LESSER-KNOWN'S INVENTIONS OF GREAT MINDS

INCREDIBLE IDEAS AND DEVICES THAT GOT LOST IN THE BRIGHT GLARE OF GENIUS

- Jonathan Gordon

Did you know Isaac Newton invented the cat flap? Well, actually he probably didn't, but it's an apocryphal story that's been passed around a fair amount. According to the tale, Newton cut holes in the door to his room at Cambridge University so he could work on experiments involving light without being disturbed by his cat. The basis of this story doesn't come from any records of Newton's but from holes in his Trinity College dorm room door that have long since been patched up. However, it's unclear if the dorm room was even his, when the holes were made or for what precise purpose. Still, this tale got us wondering: what are some real inventions by history's greatest minds that have been lost, forgotten or simply skipped over?

PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS

With the light bulb, phonograph, movie camera and many other famous inventions to his name, it may surprise you to learn that Thomas Edison's first patent was for a voting machine in 1869. The vote recorder was actually intended for use in Congressional meetings to allow elected officials to flip a switch to record their vote, which was then transmitted to the clerk and transferred to a piece of paper. It was a much more efficient way of conducting the business of state, although it didn't get taken up.

Another of the prolific inventors of the late 19th century was Maria Beasley, whose best-known contribution was a collapsible life raft, patented in 1882. This design went on to be massively influential on later rafts, including for the Titanic. Less well-known among her many patented ideas was a foot warmer. This small chamber with heaters and water was almost like an early concept for a steam-powered foot spa and was registered in 1878. It doesn't seem like it was ever produced, however. We're not sure we'd want to have our feet too close to a small steam engine either!