BS: The history of everyday things

Subject: BS: The history of everyday things
From: GUEST,Ed t
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 10:31 AM

In an effort to improve BS, I open this thread for you to share information on the history of everyday things, or interesting people in history who made a lesser known, but still important, contribution our lives.

To start it off, here is a historic piece on Unbrellas:

The Umbrella

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 10:33 AM

That should be "Umbrella", (BTW< "Under my Umbrella - brella - brella" was a "catchy" song:)

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 10:49 AM

I've seen orang-utans using banana leaves as brollies on TV a few times. I imagine prehistoric humans did this too. It's an extremely useful invention. Have you read Bill Bryson's book 'At Home' Ed? He gives a lot of info about ordinary everyday things in his Victorian home in Norfolk. He says that the history of ordinary things is fascinating, and I tend to agree.
By the way, I really like Rhianna's song, and the video that goes with it. It was on TV last night!

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: Mr Happy
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 11:29 AM

The umbrella or the parasol, which came first?

Were they intelligently created or was evolution behind it?

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 05:44 PM

I reckon the parasol came later, as one could nearly always find a bit of shade, but getting out of the torrential rain when on a journey wasn't so easy.

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 06:02 PM

"History teaches us that man never learns from history...always chooses the more painful and enslaving way."

...and that's that....

...unless....

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: Andrez
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 06:33 PM

I seem to recall a time in history (mine) when digital calculations could be done with ten fingers!

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 06:52 PM

I learned, and was taught 'old math'..I memorized.

..it works better....and faster too.

GfS


P.S. Good training from youth makes one's mind active!

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 07:19 PM

If you smart enough to invent the can, wouldn't you think that you would consider that folks would need an opener to get at "what's inside"? Well,maybe not:


The can and can opener

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: Jack Campin
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 08:28 PM

Buttons were invented about 2000 years before buttonholes.

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 08:44 PM

""Ever wonder why men's suit coats have non-functioning buttons sewn on the sleeves? Some say they are just for decoration, but there is also the story that King Frederick The Great of Prussia started the practice in the 18th century. The rumor goes that after an inspection of his troops, he ordered that buttons be sewn on the sleeves of their coats to discourage them from wiping their noses on them!""

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 08:50 PM

The first plastic Guitar Picks were made in 1922 by a company named D'Andrea Picks. They made it from tortoise shell-like celluloid .



History of Guitar picks

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: Joe_F
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 08:54 PM

For a highly successful hoax in this line, see Mencken's bathtub article and beware!

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: JennieG
Date: 21 Oct 13 - 07:37 PM

Eliza, that book of Bill Bryson's is fascinating - I read a couple or three years ago.

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 01:53 AM

A long time ago, in these very Mudcat pages, I asked, "What was the greatest thing BEFORE sliced bread?" And Spaw shot back an answer: "perforated toilet paper."

Now, that could be just a witticism, but it got me to thinking: Is this something that can be verified? Sure, "greatest" will always be a matter of opinion, but can we at least confirm that perforated toilet paper is older than sliced bread?

It turns out we can.

Wikipedia says sliced bread was introduced by the Chillicothe Baking Company of Chillicothe, MO, in 1928, while the idea of a roll of perforated toilet paper was patented by Seth Wheeler of Albany, NY in 1883. So there you have it.

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: Mr Happy
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 02:40 AM

'perforated toilet paper'?

Would you have needed to wear gloves to use it? Not very practical!

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 03:23 AM

The ball point pen, invented by Lazlo Biro.

First presented in Budapest in 1931, patented in Paris in 1938

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 06:38 AM

Computer programmers used to say that the best thing since sliced bread was the Cobol Sort verb.

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 02:10 PM

One of the greatest inventions ever.... the flip rear view mirror inside cars.

"Except for the one Alice stepped through, most mirrors have a thin shiny layer of metal that does the reflecting, with a sheet of glass in front for structure and protection. The interior rearview mirror of most cars has an ingenious variation, in which the surface of the glass is not parallel to the mirror at the back. It is a wedge. The Guide Lamp division of General Motors worked on head and signal lights and also came up with this solution to headlight glare in the early 50s."

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 27 Oct 13 - 12:17 AM

The November 2013 issue of Smithsonian magazine declares itself to be a "Special Collectors Edition" with cover topic "101 Objects that Made America." I got my subscription copy yesterday, so I assume it's "new on the news stands."

A short selection of the items is at In This Issue. The complete magazine gives only short "sketches" about the objects included (all of which apparently are in Smithsonian collections) but might suggest which ones would merit further curiosity, and worth a look if one happens on the issue at the local rag sellers(?).

