History Lesson #140

Diesel Engine Mousetrap Radio Semi-Automatic Shotgun Diesel Engine Rudolph Diesel invented the diesel engine after realizing that the aging steam engine was quite inefficient. The diesel engine uses compressed air to run an engine, along with a new fuel, which Diesel developed. Diesel’s engine was put into locomotives and boats. It is now quite common among …

History Lesson #125

Light Bulb Cash Register Thermostat Steam Turbine Light Bulb Before he became an inventor, Thomas Edison saved the life of a three-year-old boy who was about to get run over. The boy’s father got Edison a job at Western Union telegraph company, although he was soon fired for doing experiments on his nightshift; however, the …

History Lesson #120

Telephone Carpet Sweeper Phonograph Moving Pictures Telephone Alexander Gram Bell was inspired by the telegraph, and Joseph Henry, to invent the telephone. Henry gave Bell advice and encouragement when Bell told him about his idea. The telephone allows us to communicate across long distances. Bell went on to create Bell telephone company, or AT&T (American …

History Lesson #110

Clothes Hanger Rotary Can Opener Mail Order Catalog Earmuffs Clothes Hanger Until the 1800’s, clothes were always stored in chests or drawers. O.A. North invented the clothes hanger in 1869 to store clothes without getting them wrinkled. Clothes can be stored in small spaces without being wrinkled. There is not much space in an apartment …

History Lesson #105

Air break Traffic Light Tape Measure Pipe Wrench Air break George Westinghouse Sr. was the father of the famous George Westinghouse Jr. Westinghouse Sr. owned some machine shops, in which George learned. Westinghouse Jr. grew up as a good businessman. One day, he experienced a train wreck because the brakemen couldn’t turn on the individual brakes …