Week 13 Summary Essay
This week I learn about four more amazing, lifechanging inventions. Here are the inventions in order with their inventors: the jackhammer, invented by Johnathan Couch, the pin-tumbler lock, which was invented by Linus Yale Sr. and Linus Yale Jr., Walter Hunt, the inventor of the safety pin, and finally, the gyroscope, invented by Leon Foucault. Read these following paragraphs to learn more about the inventions and inventors of this week.
The first thing I learned about this week was the jackhammer, which was invented by Johnathan Couch in 1848. It was especially used in mines, but there was a problem: Couch’s jackhammer used steam. That meant it sent out gases in the mines, sometimes flammable. This was extremely dangerous for miners, so someone had to solve this problem. Well turns out Couch’s assistant, Joseph Fowle, did. He created the modern version of the jackhammer, which is air compressed. The jackhammer works by smashing down concrete 25 times a second. Jackhammers are useful tools that people use all the time.
In the next lesson I learned about the pin-tumbler lock, which was invented by Linus Yale, Sr., in 1843 around the age of 40. He got married when 18 years old and had 4 children. His oldest child, Linus Yale, Jr., helped him invent it. He presented his pin-tumbler locks in many places including the fair! He also presented the weaknesses of his competitors locks and the benefits of his locks, which is good for business. He mostly invented his pin-tumbler locks for banks, because they were more reliable than other locks. Linus Yale, Jr., invented his own locks and also founded the Yale lock company. One good benefit is how these locks are difficult to pick, or unlock. Yale’s lock hasn’t really changed, and we don’t just use his locks in banks, but in almost every door, in our houses and in other businesses.
Next, I learned about a small, simple invention that has a huge impact on history: the safety pin, which was invented by Walter Hunt. He is the same person who invented the sewing machine, but lost interest in his invention and didn’t patent it. Instead, someone else did, named Bart Thimonnier. Like some inventors, we don’t know much about him, but we do know the story of how the safety pin was invented. Hunt was in debt to someone for $15. So, he invented the safety pin, filed a patent, and sold his patent for $4,000! That way, he could pay of his dept. The people that now owned the patent, made and sold their own safety pins, and made a decent amount of money on it. Safety pins are small, simple inventions that are used in so many ways every day. An example would be cloth diapers for babies. This invention is one of the most useful inventions of all time.
Finally, I learned about the gyroscope. Its inventors name was Leon Foucault, and he invented it in 1852 to demonstrate how the earth rotated. Basically, a gyroscope is a spinning disc or wheel inside gimbals, which are wheels and axils to allow the gyroscope to rotate while staying stable. This invention is used today in many things, including compasses, satellites, ships, and aircrafts. It provides stability and helps maintain direction. It is possibly one of the most widely used inventions in history.
These inventions have made enormous historical impacts and are very useful and helpful in our everyday lives. However, my personal favorite invention I learned this week was the pin-tumbler lock. I love the invention and what it has done in our lives, but I also like how Yale decided to sell his invention. Yale presented the weaknesses of his competitors’ locks and the benefits and superiority of his locks. Obviously, people would want to buy the better locks. This is something that is extremely smart is business. I can’t wait to learn about more inventions next week.