The first invention I learned about this week was the postcard. Charlton and Lipman invented the postcard based on their experience in the stationery profession. Postcards are cheap, simple ways to deliver a long-distance message. The pictures and photos on them create interest that motivates people to buy them. The internet has had made the postcard less common, but they are still important for advertising.
The second invention I learned about this week was the gatling gun. Richard Gatling invented the gatling gun as a way to save lives in war by reducing the number of soldiers in battle. It fires thousands of rounds per minute through a series of rotating barrels, so they don’t overheat. Richard sold it the US military by putting on a live demonstration. The gun was used to expand US and British enterprises.
The third invention I learned about this week was linoleum. Fredrick Walton invented linoleum after noticing how linseed oil dries into a rubber like Constien. It’s cheap, but durable flooring that is easy to clean and therefor keeping it hygienic. Walton combined aggressive marketing with storefronts. It allowed people to walk in and see the product in action. Linoleum played a big role displacing wood floors after World War II. It is ionic of the 1950’s.
The fourth invention I learned about this week was the Ratcheting wrench. Inventor J.J. Richardson patented the ratcheting socket wrench through the magazine in 1863. It uses a rachet to allow motion in only one direction, which speeds up the rate at which nuts, and bolts can be tighten. They are standard tools in kits today.
The most interesting thing I learned about this week was how a gatling gun can fire 6,000 rounds per minute. I found this interesting because a normally firearm can about shoot 45 rounds per minute, but a gatling gun can shoot 6,000 rounds per minute. Thats what I found Interesting this week.
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