Inventions & Discoveries.

Automobile (steam), c. 1769. Inventor : Nicolas Cugnot (France) (1725-1804). Three-wheeled military tractor. Oldest surviving is Italian Bordino (1854) in Turin.

Automobile (gasoline), 1855. Inventor : Karl Benz (Germany) (1844-1929). Earliest model by Father Ferdinand Verbiest (d. 1687) c. 1665 in China. Earliest internal combustion automobile built (1862-63) by Jean Joseph Etienne Lenior (1822-1900) (France). First run by Benz Motorwagon, Manneheim in November or December 1885. Patented in January 29,1886. First powered handcartwith internal combustion engine was by Siegfried Marcus (Austria) (c. 1864).

Bicycle Tyres (pneumatic), 1888. Inventor : John Boyd Dunlop (Scotland) (1840-1921). Principle patented but undeveloped by Orbert William Thomson (Scotland), June 10 1885. First motor car pneumatic tyres adapted by Andre and Edouard Michelin (France), 1885 (see rubber tyres).

Bifocal Lens, 1780. Inventor : Benjamin Franklin (1706-90) (U.S.). His earliest experiments began c. 1760.

Bullet, 1849. Inventor : Claude Minie (France).

Bunsen Burner, 1858. Inventor : Robert Wilhelm von Bunsen (Germany) (1811-99). Michael Faraday (1791-1867) (England) had previously designed an adjustable burner.

Burglar Alarm, 1851. Inventor : Edwin T. Holmes (U.S.). Electric installed, Boston Massachusetts (February 21).

Cannon (iron), c. 1320. Inventor : Germany. Earliest English illustration dated 1326.

Carburettor, 1876. Inventor : Gottlieb Daimler (Germany) (1834-1900). Carburettor spray; Charles E. Duryea (U.S.) 1892.

Carpet Sweeper, 1876. Inventor : Melville R. Bissell (U.S.). Grand Rapids, March. (Patent, September 19).

Car Radio, 1929. Inventors : William Lear and Elmer Wavering (USA).

Cash Register, 1879. Inventor : James Ritty (U.S.). Built in Dayton, Ohio. Taken over by National Cash Register Co. in 1884.

Cellophane, 1900. Inventor : I.E. Brandenberger (Switzerland). Machine production not before 1911.

Celluloid, 1861. Inventor : Alexander Parkes (England) (1813-90). Invented in Birmingham, England; developed and trade marked by I.W. Hyatt (U.S.) in 1873.

Chronometer, 1735. Inventor : John Harrison (England) (1693-1776). Received in 1772 Government £ 20,000 prize.

Cinema, 1895. Inventors: Auguste Marie Louis Nocolas Lumicre (1862-1954) and Louis Jean Lumiere (France) (1864-1948). Development pioneers were Etienne Jules Marcy (France) (1830-1903) and Thomas A. Edison (U.S.) (1847-1931). First public showing, Paris (December 28, 1895)

Classification of Data for Libraries. Inventor : Melvil Dewey (U.S.) (1851-1913). Introduced his decimal classification in 1876.

Clock (mechanical), 725. Inventors: I-Hsing and Liang Ling-Tsan (China). Earliest escapement 600 years before Europe.

Clock (pendulum), 1657. Inventor : Christian Huygens (Netherlands) (1629-92).

Dacron, 1941. Inventors: J.R. Whinfield (1901-66), J.T. Dickson (England). First available 1950, marketed in U.S.

Dental Plate, 1817. Inventor : Anthony A. Plantson (U.S.) (1774-1837).

Dental Plate (rubber), 1855. Inventor : Charles Goodyear (U.S) (1845-1921).

Diesel Engine, 1895. Inventor : Rudolf Diesel (Germany) (1858-1913). Lower pressure oil engine patent by Stuart Akroyd, 1890. Diesel’s first commercial success, Augsberg, 1897.

Disc Brake, 1902. Inventor : Dr. F. Lanchester (England). First used on aircraft 1953 (Dunlop Rubber Co.).

Electric Battery, 1800. Inventor : Volta (Italian)

Electric Blanket; 1946. Inventor : Simmons Co., Petersburg, Virginia, U.S. Thermostatic control.

Electric Cooking Utensil, 1874. Inventor : St. George Lane-Fox (England).

