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Invention Trivia (Cont.)
How did a mistake lead to the creation
of America's favorite variety of cookie?
In 1930, Ruth Wakefield was mixing a batch of
cookies for her roadside inn guests when she discovered she was out of baker's chocolate. She substituted broken pieces of
semi-sweet chocolate, expecting it to melt and absorb into the dough to create chocolate cookies. But the chocolate didn't absorb
into the dough. When she removed the pan from the oven, Wakefield realized she had accidentally invented chocolate chip cookies.
They were named "Tollhouse" after Wakefield's inn, and they remain the most popular variety of cookie in America.
Who was the first U.S. President to ride a railroad train?
On June 6, 1833, President Andrew Jackson stepped on a Baltimore and
Ohio passenger coach – thus becoming the first president to ride a railroad
train. President Jackson's historic ride took him twelve-miles from Relay to Mt.
Claire Depot, Md. During this era, the railroad was just starting to be accepted.
Before the Civil War, the railway system expanded significantly, and in 1869 it
became possible to take a train from coast to coast. Advancements in the railroad industry
made it possible for subsequent presidential candidates and administrations to move quickly
and comfortably about the nation addressing crowds at all their stops.
Thus was born the whistle-stop tour.
Read more about inventions and the presidency in the "Invent Help" newsletter archives.
What was the real innovation behind Tupperware?
In 1942, Earl Silas Tupper invented Tupperware when he discovered that
a certain kind of plastic could be injection molded into specific shapes.
In 1946, he added the lids that gave Tupperware its trademark air- and
liquid-tight seal. But the product didn't sell very well until
Tupper met Brownie Wise. Wise sold Tupperware door-to-door and consistently
had impressive results. When asked how she did it, Wise told of how she
got groups of housewives together so she could demonstrate the product.
These gatherings became known as "Tupperware Parties."
This innovation earned Wise a promotion to Vice-President and the honor
of being the first woman to make the cover of Business Week.
Was Thomas Edison the first to receive a patent for the electric light bulb?
No, he wasn't, but his documentation proved he was the first
to invent it. Competitors had heard about his light bulb project and
quickly applied for and received patents. Edison presented his extensive
and detailed documentation in a lawsuit for patent infringement and won the case.
Who received the first U.S. patent?
On July 30, 1790, Samuel Hopkins obtained the first U.S. patent. However,
some people confuse this Samuel Hopkins with another. The Samuel Hopkins
who acquired the first patent was born and lived his entire life in
Maryland. Yet another Samuel Hopkins who lived in Pittsford, Vermont
and Pittsford, New York often receives credit for obtaining the first
patent. To confuse things even more, two historical markers commemorating
Samuel Hopkins for his place in patent history have been erected –
in the two Pittsfords!
The Samuel Hopkins who actually did acquire
the first patent discovered a new method of producing potash – a crude form of
potassium carbonate that is derived as residue when wood ashes are repeatedly boiled.
It is an essential ingredient of glass, soap and gun-powder.
Duct Tape is well known as one of the most versatile forms
of tape, but what was its original name?
"Duck" tape. Duct tape was originally created in 1942 for the military
to seal ammunition boxes. Its waterproof qualities led to its name,
Duck Tape, because it repelled water like ducks' feathers do. Following
WWII, people used the versatile tape to connect duct-work in homes and
buildings, and it eventually became known as "Duct" Tape.
Read more invention trivia from InventHelp®
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