Jelly Beans: Candy History
Jelly beans in America probably date to the early 19th century. The first known mention of this candy was in a Boston newspaper in 1861. Candy maker William Schrafft ran
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Inventions for Convenience
X-Ray Shoe-Fitting Machine
The X-ray shoe-fitting machine (fluoroscope) was a common fixture in American shoe stores during the 1930s-50s. In ads, the machines were touted as a new way to check the fit
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The Wheelchair: Who Thought Of It?
Wheelchairs today offer a very high level of independence and mobility to people who cannot walk because of injury or disability. When and how did they come about? While not
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Elmer’s Glue: The Surprising Story
Elmer’s Glue was first introduced by the Borden Company in 1947. A dairy company going into the adhesive business may at first seem surprising, but it makes good sense when
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Who Invented the Shopping Cart?
The shopping cart was invented in the mid-1930s by Sylvan N. Goldman (1898-1984). Goldman ran a grocery store chain called Humpty Dumpty, and he observed that shoppers struggled with the
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Ice Cream Cones: The True Story
The ice cream cone is said to have originated at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1904. But that leaves out an important part of history: the
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