These 12 Things Invented In Vermont Have Changed The World As We Know It
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Kristin Grimes
Author
For a little state, we sure had some game changing inventions! From patents to inspiration and everything in between, Vermont has – once again – made the world a better place. Let’s take a look at a few of these VT inventions that are pretty darn amazing.
The world of fishing was taken to another level when the game changing open real arrived on the scene. The Orvis company invented the open reel for fly fishing in 1874.
The first globe factory was established in 1813 by James Wilson of Bradford for the manufacturing of geographic globes. Wilson made the first artificial globe in America in 1799, and in 1813, he opened the first geographic globe factory in the US and sold his initial 13-inch globe for $50.
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In 1790, Samuel Hopkins from Pittsford received the first U.S. Patent for making potash and it was signed by both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
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Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley is one of the first known photographers of snowflakes. He attached a bellows camera to a compound microscope and, after much experimentation, photographed his first snowflake on January 15, 1885.
Gardner Blodgett invented the cast iron cooking oven in 1848 and the company is still operating in Burlington. These beauties were made the Blodgett way - built to last!
Laughing gas was discovered by Gardner Colton of Georgia. Dental patients everywhere are certainly glad for this discovery!
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Samuel Reed Hall may not have invented the blackboard, but he is the first one to introduce it into the classroom.
The first fishing spoon lure was invented in 1830 by Julio Buel of Castleton, Vermont.
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Silas Hawes, a blacksmith living in South Shaftsbury, decided to make rules, or squares, which are still used by carpenters today. He sold them for $6-$7 each, as there was a big demand for them, and he obtained a patent and in 1817 began manufacturing them.
Thaddeus Fairbanks is credited for many inventions and received 32 patents during his lifetime. Fairbanks is credited for invention the iron plow, the platform scale and the process for artificial refrigeration and others.
In 1834 Thomas Davenport, who was a blacksmith by trade, developed a battery-powered electric motor. He used it to operate a small model car on a short section of track, paving the way for the later electrification of streetcars.
The first recorded use of sandpaper was in 1st-century China when crushed shells, seeds, and sand were bonded to parchment using natural gum. A process for making sandpaper was patented in the United States on June 14, 1834 by Isaac Fischer, Jr., of Springfield.
If you like these VT inventions, you should check out these 11 things you didn’t know about the history of Vermont.
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