Buzz
Throughout history, both men and women have played essential roles in the ongoing progress and development of humanity, each contributing in their own distinct ways. Some focused on mathematical pursuits, others turned their attention to creating complex machinery or musical instruments. All these innovations, by brilliant minds from across the globe, have made our lives easier and turned what once seemed impossible into reality. Sadly, many of the world’s greatest inventors went unnoticed during their lifetimes, despite the clear significance of their work. Here are ten inventors who deserved far more recognition for their contributions.
10. Peter Cooper
Peter Cooper was the first to patent a form of glue, specifically a type of fish glue. You may have never heard of him or any of the other inventors who created different variations of glue. Of course, the original creators of glue lived in ancient Roman or Greek civilizations many centuries ago. Glue is something we all use today, but the inventors behind it remain largely forgotten, despite their significant achievement in creating this essential sticky substance.
9. Noah and Joseph McVicker
Have you ever wondered who created something as simple yet beloved as play-doh? You probably have, but the inventors are almost forgotten today. Much like many other inventions, play-doh was created by accident. Initially developed as a wallpaper cleaner, its potential as a modeling clay for children was realized later on. When it first launched in 1956, it was sold in a single, almost white color. The following year, it was released in a range of vibrant colors, making kids everywhere ecstatic (though not all at once).
If you're questioning the importance of this simple invention in our society, you may be overlooking the fact that nearly every child in the world recognizes the fuzzy pumper barber shop version of this iconic toy.
8. Gideon Sundback
While the zipper may seem like a simple and commonplace item today, something we barely give a second thought to, it wasn't always a part of our lives. The modern zipper, as we know it, was invented by Gideon Sundback in 1917 and was initially called the 'continuous clothing closure' (which certainly isn’t as catchy).
At first, the zipper wasn't embraced by the clothing industry because it was seen as too unrefined to be incorporated into garments. Instead, it began making its way into everyday use through boots and tobacco pouches. Eventually, it earned its iconic name from the B.F. Goodrich marketing team and has been a staple in fashion ever since. Despite its widespread use, the inventor of the modern zipper never truly received the recognition he deserved, and its significance seems to have been overlooked.
7. William Lyman
Lyman was known for his relentless dedication to invention, focusing on creating a practical tool that people would use daily: the can opener. While he had other inventions, this one stood out as his most famous. In 1870, Lyman introduced the world to the first rotating wheel can opener. Before this, can openers were essentially just knife-like devices. Lyman’s innovation made the process of opening cans much easier. However, despite its ingenuity, the design wasn’t widely adopted at first because the can needed to be pierced before it could be used. Lyman passed away in 1891 with little recognition, aside from the patents granted for his work.
6. Henry Blair
The misfortune of Henry Blair’s legacy as an inventor was largely shaped by his race. In early patent records, Blair was listed as a 'colored man' (a rare and notable description at the time), and his patents were signed with an 'x' since he was illiterate. His most significant invention was an automatic cotton planter, a device that tilled the soil and dispensed seeds using a special wheel-powered mechanism.
Blair is presumed to have been a slave, although the law at the time permitted both free men and slaves to apply for patents. In 1858, the law was altered to prevent slaves from obtaining patents, but it wasn’t reversed until 1871. Tragically, Blair passed away in 1860, eleven years before the law would have allowed him to benefit from the change.
5. Walter Hunt
Walter Hunt, an American mechanic born in New York in 1796, was a prolific inventor who created a wide range of devices. Among his most well-known inventions are the lockstitch sewing machine, the safety pin, a precursor to the Winchester repeating rifle, a successful flax spinner, knife sharpener, streetcar bell, hard-coal-burning stove, artificial stone, street sweeping machinery, the velocipede, and the ice plough.
Many of Hunt's inventions have become essential improvements in modern life, particularly the simple safety pin and the more complex sewing machine. Sadly, none of these incredibly practical innovations brought him any recognition or awards during his lifetime (or afterward).
4. George de Mestral
At first, something as simple as Velcro wasn’t used for clothing, nor was it taken seriously. In fact, both the concept and its inventor were initially ridiculed. De Mestral’s invention was rejected by many due to its lack of visual appeal (originally made from wool and scraps of leather) and because it was known to deteriorate quickly.
De Mestral faced numerous challenges in getting his invention adopted until his patent expired in 1978. He passed away in Commugny, Switzerland, without receiving any recognition or awards for his work. However, after his death, the municipality honored him by naming an avenue after him. In 1999, he was inducted into the Inventor’s Hall of Fame in acknowledgment of his groundbreaking creation.
3. William Austin Burt
William Austin Burt was the original inventor, creator, and patentee of America's first typewriter, as well as the first solar compass that could be used as a surveying tool for boats (known as the equatorial sextant). His typewriter was far ahead of its time, unfortunately, and it was actually his great-grandson who built the version of the machine that gained the most recognition. However, even his version was ahead of its time and saw minimal success during his life.
William Austin Burt’s equatorial sextant became the standard instrument adopted by the General Land Office for marking major boundary lines, especially in regions with magnetic disturbances. The device’s popularity gradually increased. However, Congress declined to renew his patent when it expired in 1850, and he never received the $300 payment for his rights to the invention.
2. Dietrich Nikolaus Winkel
Winkel, residing in Amsterdam in 1814, was the first to realize that a pendulum with properly balanced weights on both sides of its pivot could maintain consistent time, even at very slow tempos. He called his invention the “musical chronometer” and donated the first model to the “Hollandsch Instituut van Wetenschappen, Letterkunde en Schoone Kunsten” in Amsterdam.
Unfortunately, Winkel failed to properly safeguard his invention, and within two years, Johann Nepomuk Mälzel managed to patent his own version of the device, naming it the “Mälzel Metronome,” which included a scale. This unfortunate turn of events cast a long-lasting shadow over Winkel’s name, and even today, Mälzel is often mistakenly credited as the true inventor of the device.
1. Philo Farnsworth
Philo Farnsworth, a U.S. inventor born in 1906, is most widely recognized for his groundbreaking contributions, including the creation of the first electronic television device, which he called the image “dissector.” He was also instrumental in developing the concept of nuclear fusion with his invention, the “Farnsworth-Hirsch fusor,” a device capable of producing abundant electrons and paving the way for modern fusion design. Farnsworth held 165 patents, predominantly in radio and television technology.
Although Farnsworth’s accomplishments were extraordinary, he only received an Eagle Scout award much later, in 2006—over thirty years after his passing. The award was presented to his wife, who tragically passed away just four months later.
