Basic HTML Version
Did You Know?
FireFlyz ~ 51
Post-ItNote
Year invented: 1968
Designer: Art Fry/Spencer Silver
While attempting to develop a
super-strong adhesive, Dr. Spenser Silver
accidently created something that was
prettymuch the complete opposite
- an adhesive that could be applied,
removed, and applied again, without
damage to the object it was applied to.
He attempted tomarket the “low tack”
adhesive to 3M to no avail. In 1974, Art
Fry overheard Silver talking about his
invention and quickly realised a use
for the tack; he applied it to paper and
created the Post-It Note.
ConverseSneakers
Year invented: 1892 |Designer: U.S.Rubber Company
This sneaker brand that we are familiar with today stems
fromthe U.S. Rubber Company’s design for Keds shoes. These
rubber-soled, canvas-topped shoes weremass-produced until
1917. That same year,Marguis Converse produced the first shoe
made for basketball, the Converse All Star. In 1923, Chuck Taylor,
an Indiana basketball player, endorsed the shoe and the name
was changed to Chuck Taylor All-Stars.
AmazonKindle
Year invented: 2007
Designer: Labl26/Amazon
Amazon’s answer to reading books
in the electronic agewas the Kindle,
an E- Ink electronic paper reader.
The display of the Kindlewas
revolutionary, because instead of
a backlight screen, it rendered
16 tones to simulate reading on
paper,making it easier for the
reader andminimising power
consumption.
Zippo Lighter
Year invented: 1933
Designer: GeorgeG.Blaisdell
Zippo lighters became popular in the
military, primarily duringWorldWar II.
Initially the lighter wasmade of brass,
but due to thewar, it had to start being
manufactured in steel. Although Zippo
was not officially contracted by the United
StatesMilitary, the product was so popular among
soldiers and armed forces that they became stocked
in base exchange and post exchange stores.
SafetyPin
Year invented: 1849 | Designer:WalterHunt
The invention of the safety pin is a cautionary one. In order to
repay a $15 bet,Waltewr Hunt designed a fastening pin out of
copper wire and a clasp to hold the end of thewire. His inven-
tion is the basis of themodern day safety pin, but Hunt sold
his patent toWRGrace and Co. for $400, using themoney to
pay off his friend. Today, the safety pin is an invention that is
used throughout theworld, and one thatmadeWRGrace Co.
millions of dollars.Mr. Hunt onlymade $400.