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Inventions (1758 - 1840)
1784 - The bifocal lens is invented (Benjamin Franklin, United States)
"While living in Paris, Franklin hated having to change constantly from reading glasses to distance glasses. He directed an optician to cut two pairs of lenses horizontally in half and mount them in a new frame, with the reading lens at the bottom and the distance lens at... Read MORE...
"While living in Paris, Franklin hated having to change constantly from reading glasses to distance glasses. He directed an optician to cut two pairs of lenses horizontally in half and mount them in a new frame, with the reading lens at the bottom and the distance lens at... Read MORE...
1784 - The oil lamp is invented (Aimé Argand, Switzerland)
"Argand burner, first scientifically constructed oil lamp, patented in 1784 in England by a Swiss, Aimé Argand. The first basic change in lamps in thousands of years, it applied a principle that was later adapted to gas burners. The Argand burner consisted of a cylindrical... Read MORE...
www.britannica.com -
"Argand burner, first scientifically constructed oil lamp, patented in 1784 in England by a Swiss, Aimé Argand. The first basic change in lamps in thousands of years, it applied a principle that was later adapted to gas burners. The Argand burner consisted of a cylindrical... Read MORE...
www.britannica.com -
1793 - The cotton gin is invented (Eli Whitney, United States)
"In 1793, Eli Whitney invented a simple machine that influenced the history of the United States. He invented a cotton gin that was popular in the South. The South became the cotton producing part of the country because Whitney’s cotton gin was able to successfully pull... Read MORE...
score.rims.k12.ca.us -
"In 1793, Eli Whitney invented a simple machine that influenced the history of the United States. He invented a cotton gin that was popular in the South. The South became the cotton producing part of the country because Whitney’s cotton gin was able to successfully pull... Read MORE...
score.rims.k12.ca.us -
1800 - Electric storage battery is invented (Alessandro Volta, Italy)
...Probably the most important developments in the science of electricity started with the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta. This battery gave the world its first continuous, reliable source of electric current and led to all the important... Read MORE...
Tucson Daily Citizen - Tucson, Arizona - March 18, 1960
...Probably the most important developments in the science of electricity started with the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta. This battery gave the world its first continuous, reliable source of electric current and led to all the important... Read MORE...
Tucson Daily Citizen - Tucson, Arizona - March 18, 1960
1817 - The bicycle is invented (Baron Karl de Drais de Sauerbrun, Germany)
"... The first known bicyclist was the Comte de Sivrac, who was seen riding a two-wheel 'wooden horse' in Paris in 1791, the Smithsonian reports. Among its many drawbacks was that it was impossible to steer.
On had to lift, drag or jump the front wheel to change... Read MORE...
Waukesha Daily Freeman - Waukesha, Wisconsin - May 26, 1977
"... The first known bicyclist was the Comte de Sivrac, who was seen riding a two-wheel 'wooden horse' in Paris in 1791, the Smithsonian reports. Among its many drawbacks was that it was impossible to steer.
On had to lift, drag or jump the front wheel to change... Read MORE...
Waukesha Daily Freeman - Waukesha, Wisconsin - May 26, 1977
1824 - Portland cement is invented (Joseph Aspdin, England)
One of the greatest commodities in the United States today is a greyish powder commonly sold in 50-pound bags for about 10 cents a pound.
Modern Portland cement has a rather short but fabulous history. Back in 1824 an English mason named Joseph Aspdin mixed a compound... Read MORE...
The Times - Hammond, Indiana - October 23, 1957
One of the greatest commodities in the United States today is a greyish powder commonly sold in 50-pound bags for about 10 cents a pound.
Modern Portland cement has a rather short but fabulous history. Back in 1824 an English mason named Joseph Aspdin mixed a compound... Read MORE...
The Times - Hammond, Indiana - October 23, 1957
1825 - The locomotive is invented (George Stephenson, England)
"... in 1811 George Stephenson made an engine. 'At last something practical has been designed,' thought many. George improved his design, and by 1825 his locomotion was on the rails. This was the first engine for the first important railway in the world. It went from... Read MORE...
The Age - Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - December 19, 1930 -
"... in 1811 George Stephenson made an engine. 'At last something practical has been designed,' thought many. George improved his design, and by 1825 his locomotion was on the rails. This was the first engine for the first important railway in the world. It went from... Read MORE...
The Age - Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - December 19, 1930 -
1826 - The gas stove is invented (James Sharp, UK)
...John Baptist von Helmont, born at Brussels in 1677, while engaged in chemical research, discovered gas and named it. An English rector, Rev. Dr. John Clayton, discovered coal gas in 1792, thereby causing great consternation in his village in Wales. It was nearly 40 years ... Read MORE...
...John Baptist von Helmont, born at Brussels in 1677, while engaged in chemical research, discovered gas and named it. An English rector, Rev. Dr. John Clayton, discovered coal gas in 1792, thereby causing great consternation in his village in Wales. It was nearly 40 years ... Read MORE...
1827 - Matches are invented (John Walker, England)
In 1827 the first friction match was invented in England by John Walker. Walker's matches were sticks tipped with a mixture of chemicals that burst into flame when scratched against a rough surface.
Walker found that when the mixture dried, he could ignite the stick by... Read MORE...
Alton Evening Telegraph - Alton, Illinois - March 20, 1972
In 1827 the first friction match was invented in England by John Walker. Walker's matches were sticks tipped with a mixture of chemicals that burst into flame when scratched against a rough surface.
Walker found that when the mixture dried, he could ignite the stick by... Read MORE...
Alton Evening Telegraph - Alton, Illinois - March 20, 1972
1829 - The sewing machine is invented (Barthélemy Thimonnier, France)
MONUMENT FOR SUPPOSED SEWING MACHINE INVENTOR
Lyons, France, Aug. 23. - (Correspondence of Associated Press) - A monument is to be erected here soon in honor of Bartholomew Thimonnier, whom the French claim was the inventor of the sewing machine.
Thimonnier, a... Read MORE...
Salisbury Evening Post - Salisbury, North Carolina - September 5, 1919
MONUMENT FOR SUPPOSED SEWING MACHINE INVENTOR
Lyons, France, Aug. 23. - (Correspondence of Associated Press) - A monument is to be erected here soon in honor of Bartholomew Thimonnier, whom the French claim was the inventor of the sewing machine.
Thimonnier, a... Read MORE...
Salisbury Evening Post - Salisbury, North Carolina - September 5, 1919
1839 - February 24 - Steam shovel patented by William Smith Otis, Philadelphia
William Smith Otis (1813-1839) was an American mechanical engineer and inventor who is credited with the development of the steam shovel, a significant innovation in the construction and mining industries. He was born in Hampden, Maine, in 1813.
The steam shovel is a... Read MORE...
historyorb.com -
William Smith Otis (1813-1839) was an American mechanical engineer and inventor who is credited with the development of the steam shovel, a significant innovation in the construction and mining industries. He was born in Hampden, Maine, in 1813.
The steam shovel is a... Read MORE...
historyorb.com -