The objects selected all have some historical connection, but in most cases are rather "ordinary objects" that just happened to have had their historical place at one time or another.

John

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 27 Oct 13 - 12:28 AM

Computer programmers used to say ...

The C programming language was touted as being the first programming language in which you could write an assembler without recourse to "assembly language."

It was never clear to me, however, whether the C Assembler you wrote in C could assemble the C Assembler you wrote, or whether you still needed an assembler to assemble the assembler before it could assemble itself to assemble C programs.

Maybe if I'd done more of the homework in that class I audited 40 years ago I'd understand ... ????

John

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: Penny S.
Date: 27 Oct 13 - 07:52 AM

Bill D., the dippable mirror (which didn't reach here until long after it's invention as I recall) came to my mind as an invention last night, as yet again I was followed by an idiot with his headlights at the wrong angle. (I assume male - may be wrong. But most drivers are male.)

it wasn't so much the brilliance of the device, but the necessity for it that exercised my mind. Rear headlight glare may be caused by the occasional person forgetting to dip, but seems far more often to be more long term problems. Such as drivers who have been abroad not readjusting the aim of the headlights (I live in Kent), drivers who have not adjusted for a load raising the front of the car, drivers with a failed headlight running on full beam to compensate, drivers who have chosen to use fog lights in clear conditions (and where there has not been fog elsewhere on their journey) and drivers of large SUVs whose lights are too high off the ground (doesn't happen with lorries).

When following another vehicle, it should be easy to spot if one's lights are aimed wrongly and do something about it.

The mirrors don't approach the basic fault - and do not solve the problem of those drivers mentioned above when their glare is coming towards you.

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 27 Oct 13 - 08:07 AM

Here in Norfolk UK, the full beam drivers are often older folk who can't see properly in the dark on dipped headlights. There is very little lighting on our rural roads, and the daft old buggers have to put their lights on full beam to see anything at all. Another trick they have is to use a driver in front as a pilot, and tailgate him/her as closely as possible as a leader. I usually indicate, pull over safely and let them pass by. Full beams head-on are dreadful. I flash them but they take very little notice. At least it's temporary (until the next one!) My hubby and I are of different heights, and our adjustable mirror fell off last week due to being adjusted too much. He glued it back on with superglue, bless him.

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: Bill D
Date: 27 Oct 13 - 11:49 AM

I... fortunately... live in a large urban area where I seldom need or use high beams. Thus 'most' other drivers don't need them either. I do know the frustration when someone- either approaching or following- can't be bothered to dim, but it is not a regular problem for me. The flip/dip mirror to alleviate glare from cars behind me in traffic IS a major convenience.

As to other 'everyday things', I am quite old enough to remember having to get out of my chair and **walk** all the way to the TV or radio to adjust volume of change the station! *horrors*

Then came the wired remote! Long cord plugged into TV...be careful you don't trip over it!

Then infrared remote...see more here.. no cords, but had to be pointed pretty close to the receiving unit..(line of sight). Now even those have receiving sensors that are quite sensitive, and can control many function and devices from one unit. Yes... I know that many of us have 3-4 remotes by our chair or bed, but programmable, multi-function remotes have made it possible to waste time at the Boob Tube MUCH more convenient....

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 27 Oct 13 - 07:18 PM

30 weird inventions

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Oct 13 - 09:20 PM

I found the most useful command string in Unix to be "rm -r *".

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 04:38 AM

A common item not well understood by many is the "polarizing sunglasses" (®Polaroid?) often touted for reducing glare for drivers and sunbathers.

Light reflected off a flat surface tends to be polarized parallel to the reflecting surface, so usually is "horizontally polarized." A pair of glasses that passes only vertically polarized light rejects the "glare" while still permitting enough light for good vision.

Unfortunately, several decades ago, when LCD instruments began to appear in vehicles and most notably in airplanes, it was found that the instrument displays "disappeared" if the pilot was wearing "polaroid" shades. In some cases the disappearing displays only occured if the pilot tilted his head a bit, but the effect of not knowing which side up the airplane was, even momentarily, was "disconcerting" at the least.

The same effect was found for many of the "pocket calculators" that appeared in the early 1980s. I once watched an "engineer" pound on his calculator for an extended time, turn it on/off repeatedly, and "express vile thoughts" on the assumption his calculator had quit in the middle of a complex calculation when all that had happened was that he put on his "shades" to see better in the bright sun on the taxi ramp. Rotating the display 90 degrees (or tilting the head) will still show the effect with some newer devices, although some newer "LCD" devices incorporate features to minimize the effect.

