The Story of Parking Meters
The first parking meters in the United States went into use in Oklahoma City in 1935. The city grew rapidly in the early 20th century. In 1913, the city had
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Inventions
The Signal Corps: Battlefield Communication–Civil War
Battlefield communication has always been difficult. Before technology, armies relied on bugles, trumpets, drums and regiment flags to signal to the soldiers what was to come next. But as men
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Gideon Sundback’s Invention of the Zipper
Gideon Sundback is credited with inventing the first zipper, but he was not the first to patent the device. Sundback, however, created the first zipper to work well, and he
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The Magic Lantern-Early Form of Slide Projector
The magic lantern is an early 17th-century image projector that served as the primary predecessor to modern slide and movie projectors. It is a remarkable invention that remained in popular
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First Rearview Mirror Marketed as “Cop-spotter”
The first widely distributed rearview mirror for automobiles was sold as the “Cop-spotter” by a fellow named Elmer Berger. Available as an auto accessory, the “Cop-spotter” retailed in hardware stores
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Bessie Blount Griffin, Physical Therapist and Inventor
Bessie Blount (1914-2009) was a physical therapist who worked with injured soldiers during World War II. She recognized their need and desire to do more on their own, and she invented
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