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.

I learned about four inventions this week and they were condensed milk, the sleeping car, toilet paper, and the washing machine. First, I learned about condensed milk. The inventor of condensed milk, Gail Borden Jr., born in New York in 1801, published newspaper during the Texas Revolution and witnessed children dying because of bad milk. Condensed milk is cow’s milk that has been sweetened. Milk has microorganisms that cause it to spoil. The Nestle Food Company appeared and today is used in desserts. 

Second, I learned about the sleeping car. The inventor of the sleeping car George Pullum, born in New York in 1831, helped his father move houses along Erie Canal and put skills to use in Chicago. A sleeping car is part of a train that provides a living space with beds that are folded up during the daytime. It led to the rise of the middle class and civil rights movement.

Third, I learned about toilet paper. Before toilet paper people used corn cobs or a sponge on a stick. Joseph Gayetty invented toilet paper in 1857. Toilet paper is paper made of tissue and used for cleaning. It is made of combinations of hard and soft wood fibers. Splinter free paper appeared in the 1930s and 7000,000,000 rolls are sold every year.

Finally,I learned about the washing machine. Before the washing machine, washing clothes was time consuming and inventors began focusing on the process. Hamilton Smith invented the washing machine in 1856. Washing machines clean clothes and agitators scrub them. The heating and spin cycle are automated. It led to the development of the middle class and large companies created thousands of jobs manufacturing washing machines.

I learned about four inventions this week and they were the safety elevator, the syringe, the bessemer process, and the egg beater. First, I learned about the safety elevator. Elisha Otis, born in Vermont in 1811, built a grist mill and also opened his own business but it failed. The cab is lifted by steel cable and balanced with counter weight and uses a backup ratchet system just in case if the cable snaps. Otis’s safety elevator made skyscrapers possible and architects are free to unleash their creativity now.

Second, I learned about the syringe. Alexander Wood, born in Scotland in 1817, attained medical degree at Edinburgh and used morphine to treat patients. A syringe is a medical tool that is used to inject medication or take fluid out of your body and can also be used outside of the medical industry. Syringes improve control of diabetes and increased safety of anesthesia.

Third, I learned about the bessemer process. Henry Bessemer, born in England in 1813, was a creative inventor, like his dad, and grew interested in weapons due to the Crimean War. The bessemer process converts pig iron into steel. It forces hot air through molten iron to remove impurities and makes large-scale steel production achievable. The railroad industry became more efficient and made steel and concrete together possible.

Finally, I learned about the egg beater. Ancient Egyptians invented a baking oven and grew from family to profession in Rome. The mixer was invented in 1856 by Ralph Collier. The egg beater is a kitchen mixer and can be a handheld device that makes mixing ingredients much easier. Commercial bakers could produce large batches and easily purchase rolls, muffins, and cakes in a store.

I learned about four inventions this week and they were the jackhammer, the pin tumbler lock, the safety pin, and the gyroscope. First, I learned about the jackhammer. Mining was important but also hazardous and steam engines became integral. Early jackhammers were inspired by steam engines. The jackhammer was invented by Jonathan Couch in 1848. Jackhammers are hammer drills and the bit is pushed up and down by compressed air. Modern jackhammers can run on electricity and they can break rock and concrete. Large houses or buildings can be destroyed with high powered jackhammers and now homeowners can perform small scale demolition.

Second, I learned about the pin tumbler lock. The inventor of the pin tumbler lock, Linus Yale Sr., born in Connecticut in 1797, opened a lock shop and invented the pin tumbler lock in 1843. A pin tumbler lock is a lock that has pins in a cylindrical drum and there are two pins. One pin is the key pin and the other is the driver pin and pin tumbler locks are harder to pick than old locks. It is used in the common door lock and encourages economic growth by instilling confidence in banks.

Third, I learned about the safety pin. The inventor of the safety pin, Walter Hunt, born in New York in 1796, invented a version of the sewing machine and had experience with needles and the sewing industry. Safety pins are simple folding needles and have sharp heads that can stick to you. The safety pin guards the head with a clasp. Safety pins are still used in the cloth diaper industry and became a cultural symbol of the punk rock of the 1970s.

Finally I learned about the gyroscope. The inventor of the gyroscope, Leon Foucault born in Paris, became interested in physics and helped discover the speed of light. The gyroscope is a spinning disc set inside a gimbal and seems to defy the laws of physics. Gimbals allow rotation and can be a spill proof bowl. They are installed in electronics and make the GPS possible.

I learned about four inventions this week and they were the rotary printing press, kerosene, antiseptics, and the gas mask. First, I learned about the rotary printing press. The inventor of the printing press, Richard Hoe, born in New York in 1812, became the president of his father’s press manufacturing and invented the rotary printing press in 1843. A rotary printing press is a press which receives images from a rubber coated cylinder. It led to the creation of the greeting card industry and magazines began growing in popularity during the 1850s.

Second, I learned about kerosene. The inventor of kerosene, Abraham Gesner, born in Canada in 1797, moved to England to become a doctor and became interested in geology after meeting Charles Lynel. Kerosene is a thin, clear, and stable fuel extracted from petroleum through distillation. It led to the decline of the whaling industry and took over domestic and Chinese markets.

Third, I learned about antiseptics. The inventor of antiseptics, Ignaz Semmelweis, born in 1818 in Budapest, went into obstetrics and worked at Vienna General Hospital. Antiseptics are chemical agents that kill germs and lower the death rate. Semmelweis reduced  mortality from 18% to 2% in 1 month. The germ theory gained dominance in 1880 and antiseptic application is a standard medical practice today.

Finally, I learned about the gas mask. The inventor of the gas mask was a Prussian inventor who created a mask for mining in 1799. Gas masks are masks that protect your lungs from polluted air by forcing air through a filter. Germans launched chemical weapons in World War I which led a Canadian doctor to invent a gas mask for the troops. Today, they are commonly used for protection.  Some occupations that use gas masks are nuclear radiation workers, military recruits for training, the army wears them during battle, and the police wear them during the use of tear gas.

I learned about four inventions this week and they were ether, the fax machine, the iron steam passenger ship, and the ice cream maker. First, I learned about ether. Anesthesia goes back to ancient history and was pain relief gained by ritual, herbs, or procedures. The inventor of ether, Clawford Long, born in Georgia in 1815, spent many years learning to become a doctor. Ether is an anesthesia for surgery and makes it pain free. James Simpson was inspired by ether to invent chloroform for use in childbirth.

Second, I learned about the fax machine. It was hard to make copies in the old world. They had to be copied by hand. The inventor of the fax machine, Alexander Bain, born in Scotland in 1811, learned about electromagnetic field theory. A fax machine is a device that transmits data as audio signals. Fax machines scan and reproduce documents. Fax machines connected the telephone industry with computers.

Third, I learned about the iron steam passenger ships. Sailing across the sea was treacherous and was impossible to sail upstream before steam ships. The inventor of the steam ships, Isambard Bunel, born in England in 1806, was an apprentice to a clockmaker and educated by both his father and school. Steam ships are large ships that transport people and cargo long distances. It used propellers instead of the paddle wheel. It enhanced the industrial revolution and led to gilded ages. 

Finally, I learned about the ice cream maker. Ancient cultures made different kinds of ice cream. The inventor of the ice cream maker was Nancy Johnson. The hand cranked ice cream maker is a machine with a movable crank with a center paddle. Salt lowers the melting rate of ice. The blade scrapes ice cream from the wall. Multi million–dollar companies exist just to sell ice cream.