Scary Inventions

A colleague of mine with a frightening imagination clued me into this. Check out the Little Shop of Patent and Trademark Horrors from the US Patent and Trademark Office Kids’ Pages. It’s pretty scary what some inventors come up with…..

Below is an 1889 invention by Wilbert Blakeman of Shelton Connecticut that would foretell your future. Not sure what the future held for this invention, but I do find it strange that in the drawing the pointer is aimed at “Better Not”. For Karma’s sake (and maybe to convince the Patent Examiner to approve it) wouldn’t you want it pointed to “Yes” or “Soon” instead?

 

Toy Fortune Wheel

 

 

Uncle Charley Gets Some Help

With the “Fall Classic” aka the World Series approaching here’s a Connecticut invention that would give a decided advantage to pitchers if it were in use today. The “Device For Use of Base Ball Pitchers” was patented in 1897 by Edward J. Prindle of Torrington.  This “Device” according to Prindle would allow players to pitch “what are termed curved balls with greater facility and with a greater deviation or degree of curvature than has heretofore been possible.”

Prior to getting a patent for the device, Mr. Prindle advertised its benefits in the 1895 Spalding Base Ball Guide.  Prindle boasted that the device is “neatly constructed on scientific principles and is a marvel of simplicity” and accordingly the “pitcher who uses one of the ‘Curvers’  has the opposing team completely at his mercy”.

Oh, in case you are wondering about the title, “Uncle Charley” is one of the many nicknames that pitchers and wiffing batters have given the curveball over the years. I hope Charley is in fine form for Yankee pitchers this October……

Iron Man

While doing some research for an upcoming invention program in Waterford I came across this creation from Charles S.  Whipple. I’m sure if you have ever visited a historic house museum you’ve seen an old flat iron being used as a doorstop, or maybe you’ve got one collecting dust around your house. They’re heavy! And since in the words of Mr. Whipple “few women have strength enough to use them” I present to you what I think is a pretty ingenious idea……The “Improvement in Devices to Aid in Ironing Clothes” I’ll leave it to the reader to figure out how it was used……..

Wiffleball Weather

It’s gonna be a hot, humid great summer weekend. Sounds like perfect Wiffleball weather to me. I’ve mentioned Wiffleball several times on this blog. I even ranked David Mullaney (the ball’s inventor) #2 on my list of Top Ten Connecticut Inventors.

Wiffleball has played a big role in my life (during one of my early museum jobs I once dressed up as George Washington and played in a Wiffleball tournament.) and I’m teaching my boys how to play it now. Though I’m having a hard time keeping the 3 year old from bonking the 1 year old in the head with the bat…….Anyways, It’s a great CT invention, cheap, fun and always challenging. Check out this video which gives some neat insights into the Wiffleball company located in Shelton Connecticut.

Passing of a Great Inventor

Sad news today that on Thursday legendary musician and inventor Les Paul died at the age of 94. Inventor of the solid body electric guitar and numerous recording studio innovations Les Paul changed the face of modern music and helped to usher in Rock and Roll music. Eric Clapton, Slash, Joe Perry, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck etc. etc. All the great rock guitarists followed a path that Les Paul first blazed.

I’m not sure of any Connecticut connections to Les Paul. I do know that I always tell kids in my programs that artists, musicians, authors and the like are all inventors. Inventors  are always thinking; challenging themselves to create, improve, make a difference. Les Paul did that and kept working on inventions his whole life. He started young and never stopped playing, creating, tinkering. Les was playing regular gigs with a band until very recently. In his 90’s!

I can’t play a guitar worth a lick. But like so many other folks, I have Les Paul to thank for his inventions and how they have made my life better. Rock on Les…..

Attack of the Turtle!

Just finished reading a fun, new book for kids, though I enjoyed myself. “Attack of the Turtle” by Drew Carlson (illustrated by David A. Johnson) is an account of the invention of the submarine in Connecticut at the very beginning of the Revolutionary War. Mixing fiction and non-fiction Carlson writes an engrossing, fast reading story about David Bushnell and his creation of a submarine (named the American Turtle) designed to attack and sink British warships in New York harbour.

