- Ironing Board
- Internal Combustion Engine
- Lever-Action Repeating Rifle
- Twist Drill
Ironing Board
Before the ironing board, in some countries, a pan full of hot coals was used for ironing. The kitchen table was used to iron on, but this could leave burns on the table, and was not as practical. But then, along came the ironing board. It was invented by two people, and we don’t know much about them. The ironing boards shape is very important. It had a wide base for wide surfaces, and a point, for parts like armpits, and sleeves. Along with the iron, the ironing board was very useful, and would become very common. The board would have an ironing board cover, keeping the board from being stained. They are (usually) portable. It improved. Along with the washing machine, it saves lots of time for housewives.
Internal Combustion Engine
It takes a while for steam engines to heat up. This was a problem. Etenne Lenoir discovered that sparks ignite gasoline. He invented the internal combustion engine after discovering this. The gas ignites, creating an explosion, which drives a piston, and can then be used for motive power. The best part is that is starts quickly. This is the car engine. Imagine if it suddenly disappeared. Suddenly there is no motive power to any of your vehicles. Imagine if airlines stopped running, and all the airplanes stopped midair. The would have to glide to earth, if there was to be any chance of landing safely. Imagine if 16-wheelers stopped running, and there was no, quick, widespread way to transport goods. We would probably die of starvation at some point. The economy relies on the Internal Combustion Engine.
Repeating Rifle
The arquebus evolved into the revolver, and other modern guns. The musket was one of the earliest guns, next to the arquebus, which increased its predecessor’s accuracy, yet it was still very slow loading. When Benjamin Tyler Henry, a gunsmith, invented the repeating rifle, shooting was changed. He invented a gun just before the civil war, that was later called by the Confederate army, “the gun that you could load on Sunday, and shoot all week”. They said this because it was a 16 shooter. It was like a pistol magazine but was located in the butt of the gun. It was predecessor to the modern rifle. It shaped the way for all other rifles to come later.
Twist Drill
John Wilkinson invented the boring machine in 1774, but his drill bit was a rectangular piece of metal, not a twist bit like we have today. Steven Morse (not the inventor of Morse code) invented the twist drill bit in 1861. It had a screw pattern, which helps lift debris out of the hole. The sharp cutting point drills into wood or whatever materiel is being cut. Morse sold his bits all over the world. He had a factory in Massachusetts. When we think of a drill, we think of the twist drill bit. It has become the standard drill bit.