Electric Fan, 1882. Inventor : Wheeler (USA). Electric Flat Iron, 1882. Inventor : H.W. Seeley (U.S.), New York City.

Electric Generation (Static), 1660. Inventor : Otto von Gueriche (Germany).

Electric Lamp, 1879. Inventor : Thomas Alva Edison (U.S.) (1847-1931). First practical demonstration at Menlo Park, New Jersey.

Electric Motor (DC), 1873. Inventor : Zenobe Gramme (Belgium) (1826-1901). Exhibited in Vienna.

Electric Motor (AC), 1888. Inventor : Nikola Tesla (U.S.) (1856-1943).

Electromagnet, 1824. Inventor : William Sturgeon (England) (b. 1783); improved by Joseph Henry (U.S.) 1831.

Electromagnetic Induction, 1831. Inventor : Michael Faraday (Great Britain); discovered previously, but not published, by Joseph Henry (United States).

Electronic Computer, 1942. Inventor : J.G. Brainerd, J.P. Eckert, J.W. Mauchly (U.S.). ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Circulator), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

Elevator, 1852. Inventor : Elisha G. Otis (U.S.) (1811-61). Earliest elevator at Yonkers, N.Y.

Film (musical), 1923. Inventor : Dr. Lee de Forest (U.S.) New York demonstration (March 13).

Film (talking), 1926. Inventor : Warner Bros. (U.S.). First release Don Juan, Warner Theatre, New York (August 5).

Fluroine, 1886. Discoverer : Ferdinand Frederick Henri Moissan (France).

Food Frozen, 1923. Inventor : Birdseyes (USA).

Fountain Pen, 1884. Inventor : Lewis E. Waterman (U.S.) (1837-1901). Patented by D. Hyde (U.S.), 1830, undeveloped.

Gas Lighting, 1792. Inventor : William Murdock (Scotland), (1754-1839). Private house in Cornwall, 1792; Factory, Birmingham, 1798; London Street, 1807.

Generator, 1860. Inventor : Piciontti (Italian). Continuous current: improved by Gramme (Belgium). 1870.

Glass (stained), c. 1080. Inventor : Augsberg (Germany). Earliest English, c. 1170, York Minister.

Glassware, c. 1500 BC. Inventor : Egypt and Mesopotamia (Today’s Iraq). Glass blowing, Syria, c. 50 BC.

Glider, 1853. Inventor : Sir George Cayley (England) (1773-1857). Near Brompton Hall, Yorkshire, England. Passenger possibly John Appleby.

Laws of Gravitation and Motion, 1687. Discovered : Isaac Newton (England).

Lightning Conductor, 1752. Inventor : Benjamin Franklin (U.S.) (1706-90), Philadelphia.

Linoleum, 1860. Inventor : Frederick Walton (England).

Locomotive, 1804. Inventor : Richard Trevithick (England) (1771-1833). Penydarren, Wales, 9 Miles (February 21).

Loom (power), 1785. Inventor : Edmund Cartwright (England) (1743-1823).

Loudspeaker, 1924. Inventor : Chester W. Rice and Edward W. Kellogg (U.S.).

Machine Gun, 1861. Inventor : Richard Gaffing (U.S.) (1818-1903).

Maps, c. 2500 BC. Inventor : Sumerians (clay tablets). Earliest world map by Eratosthenes c. 220 BC.

Margarine, 1863. Inventor : Hippolyte Mege-Mouries (France). Initially, made of beef suet, warm milk and sheep stomach lining.

Match (Safety), 1855. Inventor : J.E. Lundstrom (Sweden). Amorphous phosphorus disc, 1845, Anton von Schrotter.

Microphone, 1876. Inventor : Alexander Graham Bell (U.S.) (1847-1922). Name coined 1878 by David Hughes.

Laws of Gravitation and Motion, 1687. Discovered : Isaac Newton (England).

Lightning Conductor, 1752. Inventor : Benjamin Franklin (U.S.) (1706-90), Philadelphia.

Linoleum, 1860. Inventor : Frederick Walton (England).

Locomotive, 1804. Inventor : Richard Trevithick (England) (1771-1833). Penydarren, Wales, 9 Miles (February 21).

Loom (power), 1785. Inventor : Edmund Cartwright (England) (1743-1823).

Loudspeaker, 1924. Inventor : Chester W. Rice and Edward W. Kellogg (U.S.).

