach trees, and the resulting peaches were large--no small peaches at all.  It took five years to perfect this particular peach tree.

Once Markham was able to create a peach with very small seeds, he sent it off to a nursery in St. Louis, Missouri with a penciled note of explanation.  Within a few years of studying it, an executive of the nursery bought the peach tree for $2500.  (not bad for 1932!)

So are you a peach fan?  I love peaches, but I go for the canned variety because I hate cutting up peaches!  I think I could go for some peach cobbler about now, could you?

Check out these sites for more info:
http://www.todayinsci.com/Events/Agriculture/PeachMarkham.htm
http://www.todayinsci.com/2/2_16.htm
http://www.sanjeev.net/trivia/in-1932-james-markham-obtained-the-1st-patent.html