Courtesy New Haven Independent

The sad news from yesterday here in Connecticut was the announcement of the passing of a true weather and broadcasting legend. Dr. Mel Goldstein, meteorologist, lost his battle with cancer at the too young age of 66. There are a lot of TV and radio weathermen and women out there today but Dr. Mel was one of the few that stood apart. You trusted when you saw or listened to his forecasts that he knew what he was talking about. And he did it in a down to earth yet scientific way that endeared him to folks all around Connecticut. As a weather geek myself he was one of those people I would pay attention to then dive into the radar, maps and forecasts myself to see if I could figure out what was happening with our weather. He inspired us to learn and that’s what a teacher and scientist does.

So with all that in mind here is the patent of the day dedicated to the memory of Dr. Mel who always seemed to have a smile on his face no matter what the weather or what he was going through during his battle with cancer. I think this “Storm Garment for Letter Carriers” from  William Carpenter of Bristol in 1909 would make that smile just a little bigger.

Made in New Haven!

Rex may be the first voice activated toy ever produced and apparently he was a very popular item back in the teens and 1920′s. This example was made by the John Hugo Manufacturing Company of New Haven. Check out how much the toy cost back in the day:

Inspired by the many patents of inventor Christian Berger, who worked for the Submarine Wireless Company of New York, below is one of his patents for the toy. Seems to work  in some ways like an early version of the infamous “Clapper” don’t you think? (But much more fun of course!)

For all you ladies out there as you put on your holiday best:

Here’s a couple patents, both assigned to the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury. Both lipstick holders, which to my eye, look strangely like bullet casings……..maybe that’s just a guy thing though.

Huh? No, I’m not hung over on too strong eggnog,  I did mean to spell the title of this post Mary Berry Christmas. For on April 9th 1907 Mary Doty Berry of New Milford Connecticut patented a “Tree”. Not just any tree mind you, but an artificial Christmas tree.  Looks pretty similar to the one I have in my living room right now. The one anchored to the wall so that my 18 month old won’t pull down, the one that my extremely large cat, “big fat momma” likes to snack on when her trough of food is empty……

Mary Xmas!

Smokin Joe's Left Hook

Sad news this morning as I heard of the death of boxing great Smokin’ Joe Frazier. I’m not a huge boxing fan today, but back in the 70′s when I was a kid and heavyweight boxing was at its pinnacle I was. I remember many a time watching the big fights on  our  black and white TV with my father. Howard Cosell calling the fights in his own classic style as  Ali, Frazier,  Foreman, Norton and others  duked it out in the ring.

But Joe Frazier stood out. First of all he had the great nickname: “Smokin’ Joe”. I mean has there ever been a better nickname in sports history? The blue collar fighter, not big in stature, but big in heart. Never backed down, never gave in. And that huge left hook that seemed to come out of nowhere. Watch the highlights of the 71 title fight against Ali and watch what that hook did to the great Ali…..

Flippin around on the TV last night I came upon the movie “Rocky”. Best sports movie of all time(where Frazier has a cameo). Once I start watching it I can’t stop no matter what else may be on. The training and fight scenes, the music and that last final scene with Rocky yelling out for Adrian and telling her he loves her as the film ends gets me every time. I remember seeing that movie when I was like 10 years old, the crowds in the theater cheering wildly for Rocky as the championship fight went on. Say what you want about Sylvester Stallone as an actor. If that story and his performance doesn’t get you, with its uniquely American theme of  down on his luck blue collar guy who gets a chance to make it big, then somethings wrong.

Anyway, I’ve rambled on far too much. So here’s the  Connecticut Patent of the day, with a respectful nod towards the “Sweet Science” and the greatness of Smokin’ Joe Frazier:

Henry O.Costello, 5/14/1946, Exercising Device

How many times have you said that to yourself while at work or home? Maybe it’s just me…..

Anyway, here’s the patent of the day, designed by Emmons Dower in 1929, from Bridgeport, (also the home of P.T. Barnum and today the Barnum Museum which really needs your help in rebuilding after tornado damage!!)

“A Design for a Toy Circus Wagon”:

Think my kids would fit in here?

Courtesy hartford.com

Today is a good day for doughnuts: rainy, dark, a make a pot of coffee and eat some doughnuts kind of day. And there are some great doughnut places in Connecticut. Neil’s in Wallingford and Tastease here in Hartford are my favorites. In coincidence, today while doing some food history research, (yes I actually get paid to do this kind of stuff), I ran across a very amusing story in the November 17th 1899 edition of the Hartford Courant with a doughnut related bent. Here’s an abbreviated version:

Doughnuts Destroyed

Small Fire in a Morgan Street Bakery Last Night

The burning of a pan of doughnuts at the Bakery of Arnold & Dobmeier, No 69 Morgan street, was the cause of the calling out of the fire department at 10:40 o’clock last night. When the fire bell sounded many thought that the shooting stars were visible and there was a good deal of disappointment when  it was learned that it was burning doughnuts instead of burning meteors that had brought the people out. The fire was quickly smothered with flour and sawdust.  The damage will be lighter than the doughnuts. Several crullers were a  total loss.

So, with that in mind here’s the Connecticut Patent of the Day. From 2003, a Donut Maker invented by Christopher Hennessey of Stamford:

Sounds pretty good, especially if you’re  a Red Sox pitcher, lounging in your clubhouse, not your day to pitch, the season going down the drain……”Let’s order in some fried chicken and beer….”According to stories running rampant the past couple days that’s what was happening in the Sox clubhouse as the season wound down. As a Yankee fan I love it. I’m giddy listening to the Boston sports talk shows detailing  Red Sox Nation collapsing like a house of cards.

I digress, this is a blog about Connecticut inventions, not sports talk. So here’s a couple having to do with the previously mentioned Chicken and Beer……

Breeding Chicken Coops, 1876, Theodore Rogers, Wethersfield

Beer Drawing Apparatus, 1885, John Button, Norwich

Anyway, sometimes we forget how important and popular a drink cider was in New England in years gone past. Sweet and hard cider was consumed in large quantities during the 18th and  19th centuries. Most homes especially those in the more rural areas would have supplies on hand to drink throughout the day. Consumed with breakfast, dinner and supper it was a common drink for all and readily available during a time when apple orchards of all sizes graced the New England landscape far more than they even do today. Of course it’s not just a matter of picking a few apples off a tree and squeezing them to get the juice! You need a lot of apples to make a good quantity of cider. And you need tools. Here’s a few Connecticut patented apple picking and pressing related inventions that helped with that job. Hard work, but the results are oh, so tasty…..

Improvement in Cider Making, 1871, George Hamlin Willimantic

George Clark, Higganum, Cider-Mill, 1882

Charles Morris, New Haven, Fruit Picker, 1901

Joseph Bottomley, Greenville, 1884, Fruit-Picker

The patent of the day combines two useful tools into one. At least for some folks, in our family we have been using various ladders a ton lately as we paint our house. As far as an ironing board goes, well, I can’t honestly remember the last time it was used. Heck, I can’t even tell you where it is…..

From James McKellan of Naugatuck in 1904 a “Combined Ironing-Board and Step-Ladder: