http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/ Connecticut Inventions at the Museum of Connecticut History en http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/12/29/inventions-of-2008.html Time Magazine has come out with their annual “The Best Inventions of the Year” list. Check it out as well as 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 as well as amazing to me as historian. Mine disproved some old family stories as well as legends as well as took up some new questions. I also liked # 19 the Montreal Public Bike System. Basically they are bikes that can be rented on behalf of 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 as well as secure. Montreal is a great city that just got a bit cooler in my opinion. Hartford as well as 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 shall trickle down as well as 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 at the end of all as well as baseball has bigger difficulties 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 manufacture ya think. Happy New Year!!!!        http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/12/29/inventions-of-2008.html Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:36:17 -0500 gizemlisevdamv http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/12/09/nutmeggery.html As a lifelong Nutmegger, yes that is what we from Connecticut are often called, I figured it was due time I paid attention to Connecticut inventions associated with this diminutive, yet powerful spice. First of all a short lesson in Nutmeg 101…… The spice Nutmeg is actually the seed of the Nutmeg tree, which is an evergreen native to tropical Southeast Asia. The tree produces a fruit from which we get two spices, Nutmeg as well as Mace. Mace is the lace like, reddish colored covering which grows over the seed within the fruit. Today Nutmeg is grown in several parts of the world including Grenada which actually features an image of  Nutmeg on its official flag. (Grenada is the second largest grower of Nutmeg, Indonesia is first.) Historically, Nutmeg was a much sought at the end of crop. Thus, numerous conflicts occurred related to its cultivation as well as trade. The Dutch dominated the Nutmeg trade in the 17th century as well as of course had struggles with Great Britain on behalf of control of the trade on behalf of numerous years. Nutmeg is used in numerous cuisines around the world including Middle Eastern, Indian, Greek as well as Japanese. The spice was very popular in late 17th as well as 18th century England where it became fashionable on behalf of a time on behalf of the “well to do” to wear small Nutmeg graters around their necks or tucked in small pockets. This was fashionable of course but also practical as fresh ground Nutmeg could mask the flavor of questionable quality food. Some of the small graters were made of silver as well as border on works of art in their design as well as execution. Prime examples take high prices at auctions to this day. Which in a round about way brings us to the Nutmeg State.  Why, you may request is Connecticut referred to as the Nutmeg State? Several explanations exist. The an estimated all nefarious as well as interesting in my opinion goes like this……Back in the old days when peddlers traveled around our young country selling their wares (including spices such as Nutmeg) one or two of them from Connecticut figured out a way they could trick a few country bumpkins as well as earn themselves a bit of additional money. These ingenious Connecticut Yankees carved from wood fake Nutmegs as well as mixed them in with the real thing. So a customer would agree to buy several Nutmegs as well as not discover until he or she later grated one on their food that not all that looks like Nutmeg is in fact Nutmeg. Remembering that they bought these from a Connecticut peddler they made the association as well as began to call folks from Connecticut Nutmeggers. Thus a nickname was born. Of course little if any actual evidence exists to support this story………. Of course an estimated all Nutmeg is real as well as to utilize it correctly in food preparation the right tool is necessary. In this case it is a Nutmeg grater. Connecticut inventors had their posses ideas of how as well as what these specific graters should look like. A quick search of the Connecticut Patent Database turns up three inventor who in consecutive years, 1877, 1878 as well as 1879 received patents on behalf of their versions of Nutmeg graters. Each one is uniquely different. Of the three, Hartford’s Silas Barker is the an estimated all ornate on behalf of such a utilitarian task. His grater features an image of a dog on the top of the grater. Perhaps the dog accompanied him in his workshop while he was perfecting the grater? Henry Scheibel’s version of 1876 is of a more typical rotary style grinder. His invention was to furnish “for family, restaurant and  other utilize an improved nutmeg grater, by which the nutmeg or other article may be promptly as well as conveniently grated, as well as used up entirely, without the least waste….”