The Zipper

Year Invented:1851
Inventor: Elias Howe
Perfector: Gideon Sundbach
Purpose: Easier to close clothing

Invention called:
 Automatic Continuous

Clothing Closure (1851)
Separable Fastener (1914)
Zipper (1920s)

In the 19th century people were use to lacing and buttoning up their clothing. Many buttons was time consuming to button and unbutton. Elias Howe decided to come up with an easier way to close clothing thus creating (what he called) the automatic continuous clothing closure.

In a video of Modern Marvels, the History Channel explains how the invention worked. "It closed fabric with a series of small clasps that joined when a string was pulled." Though Howe's invention worked, it was not a success due to it jamming often. He did, however, show his device at the World's Fair in Chicago of 1893.

Just 21 years after the World's Fair in 1914, the "zipper" was improved by Gideon Sunhbach (photo top right) a Swedish engineer. He doubled the number of teeth in each row (according to history.com) which perfected the invention. Gideon called it the separable fastener. Not long after Gideon added to the "zipper" it was adopted into the U.S. army in World War I. By the 1920s the zipper could be found on coats, bags and in the 1930s in fashion.

The word "zipper" came from the B.F. Goodrich company whom invented the name to sell their new product of a shoe with a zipper. Today the zipper is found on wet suits, bags and many fabrics of clothing.

Photo from: https://www.google.com/search?q=zipper+history&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=9IUlUeu7J-Ks2wWIl4C4BA&sqi=2&ved=0CF8QsAQ&biw=1366&bih=640#hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=zipper+invented+history&oq=zipper+invented+history&gs_l=img.3...44374.45674.8.45933.8.8.0.0.0.0.62.416.8.8.0...0.0...1c.1.4.img.ecTQgy0kJuo&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42661473,d.b2I&fp=b86255da6108f4d1&biw=1366&bih=640&imgrc=-SgR6FBa_8RGXM%3A%3B5nyHcCImH09dZM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.fashionchoice.org%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2012%252F04%252Fzipper-gideon-sundback-img-1-540x404.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.fashionchoice.org%252Fthe-bit-of-zipper-history%252Fzipper-gideon-sundback-img-1%252F%3B540%3B404

Info from: http://www.history.com/videos/modern-marvels-gadgets---zippers#modern-marvels-gadgets---zippers

The Light Bulb

First Commercial Use Invented In: 1879
First Commercial Use Invented by: Thomas Edison
Purpose: Provide light at night.

A hundred and forty years ago the only light after sunset came from candles, gas lamps and fires. Due to the little amount of light from the time's technology, people were limited as to what they could do at night.

Though gas lamps were helpful to see, they were a major fire hazard. Several men (in a century span) sought to find safer means of providing light after sunset, thus creating the light bulb.

 Many people believe that Thomas Edison is the inventor, but that is only part of the truth. Thomas Edison was the first person to invent a commercial use light bulb and therefore was given the credit of inventing the light bulb.

In 1802, the first electric light was invented by Humphry Davy according to bulbs.com. Since then scientists have been experimenting to improve this new technology. Thomas Edison made history Nov. 4th 1879 after trying "a carbon filament or strip coiled and connected ... to platina contact wires" (Bulbs.com). The first successful light bulb for commercial use has been made. 


The world dramatically changed after 1879. It effected the home, the workplace, cities, and entertainment. People can now finish chores at home, work the night shift, see the city lights or go to the movies.

 As great as Edison's success was, he achieved it with great difficulty. Some people might have thought Edison failed many times before he found the right material, but Edison replies "I have not failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thanks to Edison people can now do last minute activities, enjoy late entertainment and travel at night.


Info from: http://www.history.com/topics/thomas-edison
                  http://www.bulbs.com/learning/history.aspx

Image from: https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=first+radio&ei=4ME6VdTeDY6yogTS0IHoCg#tbm=isch&q=first+light+bulb&imgrc=rKf9XeKKvBwObM%253A%3BCHIo4d43foGBJM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fheckeranddecker.files.wordpress.com%252F2009%252F04%252Forig_first_edison_light_bulb.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fdmhome.info%252Ftag%252Fedisons-first-light-bulb%3B500%3B667