At least one airplane maker, ca. 1980(?) came up with the idea of "polarized windows" made of two layers of polarizers. Rotating the inner one would lighten or darken the visible light coming through the window. Unfortunately the polarizers available then affected only the visible light so "darkening" the window made you feel like you were in the dark, your pupils opened wide, but the polarizers didn't block the infrared spectrum. Looking at what appeared to be a dim sun would "fry your retina" enough to produce permanent blindness in about 8 seconds.

When the Polaroid Corp learned how the airplane guys intended to use their rather large order for "polarizing plastic sheets" they immediately blocked the shipment, although it took several weeks to explain to the airplane co "management" why the design was a bad idea. Attempts were made to get polarizers with IR blocking layers, but the results were insufficiently effective to make the design safe - at that time.

It would appear that most available "sunglasses" now offer a variety of methods for "glare reduction," with choices between polarizers, UV filters, IR filters, and "all of the above" such; but few of them actually tell you what they really do. Almost any of the "modern" kinds probably can be helpful without undue hazards, but for critical uses it ain't easy to know which is a best choice, and in many cases even the "doctor" who sells them to you doesn't really know much about what you're getting.

John

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 06:35 AM

I believe that photochrome auto-tinting eye glasses reduce UVA and UVB rays. They seem to work better now than when they came out many years ago. I suspect the chemicals used react more quickly? The early versions did not react quickly when light conditions changed quickly

An interesting recent term used in the eye glass sector is digital bifocals, which don't seem to have much to do with the word at all?.

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 07:25 AM

Polaroid sunglasses are invaluable to anglers.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 09:49 AM

Polaroid sunglasses would be great for anglers, since the water that's the biggest reflecting surface - and the one you're looking at most - is usually fairly flat, even if it's not a big lake. They're also helpful for driving in "flat country."

They might reduce eye strain for pilots in low-flying planes, but the big guys at higher altitudes probably don't benefit a lot and good UV blocking lenses would be more help.

The early photochromic lenses generally darkened fairly quickly, but when you got out of the sun some of them were incredibly slow at lightening, so you might walk into the first wall past the door when you pull into a rest stop on the highway. Newer ones seem to be better(?). I've never seen trustworthy specifications on any photochromics that say whether they block all frequencies or (like early polaroids) just the visible part, so it's uncertain how much "protection" they provide for the eyes or whether they just make you "feel better about it."

Lots of the "most advertised" sunshades appear to be just "colored glass" (or usually more like dirty plastic).

John

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: Don Firth
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 04:52 PM

Why do men's coats and jackets—and shirts—traditionally button left over right (buttons on the right side, button holes on the left)?

Back in the days when gentlemen wore swords and might find themselves in an unpleasant situation at any time (being approached by a gang of "footpads" by night or encountering an enemy unexpectedly), they would want to get the sword out and into action as quickly as possible. Since most people are right-handed, they wore the sword in a scabbard hanging on their left side.

When they had to draw the sword quickly, they could hardly expect an assailant to wait and pick his teeth while they drew their sword. They would simply yank the coat or jacket open with their left hand (sending buttons flying) while they reach for the sword with the right hand.

We often forget where and why certain customs and conventions of fashion came into existence. Many of them initially were for a purpose, since long forgotten.

========

Also having to do with the sword being a standard item of dress for gentlemen:   tables and other furniture with legs often had metal (often brass) strips on the outside edges of the legs. Gentlemen socializing at a soiree, talking with other gentlemen and chatting with the ladies, might suddenly turn to greet someone joining the group. And the scabbard of his sword would whack the table leg, often cutting a knick in it. Hence the brass strips.

=========

Further—where did the custom of a gentleman tipping his hat come from? From the days and in situations when armor was worn, and unless the armor was distinctive or the wearer had a sort of coat of arms on his shield, he would lift the visor on his helmet so that the other, presumably a friend, could be sure of who he were.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 06:14 PM

Perhaps there should be a similar device on a hijab?

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: Don Firth
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 07:53 PM

Uh . . . is there a hinge on a hijab?

========

Why, when a man and a woman are walking on a sidewalk, is it considered courteous for the man to walk on the outside and the woman to "take the wall," that is, walk closest to the buildings rather than the curb (kerb, for our English friends)?

These days, because a passing car may throw water or mud, and the courteous man tries to protect her from this. But—

The origins of "taking the wall" go further back than this. In medieval towns and still in older sections of cities in Europe, the upper floors of buildings often project out over the sidewalk below.

CLICKY.