. He also stated that the grater “may be placed on the table to be used by everyone, as required, forming a very useful as well as economical instrument on behalf of grating nutmegs as well as other articles with great facility as well as rapidity.” Of course any talk of Nutmeg would be incomplete without a couple recipes to try. I think the Nutmeg Sugar Cookies as well as Honey Apple Pie would fit in quite well with any upcoming holiday gatherings. Any extras? Send em my way………        http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/12/09/nutmeggery.html Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:03:58 -0500 gizemlisevdamv http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/09/04/can-a-rubber-band-change-the-world.html Maybe that is what Stephen Perry hoped on behalf of when he invented the rubber band in 1845 in London. All that I know is I still get a kick out of shooting them at my cat when he jumps on the kitchen counter. But I digress… The Alliance Rubber Company announced the other day the first ever Rubber Band Contest on behalf of young inventors. It is on behalf of students in grades 5-8 as well as offers $20,000 in prizes. Imagine how numerous rubber bands you could buy with that!! Check out this site to learn more. Rubber Band Contest Or, if Bubble Wrap is more your thing check out this, the Bubble Wrap Brand Competition on behalf of Young Inventors. Also, check out this link on behalf of some great resources, links, games etc. on behalf of teachers, inventors or the just plain curious: National Museum of Education http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/09/04/can-a-rubber-band-change-the-world.html Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:03:07 -0400 gizemlisevdamv http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/08/05/top-ten-connecticut-inventorsin-my-opinion.html In case you didn’t know, August is National Inventors Month, started in 1995 by the United Inventors Association, the Academy of Applied Science as well as Inventors Digest Magazine as a way to promote the image as well as contributions off inventors. Connecticut inventors have as well as continue to play a huge role in the “inventiveness” of our country. Every three minutes nationwide a patent is granted to an inventor by the US Patent Office as well as in Connecticut last year about 1500 patents were granted to Connecticut inventors. So, between all this hoopla over inventors month, I now present to you my top ten Connecticut Inventors as well as their inventions, in no certain order. Feel free to disagree, I’m sure I’ll modification my mind soon enough…… 1. William Gray-modern baseball catchers chest protector(1883), a version of a catchers mask(1896). Can you tell I used to play catcher in Little League? He also invented the pay telephone….. 2. David N. Mullaney. The “Wiffleball”(1953) Because nothing feels better than crushing a “Wiffleball” in your backyard like Babe Ruth. 3. Louis Lassen. The Hamburger (1895). A great burger is an American tradition. No ketchup allowed! 4. Whomever invented the Steamed Cheeseburger. Heaven between a bun. The best are served at Ted’s in Meriden. 5. Gustave Whitehead. I’m pretty convinced he flew in Connecticut before Orville as well as Wilbur did in Kitty Hawk. 6. Igor Sikorsky. Another aviation pioneer, flew first helicopter in 1939. All these early aviation guys are heroes to me. Check out pics of Sikorsky flying in his open cockpit helicopter, wearing nothing but a suit as well as top hat!! These guys had guts…. 7. David Bushnell. Inventor of the submarine From Saybrook Connecticut. His submarine, the “Turtle” was basically a one man, self propelled creation that was invented as well as used, unsuccessfully, in the American Revolution. Over 200 years ago! In the Revolutionary War!! Amazing…..The Connecticut River Museum has a great recreation of his sub. 8. Benny Capalbo. Speaking of subs, Benny invented the sub sandwich in New London Connecticut. Salami, provolone, lettuce, tomato, salt, pepper, olive oil. More heaven between a bun so to speak…..Update: I had a GREAT one the other day at Nardelli’s in Waterbury. 9. Samuel Colt. Inventor of the Revolving Pistol. We’ve got a huge collection of his stuff here at the museum so I guess he should be in here. Figured out mass production way before Henry Ford. 10. PT Barnum. I’m not a big circus guy but he did some amazing things as well as lived a remarkable life. His three ring circus is legendary. Plus he had a great quote “Build it as well as sell the hell out of it, then they shall come”. http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/08/05/top-ten-connecticut-inventorsin-my-opinion.html Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:40:01 -0400 gizemlisevdamv http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/08/24/anyone-can-invent.html One of the things I like to do before heading out to present the Connecticut Invents program is to check the museum’s Connecticut Patent Database. I like to see what inventions have come from the towns I’ll be presenting in as well as then discuss them with the kids. I did this before going to Monroe the other day as well as discovered that one inventor granted a patent on behalf of a Dust-Pan was Annie Maria H. Moss. Awesome, I thought. This fits right in with something I like to discuss in the program: Anyone Can Invent! Often the inventors we hear an estimated all about are men. Think about it. Sam