10 Strange and Overlooked Creations by Renowned Inventors

Inventors often can't resist creating more than one innovation. It's like having a single potato chip and stopping—who does that? True inventors keep going.

10. Swim Fins - Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin, known for his numerous achievements, was also an inquisitive child. He began his inventive journey at the age of 11 by creating a pair of swim fins.

Franklin was an enthusiastic swimmer seeking ways to enhance his technique. His innovation was a pair of wooden fins worn on the hands, resembling painter's palettes, measuring 25 centimeters (10 inches) in length and 15 centimeters (6 inches) in width, with thumb holes. While they didn't achieve widespread popularity, Franklin noted that the swim fins successfully increased his speed, though they also caused wrist fatigue.

Franklin also experimented with wearing sandals on his feet while swimming, but these were not nearly as effective. Nonetheless, he remained passionate about swimming throughout his life, leading to his induction into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1968.

9. The Giant Crossbow - Leonardo Da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci earned a reputation as an inventor, even though many of his creations remained conceptual, confined to drawings and plans. Some of these designs became iconic despite never being realized, such as his various flying machines. Leonardo also ventured into warfare, designing a tank-like armored vehicle and a more unusual giant crossbow. The design was similar to that of a ballista but on a massive scale.

Leonardo da Vinci's Giant Crossbow was designed primarily for psychological warfare. Measuring 27 yards across, it featured six wheels for mobility and a bow made of thin wood for flexibility. The immense size was intended to intimidate enemies by launching large stones or flaming projectiles, rather than for practical use in battle. Interestingly, a working prototype of this crossbow was constructed in 2015, demonstrating its feasibility.

Alexander Graham Bell, renowned for inventing the telephone, also developed an early metal detector. In 1881, he created this device in an attempt to locate the bullet that had been fired into President James Garfield. Despite its innovative design, the metal detector was unsuccessful in finding the bullet, as it was obstructed by the metal springs in Garfield's bed.

Alexander Graham Bell's metal detector was an electromagnetic device he called the induction balance. It was designed to locate metallic objects in the body, such as a bullet, without the need for invasive surgery.

In 1881, President James Garfield was shot in an assassination attempt. Medical experts from all over the country lent their expertise in order to recover the bullet lodged in Garfield’s body. Most of their suggestions involved sticking something through the wound and poking around in an attempt to find the bullet.

This only made things worse by spreading infection. Bell’s contribution to the effort was his suggestion to use an electromagnetic device in order to find the bullet. The detector emitted an electromagnetic field which was disturbed by the presence of metal, which in turn caused a clicking noise. It worked during tests but when it was brought near President Garfield, it started clicking all over his body. Bell took it back and fiddled with it some more. He found no fault with the device, but when he brought it back to Garfield, it clicked all over the place again.

Most modern historians agree that Bell’s device didn’t work because nobody realized that the metal coils in the president’s mattress, a new innovation at the time, were interfering with the detector. Others think that Bell only checked Garfield’s right side at the insistence of physician Dr. Doctor Willard Bliss—yes, his first name really was Doctor—who claimed that’s where the bullet was and didn’t want to be proven wrong.

7. The Teleautomaton BoatNikola Tesla

Despite Tesla’s deep association with electricity, the man was also a radio pioneer in a time when the general public still considered it witchcraft. There’s no better example of this than an 1898 convention at Madison Square Garden where Tesla presented his latest creation, a small radio-controlled boat. Officially named a “teleautomaton” boat, Tesla’s design was intended to showcase his new patent, a “method of and apparatus for controlling mechanism of moving vessels and vehicles.” It had a tiny rudder, a tiny propeller, and two antennas. Tesla was able to control the boat in front of a bewildered crowd.

The people were amazed by what they were seeing. Despite Tesla’s efforts to explain scientifically what was going on, the general consensus of the crowd was that Tesla was controlling the boat using telepathy. Others put forward slightly more plausible theories, such as a trained monkey secretly piloting the boat.

Ever the visionary, Tesla immediately saw the possible use of the teleautomaton boat as a weapon. He planned to develop a submersible version of the boat and sell the patent to the government. However, nobody else seemed to share Tesla’s vision. According to him, the Washington official he met with “burst out with laughter” when presented with the idea of armed, radio-controlled vehicles.

6. The CopierJames Watt

James Watt’s name is strongly linked with one thing: the steam engine. However, as one of the people who kicked off the industrial revolution, his lifetime’s efforts were not limited to just one accomplishment. In fact, James Watt spent most of his life inventing. Like many other inventors, Watt’s talent and vision were not complemented with a savvy business sense. He spent most of his life in debt, struggling to find new financiers.

In 1780, James Watt, renowned for his steam engine innovations, introduced a portable copying press. This device allowed users to duplicate documents by pressing them onto a thin strip of paper, creating a reversed copy from the back. Its compact, simple, and portable design made it a precursor to modern photocopiers. The copier was a success, selling over 600 units in the first year. It also marked a turning point in Watt’s professional life, as he finally started making money from his work.

5. Soda WaterJoseph Priestley

Joseph Priestley, a distinguished theologian, philosopher, and chemist, is best known for discovering oxygen. However, he also made significant contributions to the field of chemistry, including the discovery of other gases, or 'airs,' as he called them. Later in life, he became somewhat isolated by the scientific community because he fervently defended the existence of 'phlogiston,' the fifth element, at a time when the theory was obsolete.

