Mystery Item No 4

Here it is, this months Mystery Item. Up for one week only, so get your guesses in quick!

April Inventions

So, I thought I would share with you all some of the numerous items that have been invented throughout history in the month of April. There are many to choose from, so here is a small selection.

The roller skate patented on the 6^th April 1869 Isaac Hodgson (No 88,711).[1]

Image of the roller skate design. [1]

A disposable syringe gained its patent on the 9^th April 1974 (No 3,802,434), designed by Phil Brooks. [2] Whilst various forms of intravenous injection and infusion had been in occurrence from the 1670s, Charles Gabriel Pravaz and Alexander Wood who were the first to develop a syringe with a needle fine enough to pierce the skin in 1853. [3] As can be seen in the patent for Brooks design he mentions the various other needles available, however he notes the advantages of his disposable device.

Disposable syringe design. [2]

An ironing board patent was granted to Sarah Boone on 26^th April 1892 (No 473, 653). [4] Her improvement in ironing boards was produced to make a ‘cheap, simple, convenient and highly effective device’ which was particularly useful when ‘ironing sleeves and bodies of ladies garments’.[5]

Part of the ironing board patent. [4]

Whilst we don't have any of these items in our museum, we have many others. Check out the next mystery item to have a glimpse at what we have to offer. As always, thanks for reading and I hope you have found something which interests you.

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[1] Google Patents, 'No 88,711', 2011. [Online] Available from: www.google.com/patents?id=U7JCAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&dq=88711&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=1#v=onepage&q&f=false. (Accessed 10/04/12).

[2] Google Patents, 'No 3,802,434', 2011. [Online] Available from: www.google.com/patents?id=n4l9AAAAEBAJ&pg=PA2&dq=3,802,434&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=2#v=onepage&q=3%2C802%2C434&f=false. (Accessed 10/04/2012).

[3] Inventors, 'Hypodermic Needle - Syringe Needle', 2012. [Online] Available from: www.inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsyringe.htm. (Accessed 10/04/2012).

[4] Google Patents, 'No 473,653', 2011. [Online] Available from: www.google.com/patents?id=dZxAAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&dq=473,653&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=1#v=onepage&q=473%2C653&f=false. (Accessed 10/04/2012).

[5] Google Patents, 'No 473,653', 2011. [Online] Available from: www.google.com/patents?id=dZxAAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&dq=473,653&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=1#v=onepage&q=473%2C653&f=false. (Accessed 10/04/2012).

Mystery Item No 3

So to all those people who guessed correctly, this month’s mystery item was a hot water bottle

We still use hot water bottles today, however they are now made of rubber or pvc to a design patented by the Croatian inventor Eduard Penkala. This was his first invention and consisted of a resin bottle filled with hot water, which was to be used in bed on cold nights.[1] Hot water bottles also now have competition from microwavable heat pads and the electric blanket.


However the hot water bottle has had a long history.....
The earliest example of a hot water bottle is the bed warming pan, which dates back to the 16^th century. Embers from the fire were placed into this metal pan with a lid and slipped in between the bed sheets. The long wooden handle provided the user with a way of moving the pan, and the heat, across the bed.

Next in the development of bed warming equipment came the stoneware hot water bottle, as can be seen in the image below. This is cream and brown glazed ceramic example, and could be used in bed or carried on journeys. This example is 26cm long and is fairly heavy, even more so when it was filled with water! This bottle is for the feet, its flat base allows it to stand upright easily either in bed or a carriage.[2]

Original Victorian Hot water Bottle. [3]

The example at the Museum of Dartmoorlife is earthenware and comes with a metal carrying handle and screw stopper. It measures 23 cm high. As can be seen on the bottle itself, it is 'The Adaptable Hot Water Bottle and Bed Warmer', and was made at Old Fulham Pottery. The instructions for use are clear and easy to follow, ensure the bottle is warmed first and them fill with boiling water. 