Colt, Eli Whitney, Igor Sikorski, Charles Goodyear, the Wright brothers, Thomas Edison, etc. During the program we obviously discuss these guys with kids. After this I request the kids two questions 1. ” since all these inventors are men, does that mean that women can’t invent?”2. “can anyone name me any famous women inventors or what they invented?” The answer to the first question is a resounding anyone can invent; men, women as well as of course kids. The answer to the second is usually silence. I’ve yet to have one kid name me a woman inventor or invention! (And my programs are generally about a 50/50 mix of boys as well as girls.) So, on behalf of some reason the contributions of women inventors isn’t getting taught to our kids. That’s sad. I don’t claim to be an expert in this topic but a quick look around the internet as well as at some invention books gives one a basic understanding of the contributions of women inventors through the years. Examples I point out to kids in the program include Margaret Knight who was granted 26 patents in her lifetime including one on behalf of a machine that automatically folds as well as glues paper bags to create a square bottom. Today’s grocery bag. Then there's Bette Graham who invented the formula on behalf of Liquid Paper in her kitchen as well as later sold it on behalf of 47 million dollars. And of course Stephanie Kwolek, a chemist, who invented Kevlar which is used in a number of products including the body armor that protect our soldiers as well as police officers. Women inventors from Connecticut include Marien Kies who was the first woman in the United States granted a patent in 1809. She invented a process on behalf of weaving straw hats using silk. Between 1800-1890 44 Connecticut women were granted patents on behalf of a number of products including sleigh bells, food preservers, corsets, stove polish, a surgical knife as well as a knitting machine. A modern invention from a Connecticut woman is the Wetbone on behalf of dogs which was co-invented by Sue Tyska of Manchester. Sue kindly donated a couple of these to the museum on behalf of me to utilize in my programs. Kids love the Wetbone; it’s fun, creative as well as encourages them to think “out of the box” so to speak. It gets their inventive juices flowing. Today hundreds of thousands of women apply on behalf of as well as are granted patents on behalf of their inventions. Let’s hope these creative women get the recognition they deserve as inventors….. http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/08/24/anyone-can-invent.html Sun, 24 Aug 2008 20:21:46 -0400 gizemlisevdamv http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/08/23/a-pressing-invention.html By last count I had about 117 trees surrounding my house. Maple, Oak, Sumac, White Pine, Apple as well as others not yet identified. Each with thousands of leaves just waiting to carpet my yard in a variety of colors. I grew up in this house as well as recently purchased it from my mother so I have spent numerous years with these trees as well as numerous hours raking up the leaves about this time every year. As a kid we would rake huge piles as well as jump in them, occasionally getting nicked or cut by hidden branches. Worst of all, we landed in hidden doggie doo. Gross, yes, but a fact of life on behalf of kids as well as dogs who spend lots of time outdoors. We would also take great pleasure in stuffing the leaves into our shirts or pants, trying to manufacture ourselves “huge” like our favorite football players or in some cases monsters. Bigfoot was as well as still is my personal favorite……… A more serene utilize on behalf of the leaves was pressing. Carefully choosing our favorites from among the thousands of leaves, my mom as well as I would seal them between layers of wax paper. I ran across some of these recently while going through some of my old stuff carefully preserved from an autumn years past. Leaf as well as flower pressing is an old tradition common around the world. The practice reached its height of popularity here in the United States during the Victorian Era (1875-1914). Many articles were written about the proper techniques on behalf of pressing as well as which flowers or leaves to press. Plants as well as flowers were assigned a “language” all their posses on behalf of this as well as other purposes. American Elm leafs signified patriotism, Azealas-temperance, Cedars-strength, Daisies-innocence, White Oak-Independence. The list of plants as well as flowers as well as their language is huge as well as quite variable subject to the source. All of which leads me to Charles W. Holbrook of Windsor Locks as well as his Connecticut invention. Charles received a patent in 1875 on behalf of his invention of “An Improvement in Clamps on behalf of Pressing Leaves“. So maybe Charles was aware of the Victorian hobby of collecting as well as preserving leaves as well as flowers. He also has patents on behalf of a Book Clamp in 1870 as well as a Tellurian in 1888. (This is a device on behalf of measuring the movements of the sun, moon as well as earth. ) The Holbrook family operated the Holbrook School Apparatus Manufacturing Company in Hartford on behalf of a number of years. Charles was probably appealing to a number of