DISHWASHER
The first dishwasher was patented in 1850 by Joel Houghton; his machine was a hand-turned wheel that splashed water on dishes – unfortunately, it wasn’t very effective at washing dishes. The first working automatic dishwasher was invented by Josephine Garis, Illinois, in 1889. Her dishwasher was a wooden tub with a wire basket in it – the dishes went in the basket, and rollers rotated the dishes. As a handle on the tub was turned, hot, soapy water was sprayed into the tub, cleaning the dishes. Cochran’s machine was first shown at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, Illinois. At first, her machine was only bought by some restaurants and hotels. Cochran’s small company was eventually associated with the KitchenAid company. The dishwasher didn’t become widespread as a labour-saving machine until the 1960s.
DISPOSABLE NAPPIES
The disposable nappy was invented in 1950 by Marion Donovan. Her first leak-proof nappy was a plastic-lined cloth diaper. Ms Donovan then developed a disposable nappy. She was unsuccessful at selling her invention to established manufacturers, so she started her own company.
ELECTRIC IRON
The electric iron was invented in 1882 by Henry W. Seeley, a New York inventor. Seeley patented his “electric flatiron” on 6 June 1882 (patent no. 259,054). His iron weighed almost 15lb and took a long time to warm up. Other electric irons had also been invented, including one from France (1882) which used a carbon arc to heat the iron, a method that was dangerous.
FRANK EPPERSON
The Popsicle or ice-lolly was invented by 11-year-old Frank Epperson in 1905. Epperson lived in San Francisco, California. Epperson had left a fruit drink out overnight (with a stirrer in it), and it froze, making a new treat. His frozen treat was originally called the Epsicle. Epperson got a patent on his “frozen ice on a stick” many years later, in 1923. The Epsicle was later renamed the popsicle. Epperson also invented the twin popsicle, with two sticks so it could be shared by two children.
ESCALATOR
An escalator is a moving stairway that helps people move easily from floor to floor in a building. The American inventor Jesse W. Reno invented the escalator in 1891. On his “inclined elevator”, passengers rode on wedge-shaped supports attached to a conveyor belt at an incline of about 25 degrees. The original elevator had a stationary handrail (which was soon replaced with a moving handrail). Horizontal steps were added to the escalator by Georg A. Wheeler and Charles D. Seeberger (who bought Wheeler’s patent) in the late 1890s. The Otis Company later bought the patents for the escalator and marketed it worldwide. The word escalator was first used at the Paris Exposition of 1900, when the Otis Company exhibited the moving stairway.