Machine Gun, 1861. Inventor : Richard Gaffing (U.S.) (1818-1903).

Maps, c. 2500 BC. Inventor : Sumerians (clay tablets). Earliest world map by Eratosthenes c. 220 BC.

Margarine, 1863. Inventor : Hippolyte Mege-Mouries (France). Initially, made of beef suet, warm milk and sheep stomach lining.

Match (Safety), 1855. Inventor : J.E. Lundstrom (Sweden). Amorphous phosphorus disc, 1845, Anton von Schrotter.

Microphone, 1876. Inventor : Alexander Graham Bell (U.S.) (1847-1922). Name coined 1878 by David Hughes.

Ozone, 1839. Discoverer : Christian Schonbein (Germany).

Paper, c. 150. Invented in China. Introduced to West via Yarkand, c. 750.

Parachute, 1797. Inventor : Andre Jacques Garnerin (France) (1769-1823). First descent from 2,230 ft over Paris. Earliest jump from aircraft March 1, 1912 by Capt A. Berry (U.S.) over St. Louis, Missouri.

Parchment, c. 1300 BC. Inventor : Egypt. Modern name from Pergamam, Asia Minor, c. 250 BC.

Parking Meter, 1935. Inventor : Corlton C. Magee (U.S.). Oklahoma City (July 16).

Phonograph, 1878. Inventor : Thomas Alva Edison (U.S.) (1847-1931). Head cranked cylinder at Menlo Park. J. J. Patent, February 19. First described on April 30, 1877, by Charles Cross (France) (1842-88).

Phosphorus, 1669. Discoverer : Hennig Brand (Germany).

Photography (on metal), 1826. Inventor : Joseph Nicéphore Niepce (France) (1765-1833). Sensitised pewter plate, 8 hrs exposure at Chalon-sur-Saone, France.

Piano, 1709. Inventor : Cristofori (Italy).

Porcelain, c. 700. Inventor : China. Reached Baghdad, c. 800.

Potter’s Wheel, c. 6500 BC. Inventor : Asia Minor. Used in Mesopotamia (Iraq), c. 3000 BC.

Pneumatic Tyre. See bicycle tyres (look alphabetically above).

Printing Press, c. 1455. Inventor : Johannes Gutenberg (Germany) (c. 1400-68). Hand printing known in India in 868.

Printing (Rotary), 1846. Inventor : Richard Hoe (U.S.) (1812-86). Philadelphia public ledger rotary printed, 1847.

Propeller (ship), 1827. Inventor : Francis Smith (England) (1808-74).

Proton, 1919. Discoverer : Ernest Rutherford (British-New Zealand).

Pyramid, c. 2685 BC. Inventor : Egyptians . Earliest was Zoser step pyramid, Saqqara.

Radar, 1922. Inventors : Dr. Allbert H. Taylor and Leo C. Young (U.S.). Radio reflection effect noted. First harnessed in 1935 by Sir Robert Watson-Watt (England) (b. 1892).

Radioactivity, 1896. Inventor : Antoine Bacqucrel (France).

Radio Telegraphy (over 1 km), 1895. Inventor : Lord Ernest Rutherford (British-New Zealand) (1871-1937). At Cambridge, England.

Radio Telegraphy (Trans-Atlantic), 1901. Inventor : Guglielmo Marconi (Italy) (18741937). From Poldhu, Cornwall to St. Holn’s, New Zealand (December 12). Earliest broadcast of speech by Prof. Reginald Fessenden (U.S.) (1868-1932) in Brant Rock, Massachusetts, December 24, 1906.

Rayon, 1883. Inventor : Sir Joseph Swann (England) (1828-1917). Production at Courtauld’s Ltd., Coventry, England, November 1905. Name “Rayon” adopted in 1924.

Razor (Safety), 1895. Inventor : King C. Gillette (U.S.). First throw-away blades. Earliest fixed safety razor by Kampfe.

Refrigerator, 1851. Inventor : James Harrison [Australian (1816-1893)j Bendigo. Australia, Brewery.

Revolver, 1835. Inventor : Samuel Colt (U.S.) (1814-62).

Rocket Engine, 1926. Inventor : Robert H. Goddard (USA), considered as father of modern rocket propulsion.

Rubber (waterproof), 1819. Inventor : Charles Macintosh (Scotland) (1766-1843). First experiments in Glasgow. Rubber introduced into Europe in 1736.