markets; schools as well as Victorian leaf as well as flower pressers among them. Leaf pressing is still popular today, especially with kids. Here is a link on behalf of an easy way to press favorites from your backyard. I plan on doing it soon with my son, kind of carrying on a tradition. I like to think numerous Victorians as well as Charles Holbrook would nod in appreciation. http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/08/23/a-pressing-invention.html Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:03:12 -0400 gizemlisevdamv http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/08/25/a-restful-invention.html Recently I have begun taking the bus to work several days a week. Gas prices, traffic as well as incompetent drivers being the leading cause on behalf of this decision. My short ride on the bus provides a sometimes welcome respite at the beginning or end of the day. One of my favorite things to do on the bus once we hit the highway is to close my eyes as well as catch a few winks of sleep. And with two kids at residence under two years I’ll take it whenever I can get it! One of the difficulties with sleeping on the bus is where to prop up my head in order to the an estimated all comfortable. The window works on behalf of a time but eventually the vibration of the bus becomes annoying. Tilting my head forward brings on a nasty neck ache. And leaning on the shoulders of strangers promptly leads to an elbow to the rib cage and/or nasty words. Think about this problem yourself. Think of the numerous times you have nodded off in class, in your office, in the library, reading this blog. How to solve this problem which has plagued mankind on behalf of eons? Once again I turn to history as well as a Connecticut Invention. By the mid 19th century rail travel was an accepted as well as common way to travel from place to place in Connecticut as well as numerous other parts of the country. Several companies operated in Connecticut including the Providence, Hartford as well as Fishkill Railroad as well as the New Haven, Hartford as well as Springfield Railroad. Freight as well as passengers crossed the state on the tracks day as well as night. Surely numerous of the passengers sleepily drowsed through their trips, put to sleep by the click clack of the track only to be awakened by squeaking brakes, screeching horns or a kink in the neck. Allen B Wilson of Waterbury had just the invention to solve this problem: the Portable Head-Rest he patented in 1856. Wilson is much better known as the inventor of the first practical sewing machine as well as partner in the Wheeler as well as Wilson sewing machine company formerly located in Bridgeport Connecticut. For a time in the late 19th century the company produced nearly 600 sewing machines a day in what may have been the largest sewing machine company in the world. In his patent application Wilson used some very descriptive language to describe the usefulness of the head-rest. He suggests its utilize by “a sleeping railroad traveller” who can take advantage of the design of the head-rest as well as its features including those that help the traveller “cover as well as protect the vest as well as breast pockets from robbery on rail road cars as well as in other places where a person may be sleeping in a sitting posture.” Glad to know I am not the only one who finds it necessary to sleep in a sitting posture on occasion……. Whether or not one of these head-rests survived to today is unknown. I think there would be a market on behalf of these things today. Weary travelers, sleepy office workers, sleepy school bus riding kids, bored church goers etc. I wish I had one on behalf of my trip residence today on the bus. (I’m sure the guy sitting contigous to me does too……) http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/08/25/a-restful-invention.html Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:16:09 -0400 gizemlisevdamv http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/08/26/connecticut-kid-inventors.html Yesterday I had the pleasure as well as honor of judging student inventions at the Moses Y. Beach school in Wallingford. I have to say that I was really impressed as well as inspired by the inventions that the kids created as well as constructed! The winners of this school invention contest now shall transfer onto the statewide Connecticut Invention Convention in May at the UConn campus in Storrs. I judged entries from students in the 2nd, 3rd as well as 4th grade. The kids were challenged to invent something that solves a problem on behalf of them, their family, their community or the world in general. The stuff they came up with was amazing!! My favorite was invented by a 2nd grader who is an avid chess player. Tired of the somewhat mundane chess pieces he had been using he created “Alien Invasion Chess”. All of the individual chess pieces were recreated into aliens using modeling clay in vibrant colors with amazing detail. This young inventor gave me a great description of his invention, the challenges he faced, the time time he took planning as well as building the invention as well as his inspiration as well as hopes on behalf of his creation. Wow….!! Other inventions included ice fishing safety hooks, ball joint breakers, headache