You’ve just walked in the door after a long day at work. Exhausted from the commute home, you turn on the TV and flip through a few channels. You don’t find anything to watch, so you turn off the TV and turn on the overhead light and begin reading a book.
After reading a few chapters, you turn off the light and head into the kitchen for a snack. You find a slice of pizza in the freezer which you proceed to place in the microwave. After eating you head upstairs and listen to your new CD while you do some research on the internet. This day is not any different than most days—but have you ever stopped and wondered where all of these things that you use everyday came from (the light bulb, CD player, microwave, TV remote, computers, etc.). Here are a few stories behind some extremely useful inventions that we take for granted while going about our daily lives.
Bicycle -
An early version of the bicycle called the Celerifere, was built in 1791 by a French man named Comte Mede de Sivrac. It was basically a scooter with a high seat attached to the top. But the Celerifere did not have any pedals.
In 1816, Baron Karl von Drais de Sauerbrun of Germany, invented a model with a steering bar attached to the front wheel-but still no pedals. This new machine became known as the Draisienne or hobby horse. It was popular, but only as a fad since it was not very practical on grounds other than a park or garden.
In 1839, Kirkpatrick Macmillan added pedals to enable him to get up hills. His peers thought he was crazy, but it was this innovation that made the bicycle popular and a serious form of transportation.
Crayons -
Crayons were invented by Edwin Binney and Harold Smith who owned a paint company in New York City. These new “crayons” were made by combining wax with different pigments (chemicals that make colors). In 1903, Binney and Smith released the first box of eight “Crayola Crayons”. These new crayons were an overnight success.
Microwave -
As is the case with many inventions, the microwave was invented by accident.
In 1946, Dr. Percy LeBaron Spencer was touring one of his laboratories when he stopped in front of a magnetron (vacuum tubes that produce microwave radiation). While standing in front of this machine, he noticed that a candy bar in his pocket had melted. Next he tested popcorn kernels which to his amazement popped if placed next to the machine. He soon discovered that these microwaves could cook and heat food much quicker than ovens and stoves that use heat.
The Sandwich -
The sandwich was invented by John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich.
Around 1762, John Montagu reportedly was too busy to sit down and eat a full meal, so he asked his cook to just place some meat between two slices of bread – the rest is history!
TV Remote Control -
Remote control technology has been around since the early 1900s (the Germans used remote control boats during WWI), but the TV remote control did not make its first appearance until 1950.
Zenith Radio Corporation created the first TV remote control called “Lazy Bone” that could turn the TV on and off and could change channels (this remote was not wireless - it was attached to the TV by a cable). Many improvements have been made to this invention during the last 50 years.