Rubber (vulcanised), 1841. Inventor : Charles Goodyear (U.S.) (1800-60).

Rubber (tyres), 1857. Inventor : Thomas Hancock (England) (1786-1865). Introduced solid rubber tyres for vehicles (1847) (see also bicycle).

Rubber (latex foam), 1928. Inventor : Dunlop Rubber Co. (England). Team led by E.A. Murphy at Fort Dunlop, Birmingham, England.

Refrigerator, 1851. Inventor : James Harrison [Australian (1816-1893)j Bendigo. Australia, Brewery.

Revolver, 1835. Inventor : Samuel Colt (U.S.) (1814-62).

Rocket Engine, 1926. Inventor : Robert H. Goddard (USA), considered as father of modern rocket propulsion.

Rubber (waterproof), 1819. Inventor : Charles Macintosh (Scotland) (1766-1843). First experiments in Glasgow. Rubber introduced into Europe in 1736.

Rubber (vulcanised), 1841. Inventor : Charles Goodyear (U.S.) (1800-60).

Rubber (tyres), 1857. Inventor : Thomas Hancock (England) (1786-1865). Introduced solid rubber tyres for vehicles (1847) (see also bicycle).

Rubber (latex foam), 1928. Inventor : Dunlop Rubber Co. (England). Team led by E.A. Murphy at Fort Dunlop, Birmingham, England.

Safety Pin, 1849. Inventor : William Hunt (U.S.). First manufactured in New York City.

Sewing Machine: Fundamental principle, double-pointed needle invented by Charles Fredrick Wiesenthal (U.S.), 1755. First patent in England by Thomas Saint, 1790. First machine put to factory use invented by Barthelemy Thimonnier (France) (1793-1854), patented in 1830. The eye pointed needle and double-lock stitch invented by Walter Hunt of New York 1832, but never patented. Elias Howe (1819-67) of Spencer, Mass, developed his machine independently (not aware of Hunt’s work), patented in.,1846. Earliest practical domestic machine invented by Isaac M. Singer (1811-75) of Pittstown, New York, 1851.

Ship (sea-going), c. 2500 BC. Inventor : Egyptian ships traversed Eastern Mediterranean sea.

Ship (steam), 1775. Inventor : J.C. Perier (France) (1742-1818). First trail on the Seine river, near Paris, France.

Ship (turbine), 1894. Inventor : Hon. Sir Charles Parsons (England) (1854-1931). S.S. Turbinia attained 34.5 knots on first trial.

Silicones, 1904. Inventor : Prof. F.S. Kipping (England).

Silk Manufacture, c. 50 BC. Inventor : Reeling machines devised, China. Silk mills in Italy, c. 1250, world’s earliest factories of any kind.

Skyscraper, 1882. Inventor : William Le Baron Jenney (U.S.). Home Insurance Co. Building, Chicago, Illinois, 10-storey (top 4 steel beams).

Steam Engine (piston), 1712. Inventor : Thomas Newcomen (England) (1663-1729).

Steam Engine (condenser), 1765. Inventor : James Watt (Scotland) (1736-1819).

Stirrups (metal), c. 550. Inventor : Ancient Avars. Possibly originated in the eastern steppes of Asia.

Steel Production, 1885. Inventor : Henry Bessemer (The Steel Man) (England) (1813-98). At St. Pancreas, London. Cementation of wrought iron bars by charcoal contact known to Chalybes people of Asia Minor, c. 1440 BC.

Steel (rustless or stainless), 1913. Inventor : Harry Brearley (England). First cast at Sheffield, England (August 20). Knapp patent, October 1912 for chromium carbon steel; failed to recognise corrosion resistance.

Stethoscope, Inventor : Dr. William Stokes (England) (1804-78).

Streetcar (railed), 1550. Inventor : Rail mining tracks, Lieberthal in Alsace region of France.

Streetcar (electric), 1879. Inventor : Ernst Werner von Siemens (Germany) (1813-92). Earliest permanent self-propelled public streetcar at Lichterfelde in Berlin, Germany, 1881. Demonstration at Berlin trade exhibition over 300 yards, May 31,1879

Tank (military), 1914. Inventor : Sir Ernest Dunlop Swinton (England) (1868-1951). Built at Leicester, England. Tested in September 1915.

