I learned about four inventions this week and they were the salt and pepper shakers, the mason jar, the pencil eraser, and the twine binder. First I learned about the salt and pepper shakers. John Mason invented the salt and pepper shakers in 1858. A salt and pepper shaker is a glass jar with a screw top lid that holds different spices, salts, and peppers. It is a simple but knowledgeable invention. 

Second, I learned about the mason jar. Nicolas Appert invented the canning process and canned all sorts of food. John Mason invented the mason jar in 1855. The mason jar is a glass jar with a screw top and metal lid. It’s a strong cheap soda lime glass and heating the food kills bacteria. It is mostly unchanged in design and allowed settlers to move to the pacific Northwest.

Third, I learned about the pencil eraser. Two men discovered rubber erasers in 1770 and Edward Narine accidentally discovered that rubber is a good eraser. Erasers quickly remove pencil marks and the eraser is in the  cylindrical metal barrel at the end of the pencil. Pencils with erasers are standard classroom tools and also important in college.

Finally, I learned about the twine binder. The inventor of the twine binder, John Appleby, born in New York in 1840, grew up on a farm and invented the twine binder in 1858. A twine binder is a knotting device that binds grain bundles with twine and twine is a safe and effective binding material. It was used until the 20th century and Deering and McCormick evolved into international harvesters.