In a doff of the hat to women, here are some little-known facts. In 1871 Margaret Knight invented a machine that produced square-bottom paper bags. Charles Annan claimed credit for the invention. When he was challenged, he replied it was not possible for a woman to invent anything so clever.
Nonetheless, a woman invented:
Duct Tape
Vesta Stoudt, an ordnance-factory worker, and mother of two Navy sailors, worried that problems with ammunition box seals would cost soldiers precious time in battle. She wrote President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1943 and suggested sealing the boxes with a fabric tape that she created and tested at her workstation in the factory.
FDR handed the letter to the War Department. The War Department gave the specs to Johnson & Johnson to manufacture. After the war, Melvin A. Anderson Co of Ohio bought the rights from Johnson and Johnson and manufactured the tape for household repairs. When it was found ideal for repairing duct work, it finally got its name.
Not only did Stoudt not profit from her invention, but credit was given to Richard Drew of Johnson & Johnson.
The Car Heater
When she was cold, Margaret Wilcox invented a heater. When she was worn out, she invented both the washing machine for clothes and the dishwasher. She received a patent for the heater in 1893. Nonetheless Thomas Ahearn is given credit for the first electric car heater.
Monopoly
Play Monopoly? Are you fairly confident Charles Darrow invented the game? Certainly, he profited, but he based it on the Landlord’s Game invented by Elizabeth Magie in 1904. Magie carefully created the game and game board to expose injustices and promote Georgism — only own the value you create yourself.
All the details of the game were stolen by Darrow who sold it to Parker Brothers in 1934. When caught, they paid Magie $500.
Spread Spectrum Technology
Actress Hedy Lamar was not just another pretty face. She invented a secret communications system during World War II for radio-controlling torpedoes and many other applications. Most importantly, the “spread spectrum” technology formed the technical backbone for cellular phones, fax machines and other wireless operations.
Lamar worked with George Anthiel. They received a patent for their invention in 1941. He was publicly credited immediately. Lamar was credited 56 years later in 1997.
Fire escape, Life Raft, Solar Heating, Medical Syringe
Yup — all invented by women but more often men profited. Are you sensing a trend here? Women do and men take a bow. The electric refrigerator and the ice cream maker were both invented by women.
The Computer
You may not have heard of Ada Lovelace. She was the first computer programmer (1842). You probably have heard of her co-worker Charles Babbage. Nonetheless it was her notes, not his, that were instrumental in developing the modern computer.
Touch-tone Telephone
Dr Shirley Jackson invented the technology that led to touch tone phones, caller ID, and call forwarding.
The Grocery Bag
Women invented closed circuit, central heating, and Kevlar. To end where we began: Annan was granted the patent; Knight sued, won, and ever after was called, “Mother of the grocery bag.”
