1920s Inventions Flashcards

Christian Nelson

• Invented the Eskimo Pie ice cream in 1920, featuring chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream in foil.
• Inspiration derived from observing a boy's indecision between chocolate and ice cream.
• Collaborated with Russell Stover for large-scale production; today marketed by Nestlé.

Sebastian Hinton

• Created the first jungle gym in 1920; also known as monkey bars or climbing frames.
• The invention became immensely popular among children.

Ernst Alexanderson

• Revolutionized radio and television transmission with a high-frequency alternator in 1920.
• His innovations enabled successful radio wave transmission, leading to a scanning disk and high-frequency neon lamp for television.

William Potts

• Detroiter and police officer who invented the first traffic lights using red, green, and amber lights in 1920.
• Installed first at the intersection of Woodward and Michigan Avenues in Detroit.

Earle Dickson

• Developed Band-Aid in 1920 from gauze and tape to aid his wife’s frequent injuries.
• Worked at Johnson & Johnson, which commercialized the product; he became Vice-President in 1924.

Hair Dryer

• The first hair dryer was invented in 1920, providing a more effective alternative to vacuum cleaner exhausts, though it had overheating issues.

Benjamin Katz

• Invented headrests in 1921, which became a standard feature in automobiles for user comfort.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration required headrests in cars starting 1969.

John A. Larson

• Developed the lie detector (polygraph) in California; measures pulse and breathing to detect lies.

Frank Gilbreth

• Introduced the flow process chart in 1921 as a step-by-step diagram for program description to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Ben P. Ellerbeck

• First practical retractable manual hardtop system for convertibles was envisioned in 1922; evolution led to power-operated designs in 1934.

Ralph Samuelson

• Invented water skiing in 1922, turning it into a popular sport and teaching the activity to others.

Raymond DeWalt

• Patented the first radial arm saw in 1925, primarily used for cutting long lumber; marketed as Wonder Worker.

Dr. Harvey Fletcher

• Invented the audiometer in 1922 to measure and evaluate hearing loss; became standard equipment in clinics.

James Cummings & J. Earl McLeod

• The bulldozer was invented in 1923 for efficient construction, widely used for digging canals.

Leo Gerstenzang

• Created the cotton swab in 1923, initially named "Baby Gays," later rebranded as "Q-Tips."

Samuel Shlafrock

• Developed an early version of the instant camera in 1923, leading to Edwin Land's commercial version in 1948.

William Petersen

• Invented locking pliers (Mole grips) in 1924, with further development resulting in the Mole grips model in 1955.

Lionel Sternberger

• There are conflicting claims about the creation of the cheeseburger, with some attributing it to Sternberger in 1924 or later in 1926.

Morris Titterington

• Invented the earth inductor compass in 1924, used in the aerospace industry for aircraft navigation.

State of Nevada

• Credited with introducing the gas chamber for executions, a method later infamously used during the Holocaust.

Iwan Serrurier

• Created the Moviola in 1924, allowing simultaneous film editing and playback.

Lloyd Espenschied

• Invented the radio altimeter in 1924, a device measuring the distance from an aircraft to the ground.

Richard Drew

• Developed masking tape in 1930 after identifying difficulties workers faced while painting vehicles.

Herbert Sellner

• Tilt-A-Whirl introduced in 1926 at an amusement park; became popular for its thrilling ride experience.

Francis W. Davis

• Invented the first practical power steering system, not embraced by automakers until the 1950s.

City Center Bank

• Opened the first drive-through window in 1926, paving the way for popularization in various service sectors.

Robert Hutchings Goddard

• Launched the first liquid-fueled rocket; held 214 rocketry patents.

Charles Perkins Strite

• Innovated the pop-up bread toaster in 1920, securing a patent later that year and leading to mass production in 1926.

The Automatic Music Instrument Company

• Launched the first jukebox in the 1920s, gaining popularity in the 1930s.

John W. Hammes

• Inspired the first garbage disposal in 1927, intended to mesh food waste to prevent drainage blockage.

Frank Ofeldt

• Invented the pressure washer in 1927, primarily useful in construction and car washing.

Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker

• Created the first recliner in 1928, initially made of wood, leading to later leather versions.

Lloyd Groff Copeman

• Developed the ice cube tray in 1928, revolutionizing how ice was made and served in drinks.

Walter Diemer

• Created bubble gum and marketed it as "Dubble Bubble" in the 1920s, achieving over $1.5 million in sales in its first year.

Clip-On Bow Tie

• Appeared on the market in 1928, becoming popular among police and those preferring not to tie knots.

Colonel Jacob Schick

• Invented the first electric razor in 1928, allowing for quick shaving without water or soap.

Phillip Drinker & Louis Shaw

• Developed the iron lung in 1928, crucial for aiding patients with respiratory issues, particularly polio survivors.

Sir Alexander Fleming

• Discovered penicillin, an antibiotic, though it gained popularity only post-World War I, after extensive research.

Clarence Birdseye

• Invented frozen food in 1924, patenting a preservation technique, establishing Birdseye Seafoods, Inc.

Dr. Haas

• Innovative tampon applicator developed in 1929; marketed as Tampax, becoming prevalent in menstrual care products.

Sam Foster

• Mass-produced sunglasses in 1929, increasing their popularity, particularly among pilots and in the fashion industry during the 1930s.