Telegraph, 1837. Inventors : Sir William Cook (1806-79), Sir Charles Wheatstone (England) (1802-75). Demonstrated on 25th July 1837 between Euston and Camden Town in London.

Telegraph Code, 1837. Inventor: Samuel F.B. Morse (U.S.) (1791-1872). The real credit belonged largely to his assistant, Alfred Vail (U.S.).

Telephone, 1876. Inventor : Alexander Graham Bell (U.S.) (1847-1922). First exchange at Boston, Massachusetts, 1878.

Telescope (1st refracting), 1608. Inventor : Hans Lippershey (German-Dutch lensmaker). Demonstrated his invention called ‘kijker’ (meaning ‘looker’ in Dutch) before Dutch parliament on 2nd October 1608.

Time Recorder, 1890. Inventor : Harlow Bundy (USA).

Tractor (1st gasoline/petrol powered engine), 1892. Inventor : John Froelich (U.S.). Completed in Iowa (September 6 1892).

Tractor (Caterpillar), 1900. Inventor: Benjamin Holt (U.S.).

Transformer (induction coil), 1842. Inventor : William Stanley, Jr. (U.S.).

Transistor, 1948. Inventors : John Bardeen, William Shockley and Walter Brattain (U.S). Researched at Bell Telephone Laboratories. First application for a patent was by Dr Julius Edgar Lilienfeld in Canada in October 1925.

True Nature of Combustion, 1789. Discoverer : Antoine Laurent Lavoisier (France).

Tungsten, 1783. Inventors : Juan José Elhuyar Lubize and Fausto de Elhuyar (both brothers) jointly discovered Tungsten (Spain).

Typewriter, 1864. Inventor : Peter Mitterhofer (1822-1893) (Austria). First practical patent by Christopher Soles (U.S.) (1868).

Uranium, 1841. Discoverer : Martin Heinrich Klaproth (1743-1817) (Germany).

Vaccination, 1796. Inventor : Dr. Edward Jenner (England).

Variable Wing, 1956. Inventor : Sir Barnes Neville Wallis (England). First military application in U.S. F-111 Jet Fighter, 1964.

Vitamin A, 1913. Discoverers : Elmer V. McCollum and M. Davis (USA).

Vitamin B, 1916. Discoverer : Elmer V. McCollum (USA).

Vitamin C, 1920. Discoverers : Albert Szent-Györgyi and Charles Glen King (USA).

Vitamin D, 1920. Discoverer : Sir Edward Mellanby (USA). He also studied role of Vitamin D in preventing Rickets in 1919.

Vitamin E, 1922. Discoverer : Sir Herbert McLean Evans (USA).

Vitamin K, 1929. Discoverers : Henrik Dam (Denmark) and Edward Adelbert Doisy (USA).

Washing Machine (electric), 1907 (date not exact, estimated). Inventor : Controversial and exact inventor is unknown. However, Hurley Machine Company of Chicago (U.S) produced first model of electric washer called “Thor” based on design by Alva J. Fisher, (1910).

Watch (self-winding), 1791. Inventor : Abraham-Louis Breguet (France). Rocker Pedometer action.

Welder (electric welding), 1877. Inventor : Elisha Thompson (U.S.) (1853-1937).

Wheel, c. 3800-3600 BC. Inventor : Sumerian civilisation. Spokes as opposed to solid wheels introduced c. 1900 BC.

Windmill, c. 600 AD. Inventor : Persian corn grinding, oldest known port mill, 1191, Bury St. Edmunds, England.

Writing, c. 3400 BC. Inventor : Sumerian civilisation. Earliest evidence found at Warka in Iraq.

Xerography, 1938. Inventor : Chester Floyd Carlson (U.S). First photocopier machine marketed in U.S. in 1950.

X-ray, 1895. Inventor : Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen (Germany). University of Wurzburg (November 8).

Zeppelin, (Rigid Airship) 1899. Inventor : Ferdinand von Zeppelin (Germany).

Zero (in number system), c. 600. Inventor : Anonymous (India). (Absolute zero temperature; cessation of all molecular energy, 1848, William Thompson and Lord Kelvin, England).

Ziggurats, c. 2000 BC. Inventors : Sumerians. Earliest staged towers at Ur in Iraq.

Zip Fastener, 1893. Inventor : Whitcomb L. Judson (U.S.). First practical fastener or modern zipper invented in U.S. by Gideon Sundback (Sweden) in 1913.

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