New Hampshire is my home state, the state with the first Presidential primary, and the "Live Free Or Die State".
It is also the state where these 10 inventions were first created.
1. Paper Towels
Inventor: William E Corbin
Year of Patent: 1920
Place: Gorham
The story goes that when Corbin became general manager, in 1904, of the Brown Co's Gorham Cascade Mill, he got the idea because he was tired of wiping his hands on the then old-fashioned rolling cloth towel. "It was always sticky and greasy," he said.
His paper towels were made of Kraft paper, the same paper that today's paper grocery store bags are made of.
2. The Knitting Machine
Inventor: Herrick, Walter, and Jonas Aiken
Year: 1836
Place: Franklin
Herrick and his sons were inventors as a family business. Their original machine could knit the tube of a sock, from knee to ankle.
3. The Sewing Machine
Inventor: Elias Howe, Jr.
Year: 1843
Place: Nashua
It all started with an overheard conversation. After his first design didn't go over that well, Howe's second design was a big hit. For one thing, it had a needle with an eye at the point--an idea that came to Howe in a dream: an evil king threatened him with execution if he didn't complete his work within 24 hrs.
4. The Apple Parer
Inventor: David Harvey Godell
Year of Patent: 1863
Place: Antrim
Goddell was a former New Hampshire Governor (1889-1891) who grew up on a farm. He invented the apple parer while working at the Antrim Shovel Co; at the height of its initial popularity, 24,000 units were sold in three weeks.
5. Tupperware
Inventor: Earl Tupper
Year: 1946
Place: Berlin
The ubiquitous kitchen storage containers came after Tupper worked at the DuPont Chemical Company where he designed unbreakable and light masks and containers used during World War II.
Today, a Tupperware Party happens every 1.4 seconds.
6. The Alarm Clock
Inventor: Levi Hutchins
Year: 1787
Place: Concord
Although it was never patented, and it was developed for his own personal use, Hutchins is still considered the inventor of this convenient yet somewhat annoying device. At least in the US, anyway.
7. The Spork
Inventor: George Laramy
Year: 1907
Place: Enfield
This much maligned member of the silverware family did not have a name when the patent was accepted--the word "spork" didn't come about until 1909. However, the reason for its invention was so that the combined knife, spoon, and fork could be "adapted for use by persons with one arm," according to the patent application.
8. The Segway
Inventor: Dean Kamen
Year: 2001
Place: Manchester and Bedford
In popular culture, the Segway is most famous its appearances in the movie Mall Cop, and the video for Weird Al Yankovic's "White and Nerdy." The two-wheeled, self balancing, electric transport is now used in tours, college campuses, and other tourist destinations.
9. The Measuring Tape
Inventor: Hiram Augustus Ferrand Jr.
Year: 1922
Place: Berlin
The measuring tape started life as the Rapid Rule, but it was very similar to what we have today. Commander Admiral Byrd even had one on his expedition to the South Pole.
10. The Artificial Leg
Inventor: Benjamin Franklin Palmer
Year: 1846
Place: Meredith
About 5 miles away from the Weirs Beach area of Lake Winnepasaukee, Meredith is the center of activity in the Lakes Region.
Palmer's wood artificial leg was intended to weigh less than 3 1/2 pounds for the full leg, or less than 2 pounds for below the knee. He also created articulated joints in order to mimic the natural motion of a leg.
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Source material for this post is the article "In Praise Of The Spork And 14 Other Inventions" published in the Oct. 9-15 edition of The Hippo.
It is also the state where these 10 inventions were first created.
1. Paper Towels
Inventor: William E Corbin
Year of Patent: 1920
Place: Gorham
The story goes that when Corbin became general manager, in 1904, of the Brown Co's Gorham Cascade Mill, he got the idea because he was tired of wiping his hands on the then old-fashioned rolling cloth towel. "It was always sticky and greasy," he said.
His paper towels were made of Kraft paper, the same paper that today's paper grocery store bags are made of.
2. The Knitting Machine
Inventor: Herrick, Walter, and Jonas Aiken
Year: 1836
Place: Franklin
Herrick and his sons were inventors as a family business. Their original machine could knit the tube of a sock, from knee to ankle.
3. The Sewing Machine
Inventor: Elias Howe, Jr.
Year: 1843
Place: Nashua
It all started with an overheard conversation. After his first design didn't go over that well, Howe's second design was a big hit. For one thing, it had a needle with an eye at the point--an idea that came to Howe in a dream: an evil king threatened him with execution if he didn't complete his work within 24 hrs.
4. The Apple Parer
Inventor: David Harvey Godell
Year of Patent: 1863
Place: Antrim
Goddell was a former New Hampshire Governor (1889-1891) who grew up on a farm. He invented the apple parer while working at the Antrim Shovel Co; at the height of its initial popularity, 24,000 units were sold in three weeks.
5. Tupperware
Inventor: Earl Tupper
Year: 1946
Place: Berlin
The ubiquitous kitchen storage containers came after Tupper worked at the DuPont Chemical Company where he designed unbreakable and light masks and containers used during World War II.
Today, a Tupperware Party happens every 1.4 seconds.
6. The Alarm Clock
Inventor: Levi Hutchins
Year: 1787
Place: Concord
Although it was never patented, and it was developed for his own personal use, Hutchins is still considered the inventor of this convenient yet somewhat annoying device. At least in the US, anyway.
7. The Spork
Inventor: George Laramy
Year: 1907
Place: Enfield
This much maligned member of the silverware family did not have a name when the patent was accepted--the word "spork" didn't come about until 1909. However, the reason for its invention was so that the combined knife, spoon, and fork could be "adapted for use by persons with one arm," according to the patent application.
8. The Segway
Inventor: Dean Kamen
Year: 2001
Place: Manchester and Bedford
In popular culture, the Segway is most famous its appearances in the movie Mall Cop, and the video for Weird Al Yankovic's "White and Nerdy." The two-wheeled, self balancing, electric transport is now used in tours, college campuses, and other tourist destinations.
9. The Measuring Tape
Inventor: Hiram Augustus Ferrand Jr.
Year: 1922
Place: Berlin
The measuring tape started life as the Rapid Rule, but it was very similar to what we have today. Commander Admiral Byrd even had one on his expedition to the South Pole.
10. The Artificial Leg
Inventor: Benjamin Franklin Palmer
Year: 1846
Place: Meredith
About 5 miles away from the Weirs Beach area of Lake Winnepasaukee, Meredith is the center of activity in the Lakes Region.
Palmer's wood artificial leg was intended to weigh less than 3 1/2 pounds for the full leg, or less than 2 pounds for below the knee. He also created articulated joints in order to mimic the natural motion of a leg.
-------------
Source material for this post is the article "In Praise Of The Spork And 14 Other Inventions" published in the Oct. 9-15 edition of The Hippo.