Before his groundbreaking work with gases, Priestley introduced soda water to the world. In 1767, he discovered a method to infuse water with carbon dioxide, creating the effervescent beverage we now enjoy as soda water. This innovation laid the foundation for the modern soft drink industry.

While living near a brewery, Joseph Priestley often conducted experiments, and during one such experiment, he discovered how to infuse water with carbon dioxide. By suspending a bowl of water over a fermenting beer vat, he found that the water acquired a pleasant, acidic taste.

At first, Priestley kept his newly created fizzy drink to himself and shared it only with friends. He theorized that this concoction might help treat scurvy, although that idea turned out to be inaccurate. Nevertheless, in 1772, Priestley published a guide titled Directions for Impregnating Water with Fixed Air, outlining how to make soda water. Priestley never pursued further research or sought to profit from his discovery, leaving Johann Jacob Schweppe to develop a commercial process for carbonated water. In 1783, Schweppe founded the Schweppes Company, which became highly successful.

Justus von Liebig, widely regarded as one of the foremost chemists of the 19th century, is celebrated for his foundational work in organic chemistry. His influence extended beyond the lab, as he also revolutionized agriculture by identifying nitrogen as a crucial nutrient for crops, thereby founding the fertilizer industry. When he wasn't contributing to agriculture, Liebig invented the bouillon cube.

In addition to his groundbreaking work in chemistry and agriculture, Justus von Liebig’s invention of the bouillon cube was a practical innovation that made it easier for people to prepare rich, savory broths. This invention, along with his other scientific contributions, cemented his legacy as one of the greatest minds of his era.

While working in South America, engineer George Christian Giebert observed that leather manufacturers were using only cattle hides and allowing the meat to waste away. Recalling Liebig's method for processing meat, he saw an opportunity and founded the Liebig’s Extract of Meat Company in 1864.

Liebig’s initial intentions were driven by generosity. After creating the formula for meat extract in 1847, he made it publicly available, hoping that someone would improve the process, lower its cost, and make it a viable alternative to feed the poor. However, when Liebig started his own business, competitors began selling similar products under the name 'Liebig’s Extract of Meat.' To differentiate his brand, Liebig eventually rebranded his product as LEMCO, later changing it to Oxo cubes, a product still available today.

Thomas Edison is not only remembered for his remarkable inventions, but also for his sharp business acumen. Unlike many inventors, Edison found ways to profit significantly from his creations, and one such attempt led to the development of the infamous Edison phonograph doll.

Talking dolls are inherently unsettling. Even today's battery-powered dolls can become disturbing when they malfunction, speaking in an eerie, sluggish voice. Imagine how much more unsettling it would be to encounter a 120-year-old doll that suddenly comes to life, as you can see for yourself!

The concept of a talking doll might seem eerie, but Thomas Edison, ever the innovator, thought it would be the perfect companion to his successful phonograph. However, the result was far from charming, leading to the creation of a strange, yet memorable, invention.

Not all of Edison's dolls had voices that seemed to come from the afterlife. In fact, a 123-year-old metal record for a doll was found in surprisingly good condition just a few years ago. Each record was one-of-a-kind. Without a way to mass-produce sound recordings at the time, Edison employed women to individually recite "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" for each record.

Despite Edison's best efforts, the dolls were unsuccessful and were only available for a few weeks in 1890.

2. The Electric PianoWalther Nernst

Walther Nernst was primarily known for his work in chemistry, including the third law of thermodynamics, which earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1920. However, in 1930 he teamed up with two companies, Bechstein and Siemens, to create something completely different—the Neo-Bechstein-Flügel, aka the first electric piano. This piano had no sounding board and used very thin strings and a small hammer to create music.

The Neo-Bechstein-Flügel digital grand piano emerged during the era when radio was a groundbreaking innovation. It was common for new household appliances to integrate radio receivers. This piano not only featured a radio receiver but also included a record player, allowing all three components to function together or separately. Despite its advanced technology, the Neo-Bechstein was more affordable than a traditional piano.

Despite its innovative features, the Neo-Bechstein-Flügel piano was a flop. It failed to garner the enthusiastic support from professional pianists that its creators had anticipated. Coupled with Bechstein's financial difficulties, Nernst's piano was soon withdrawn from the market. Nevertheless, the principles behind it continue to influence modern electric guitars and electromagnetic pickups.

1. The Life TableEdmond Halley

Edmond Halley was a distinguished astronomer, physicist, and mathematician, best known for predicting the return of the comet that bears his name. Less commonly acknowledged is his significant contribution to actuarial science. Halley transformed the study of demographics by developing the first life table based on accurate demographic data.

In 1693, Edmond Halley obtained demographic data for the city of Breslau, now known as Wroclaw, Poland. This document detailed all births and deaths over a five-year period. Utilizing this information, Halley developed a life table that indicated the probability of death for each age group. His table became a fundamental tool in calculating life annuities.

It's important to note that Halley's work was preceded by another life table created 30 years earlier by John Gaunt and William Pett. However, this earlier table was less accurate and involved considerable guesswork. It was based on London, a city with a large migratory and expanding population at the time. Additionally, it relied on London's bills of mortality, records that didn't specify age at the time of death. Halley had access to a relatively stable population, which provided better data.