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.

I learned about four inventions this week and they were the electric clock, blueprints, the stapler, and the grain elevator. First I learned about the electrical clock. The inventor of the electric clock, Alexander Bain, born in Scotland in 1811, was an apprentice to a clockmaker and learned about electromagnetism. An electric clock is powered by electricity which keeps the pendulum moving instead of weight. Mechanical clocks were replaced with electric clocks.

Second, I learned about blueprints. Architecture plans began advancing in style and content during the 1500s. The inventor of the blueprints, John Herschel, born in England in 1792, published work on scientific methodology and drawings of planets. Blue prints are drawings that show how a building is designed and what materials to use. Blueprints make it easier to build complex buildings. 

Third, I learned about the stapler. The inventor of the stapler, Samuel Slocum, born in Rhode island in 1792, learned about carpentry and invented a machine that manufactured pins. Staplers bind multiple sheets of paper together and the u-shaped staples are driven through and ends are bent. Staplers are standard tools in office environments and surgical staplers reduce risk of deadly infections.

Finally, I learned about the grain elevator. The inventor of the grain elevator, Joseph Dart, born in Connecticut in 1799, sold furs to Indian travelers and moved into grain trading in buffalo. Grain elevators lift grain up and into a silo. Quickly unloaded stored and dispensed grain. They transformed Buffalo and spurred global trade and a combination of inventions working together.

I learned about four inventions this week and they were the steel plow, the steam shovel, the postage stamp, and vulcanized rubber. First, I learned about the steel plow. The scratch plow was the first basic plow. The inventor of the steel plow, John Deere, born in Vermont in 1804, became a blacksmith in 1825. The steel plow breaks up tough soil, bury crops, and help control weeds. His plow made western settlement possible.

Second, I learned about the steam shovel. The inventor of the steam shovel, William Smith Otis, born in Pelham in 1813, became fascinated in mechanical inventions and invented the steam shovel at the age of 22. The steam shovel is a steam powered dirt-moving bucket and controlled by operators. They dug the foundation of the empire state building.

Third, I learned about postage stamps. The UK postal system had problems such as the postage paid by recipients. The inventor of the postage stamp, Rowland Hill, born in England in 1795, went to work for the government and promoted priestly educational reform. Piece of paper with an adhesive backing that shows that postage has been paid. It helped motivate westward expansion. 

Finally, I learned about vulcanized rubber. The inventor of vulcanized rubber, Charles Goodyear, born in Connecticut in 1800, improved a company’s rubber life preservers and he was determined to solve the sticky problem. Vulcanization eliminates the stickiness and the refined rubber is weatherproof. Everything would be different without rubber and was very good for the industrial process. 

I learned about four inventions this week and they were the electromechanical relay, the revolver, Morse code, and the circuit breaker. First, I learned about the electromechanical relay. The inventor of the electromechanical relay, Joseph Henry, born in 1797 in New York, was interested in science and became a state engineer after college. Relays allow remote operation of circuits and are powered by strong electromagnets. They can be used as signal amplifiers and it made the telegraph possible.

Second, I learned about the revolver. The inventor of the revolver was Samuel Colt, born in 1814. He grew fascinated by science and built his own battery. Its name comes from the rotating cylinder and its revolver is a gun called a pistol. Colt’s factoring spread interchangeable parts expertise to other industries.

Third, I learned about Morse code. The inventor of Morse code, Samuel Morse born in 1791 became a well-connected painter of presidential portraits. Morse code takes advantage of telegraph’s features and Morse encoded the alphabet into dots and dashes. It transmits about 30 words per minute. Morse code replaces religious oaths with personal experience.

Finally, I learned about the circuit breaker. The inventor of the circuit breaker, Charles Grafton, born in 1812, went to mechanical school and was interested in electricity. Through experiments, he gained a deep insight of electromagnetism. The circuit breaker protects cables from short circuit damage and short circuit goes from 0.5 amp to 500. They are basic components in modern power before electricity, gas, and oil lamps.

I learned about four inventions this week and they were the combine harvester, the solar compass, the propeller, and the mechanical computer. First, I learned about the combine harvester. Presbyterians couldn’t supply pastors fast enough. The inventor of the combine harvester, Hiram Moore was born in 1801 in New Hampshire, and his neighbor Hascall had a farm but had no workers. Moore’s harvester was pulled by 18 horses and grain was shot at the top. Moore’s factory, The Mobile Grain Factory, grew into the caterpillar factor company in 1925 and crop prices have fallen since the 1800s.

Second, I learned about the solar compass. The inventor of the solar compass, William Austin Burt, born in 1792, was interested in nautical and created many inventions such as the typewriter, the photographer, and many more. The solar compass allows surveyors to find north by reference to the sun. It is a very complex invention with moveable parts to determine position. The solar compass led to growth of U.S. industry and steel production.  

Third, I learned about the propeller. The most basic form of boat propulsion is rowing. The inventor of the propeller, Francis Pettit Smith, born in 1808 in England, was a farming apprentice and grew interested in how boats were powered. A propeller is a device consisting of a hub with blades that turn fast by an engine. It helped ships be more steady, lighter, and efficient. The propeller had a major impact on the rise of immigration to America in 1850. Steamships carried immigrants across the sea to America. 

Finally, I learned about the mechanical computer. Egyptians and Greeks used the abacus to do math but the Romans developed a more complex abacus. The inventor of the mechanical computer, Charles Babbage, born in London in 1791, became self taught in math. He built it to eliminate human error. It helped man step forward into the future. A different engine was constructed in 2002.

I learned about four inventions this week and they were the platform scale, railroad T–rail, multi-coil magnet, and the mechanical reaper. First, I learned about the platform scale. Scales have been used since ancient times and they increased in importance in the monetary economy of the middle ages. The inventor of the platform scale, Thaddeus Fairbank, was born in 1796 in Massachusetts, built an iron foundry in 1823 and solved the problem of too large counterweight. Platform scales measure large and heavy objects. Demand for the scale was strong and he began selling the scales overseas.

Second, I learned about the railroad T–rail. The inventor of the T– rail was Robert Stevens, born in New Jersey in 1787. He worked with his father to build steamships and improved their designs. The T-rail is an upside down “T” and the heavier it is, the more load it can carry. Steven’s rail became the American standard. The T-rail was sturdy and easy to install.

Third, I learned about the multi-coil magnet. The inventor of the multi coil magnet wasm Joseph Henry, born in 1797 in New York. Henry became an engineer after college. Non-insulated wire shorted out when touching each other and Henry could squeeze coils close to each other. He built the world’s strongest electromagnet and it made the telegraph possible.

Finally, I learned about the mechanical reaper. Reaping is the first step in harvesting and then comes threshing. The inventor of the mechanical reaper, Cyrus Mccormick, was born in Virginia in 1809, and his father spent years trying to make a mechanical reaper. Mccormick’s reaper was pulled by horses and had a carriage that had a moving knife to cut wheat. His reaper changed farming and his company eventually became an international harvester.