The sanitary system of most abodes consisted of a chamber pot. And people tended to throw their "slops" out of an upper window into the street, which often had a slight "V" to it, intended to serve as a sewer main. To avoid getting unpleasantness down your neck, you generally tried to stay as close to the wall as you could. And, of course, a gentleman would make sure that the lady he was with should be spared this indignity, so he made sure that she "took the wall."

Two gentlemen passing each other on the sidewalk presented a somewhat different problem. The gentleman of higher rank took the wall. If he were a duke and you were a mere marquis, you took your chances and allowed him to take the wall. The problem came up when two gentlemen of equal rank or indeterminate rank confronted each other. Which one and how to determine it?

During one year alone in Paris in the early 1600s, some 10,000 duels were fought, either right there on the spot or early the following dawn in the Bois de Boulogne over matters of great moment, often such disputes as these!

Don Firth

P. S. During my younger years, I was an enthusiastic fencer, and read several books on such things as the history of dueling.

Fascinating stuff!!

For example, the best fencer does not always win a duel. Two gentlemen, Messers Cavalotti and Macola found themselves at odds, and Cavalotti challenged Macola. Macola was not a swordsman or fencer at all, whereas Cavalotti had been victorious in several duels. When they met at dawn, Cavalotti led the attack, trying to intimidate his opponent by shouting and roaring and waving his sword about wildly. Macola froze in terror, closed his eyes, ducked his head, and simply stuck his sword out. The point of his sword entered Cavalotti's open mouth, came out the back of his neck, and he died on the spot. Macola was unharmed.

They say that Macola wrote Cavalotti a beautiful obituary.

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: GUEST,BobL
Date: 29 Oct 13 - 04:47 AM

"Why do men's coats and jackets—and shirts—traditionally button left over right"

If you're one of the right-handed majority, it just makes dressing easier. Ladies, though, were dressed by their maidservants, so their coats button the other way.

"...courteous for the man to walk on the outside..."

In certain places it is now preferable for the man to walk on the inside. Muggers lurk in doorways.

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 29 Oct 13 - 05:01 PM

On the operating principle of "The simpler explanation is likely to be the true one," I tend to like BobL's button-side explanation better.

Not only simpler, but it would explain the ladies' buttons being
the other way from the men's, which isn't clarified by the sword story.



Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: gnu
Date: 29 Oct 13 - 07:19 PM

Excellent thread! This is Mudcat.

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 30 Oct 13 - 08:31 AM

:)

Grandson of 100mpg Carb Inventor Creates 1000mpg Fuel Injection, Disappears, Foul Play Suspected

Bangshift.com April 1, 2013

The grandson of the man credited for inventing the "100mpg carb" decades ago, has disappeared after unveiling a revolutionary fuel injection system that claimed to allow modern cars to achieve 1,000mpg. It appears he has suffered the same fate of his grandfather whose invention so scared the major oil companies that they captured him in the dark of night and he was never seen again.

Blurry photos of the system have been shown to local engineers and scientists who have come up with their own theories, "That setup is total horseshit," said Dr John Balding, a 34-year mechanical engineer. "Seriously, if any oil company saw the photos I just saw and truly believed that this kid invented a legitimate way for an internal combustion to achieve that level of efficiency, they should be shut down immediately because their management is probably too dumb to tie their own shoes. My four year old son was blowing holes in that mess."

The inventor's grandmother said, "My husband drank a lot, and I mean a lot. There were nights when he came upstairs from his workshop and started yelling about creating the 100 fart per mile carburetor, or the 100 beer per mile carburetor. There were other nights when he just drank himself silly down there doing God knows what. All I know is that my Buick had that shitty carburetor on it and wouldn't get out of it's own way. Do you have any idea how embarassing it is for a 455 to be blown off by a four cylinder Chevy Vega?"

The young man who created the supposed EFI system is no stranger to the local law enforcement. "He's the only person in the history of this town to get caught twice in the same day selling oregano as weed," said officer JB Law. "This kid is dumber than a bag of hammers. He's probably in the woods drinking warm Milwaukee's Best with his idiot friends."

Repeated cell phone calls to the inventor's number have gone unreturned.





1000 mpg Carb:)

Subject: RE: BS: The history of everyday things
From: GUEST,Wolfgang
Date: 30 Oct 13 - 08:51 AM

Henry Petroski, The evolution of Useful Things, Vintage Books, 1994,

is a bit on the technical side but great:

E.g., the really slow development of the paper clip and, why and how the fork developed across centuries long time after knife and spoon were know. Beautiful pictures of early dead ends of the evolution.

Wolfgang