Several recreations of this historic Connecticut invention have been built. Check out this one from Handshouse Studio or visit the Connecticut River Museum in Essex to see their version.

Please Read This From the NY Times

Probably the coolest, hippest, funnest invention related thing I’ve read in a long, long time……This woke me up from my Friday morning, it’s raining out again disgruntlement.

And the Pursuit of Happiness by Maira Kalman     Can Do

Connecticut Invents! Summer 09 Tour

Summer is just around the corner and so is the Summer 09 Tour of Connecticut Invents! I have 16 dates booked at various libraries across the state which I’ve listed below. This hands on program is best suited for kids entering grades 4-6, but parents and other caregivers are always invited to sit in on the program to learn about our inventive past. Contact the individual sites for more info about registration and other details.

June 30  10:00 am  Scranton Library, Madison

June 30 1:30 pm  Smith Library, Northford

July 2  10:00 am  Sherman Public Library

July 7  10:30 am  Pomfret Public Library

July 9  2:00 pm  Pequot Library, Southport

July 10 10:30 am  Stonington Free Public Library

July 14 1:00 pm  Saxton B Little Library, Columbia

July 15 2:00 pm  Hartford Public Library

July 21 10:30 am  Stratford Public Library

July 23 10:00 am  Cheshire Public Library

July 23 2:00 pm  West Hartford Public Library

July 30 10:30 am  Sprague Public Library

July 30 1:00 pm  Franklin Public Library

August 4 3:00 pm  Terryville Public Library

August 6 2:00 pm  Hartford Public Library (Goodwin Branch)

August 11 2:00 pm  Derby Neck Library

Hope to see you at one of these locations!

Connecticut Inventions Kind of Day

For the first time in 6 months we are going to hit 70 degrees today here in the Nutmeg State! So as I sit in my office glancing at the beautiful blue sky, my mind wanders to thinking of what I would rather be doing. And of course some CT inventions play a part…….

1. I’m hungry.  I would love to be scarfing down right now either a Ted’s Steamed Cheeseburger, a buttered lobster roll or a sub sandwich.

2.  I want to be outside.  Playing with a  Wiffle Ball or Frisbee sounds mighty tempting right about now.

3.  I’d like to be at Yankee Stadium.  I’m sure the Yankees catcher will be wearing a chest protector! Another CT Invention!!

4.  I’ve got to fix my deck at home. My trusty tape measure will sure come in handy! Thanks Alvin Fellows from New Haven back in 1868!

5.  It would be a great day for a drive in the country. Maybe to Litchfield county to drive over Bull’s Bridge in Kent which uses Ithiel Town’s Truss design.

That’s just a start. I gotta get out and enjoy this weather!!!

Inventions of 2008

Time Magazine has come out with their annual “The Best Inventions of the Year” list. Check it out and see what you think.

My favorites from the list include #1 the Retail DNA Test. I’ve already done one of these as part of my family history research. Accurate, inexpensive and amazing to me as historian. Mine disproved some old family stories and legends and brought up some new questions.

I also liked # 19 the Montreal Public Bike System. Basically they are bikes that can be rented for short periods of time when you are in the city. Other cities around the world have tried this including Paris with some success. The Montreal one is a bit more high tech and secure. Montreal is a great city that just got a bit cooler in my opinion. Hartford and other small cities are you listening???

#43 the High Tech Running Shoes also appeals to me as a runner. These shoes may be pricey now, but eventually this tech stuff will trickle down and be more affordable.

One invention of 08 that I don’t like is #38. Baseball’s instant replay. I’m a traditionalist, so if the game made it over 100 years without it, leave it alone. It’s a GAME after all and baseball has bigger problems to confront than instant replay. Like playing the World Series in November or a dwindling interest in baseball in urban America, etc. etc……….

Check out the list, it’s sure to make ya think. Happy New Year!!!!