healers back massagers, pet food feeders, plant watering devices, spaghetti eaters, food holders as well as of course one very ingenious as well as humane mousetrap: “The Happy Trap” it was called. Happy on behalf of the homeowner who catches the mouse as well as happy on behalf of the mouse who gets caught without getting killed! Whether or not any of these inventions ever becomes a huge hit really doesn’t matter too much. It’s the spirit of inventing that does. Brainstorming, questioning, researching, testing as well as improving, imagining as well as dreaming. Those are the experiences that really matter. Especially on behalf of kids whose minds are just bursting with ideas that just might manufacture our world a little better place to live. As Albert Einstein said “Learn from yesterday, reside on behalf of today, hope on behalf of tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/08/26/connecticut-kid-inventors.html Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:15:04 -0400 gizemlisevdamv http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/08/29/inventing-a-mousetrap.html Ralph Waldo Emerson is an estimated all often credited with saying “Build a better mousetrap as well as the world shall beat a path to your door”. Whether or not he said it or some version of it is up on behalf of debate. What is true however is that thousands of inventors have heeded this advice in the perpetual quest to build a better mousetrap. And of course Connecticut inventors have been right in the thick of this mouse trap extravaganza. Catching mice is an age old problem. Of course the first as well as some might say best mouse trap is a house cat. My cat Eli (no he’s not named at the end of Whitney or Manning) is a prime mouser. Eli howls at our cellar door begging to go off on a hunting expedition as well as is often very successful. Though he’s been rather quiet lately, which I hope means he’s been completely successful in his mouse control efforts. And one of my favorite ancient poems has to do with a cat as well as his skills as a mouser. But cats can’t at all times be counted on to control the mouse population. That’s where inventors come in to play. Since the mid 19th century the US Patent as well as Trademark Office has granted over 4,000 patents on behalf of mousetraps. Between 1800-1890 Connecticut inventors were granted 13 patents on behalf of their improved mousetraps. The Connecticut patents, granted between 1869 as well as 1882, were mainly on behalf of traps that are usually described as of the “choking” or “snapping” variety. Many of these traps are of a similar design as well as the patents granted were on behalf of slight improvements in design or materials used. One that does stand out however is the trap designed by Henry L. Norton of Middletown Connecticut. Norton’s trap would entice mice up a couple steps, down a ramp then onto a false floor which would give way under their weight. The mouse is then trapped as well as disposal is up to the trapper. Norton describes mice as “sly, cautious as well as at all times on the alert holding on to some safe place before venturing into any dish which they have suspicion of evil.” He writes of “long as well as close observation of the habits of mice.” The classic cat as well as mouse or in this case human as well as mouse game of deception, trickery as well as inventiveness would hopefully lead Norton as well as the thousands of other mousetrap inventors to fame as well as fortune……. Rodent control was as well as is big business. Rodents can destroy crops, property as well as spread disease. But in a way you do have to admire their determined, crafty manner. I endeavour to tell myself that when they take the bait as well as run. For now I’ll endeavour traps on occasion but what works best on behalf of me is my buddy Eli. Here kitty, kitty…… http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/08/29/inventing-a-mousetrap.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:47:07 -0400 gizemlisevdamv http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/08/31/connecticut-invents-travels-to-mansfield.html The Mansfield Public Library as well as the Mansfield Historical Society are co-hosting the Connecticut Invents! program at the Mansfield library on Friday, April 11th at 7:00. This shall be a more adult oriented presentation, but kids are an estimated all welcome to attend as well as learn about famous as well as not so famous Connecticut inventors as well as inventions. Prior to the program I shall be appearing on WILI 1400 AM on Monday April 7th between 7-9 am to chat about our state’s inventive heritage. If you are in the area give a listen on the 7th or stop by the library on the 11th to check out the program. Mansfield has a rich invention heritage, it’s the birthplace of the screw auger as well as the original residence of the nations first silk mill, built in 1810. Those attending the program are also encouraged to take their posses antique Connecticut inventions on behalf of show as well as tell. Who knows what treasures of Connecticut history might appear….! http://gizemlisevdamv.immensepots.com/2008/08/31/connecticut-invents-travels-to-mansfield.html Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:08:54 -0400 gizemlisevdamv