Museum Hot Water Bottle

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[1] Darko Zubrinic, Zagreb, ‘History of Croatian Science’, 1995. [Online] Available from: www.croatianhistory.net/etf/et22a2.html#penk. (Accessed 26/03/2012).

[2] Object Lessons, 'Stone Hot Water Bottle', 2012. [Online] Available from: www.objectlessons.org/houses-and-homes-victorians/stone-hot-water-bottle-victorian-original/s59/a274// (Accessed 26/03/2012). 

[3] Object Lessons, 'Stone Hot Water Bottle', 2012. [Online] Available from: www.objectlessons.org/houses-and-homes-victorians/stone-hot-water-bottle-victorian-original/s59/a274/. (Accessed 26/03/2012).

The Safety Pin 10th April 1849

For those who follow the museum on Twitter (@dartmoorlife) you will see today’s tweet about the invention of the safety pin in 1849. More information on the invention of the safety pin see below.

Walter Hunt (1796-1859) is credited with patenting the safety pin. His other inventions include a forerunner of the Winchester repeating rifle, a successful flax spinner, knife sharpener, streetcar bell, hard-coal-burning stove, artificial stone, road sweeping machinery, velocipedes, ice ploughs and mail making machinery.[1] Alongside this, he is also known for creating a commercially unsuccessful sewing machine.[2]

The design and patent for the safety pin (No 6281) can be seen below and was obtained on the 10^th April 1849.[3] It can be read in the document that the distinguishing feature of this pin lies in the construction of the pin. Made from one piece of wire and a catch, in which the pin can be safely retained, it was the first pin to have a clasp and spring action.[4] Hunt claimed that it was designed to keep fingers safe from injury - hence the name.

Image 1- Figures showing different parts of the pin.[5]

The invention of the safety pin came about when Hunt was twisting a piece of wire whilst trying to think of something that would help him pay off a fifteen dollar debt.[6] The safety pin proved a way to do so after he sold the patent for $100.

Hunt also made improvements to the sewing machine which was patented on 17^th June 1854 (No 11,161).[7]  This machine was America’s first eye pointed sewing machine.

Sewing machine.[8]

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[1] Inventors, 'Walter Hunt', 2012. [Online] Available from : www.inventors.about.com/od/hstartinventors/a/safety_pin.htm. (Accessed 7/04/2012).

[2] Inventors, 'Walter Hunt', 2012. [Online] Available from: www.inventors.about.com/od/hstartinventors/a/safety_pin.htm. (Accessed 7/04/2012).

[3] Google Patents, 'No 6281', 2011. [Online] Available from: www.google.com/patents?. id=4vBEAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&dq=6281&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=1#v=onepage&q=6281&f=false. (Accessed 7/04/2012).

[4] Google Patents, 'No 6281', 2011' [Online] Available from: www.google.com/patents?id=4vBEAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&dq=6281&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=1#v=onepage&q=6281&f=false. (Accessed 7/04/2012).
[5] Google Patents, 'No 6281', 2011' [Online] Available from: www.google.com/patents?id=4vBEAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&dq=6281&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=1#v=onepage&q=6281&f=false. (Accessed 7/04/2012).

[6] Inventors 'Walter Hunt', 2002. [Online] Available from: www.invent.org/hall_of_fame/279.html. (Accessed 7/04/2012).

[7] Google Patents, 'No 11,161', 2011. [Online] Available from: www.google.com/patents?id=lyVNAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&dq=11,161&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=1#v=onepage&q=11%2C161&f=false. (Accessed 7/04/2012).
[8] Google Patents, 'No 11,161', 2011. [Online] Available from: www.google.com/patents?id=lyVNAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&dq=11,161&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=1#v=onepage&q=11%2C161&f=false. (Accessed 7/04/2012).

The safety pin is also mentioned in Wulffson, Don L, (1981) The Invention of Ordinary Things, New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books.