Inventors and Their Inventions

By Kathleen Y'Barbo

We all know that the Wright brothers were responsible for securing patents on a number of inventions that, as a whole, ushered us into the age of flying. But do you know who to thank for cotton candy or the ball point pen? What about bubble gum or Liquid Paper?

While the list of inventors and their inventions is lengthy, here are a few of note:

The accidental inventions:

• In 1943, engineer James Wright was looking to patent a synthetic rubber to aid in the war effort. Though he could see no use for the bouncy substance he created, Peter Hodgson, his coworker in marketing recognized the product as a potential bestseller. What was it? Silly Putty!

• Another byproduct of the war effort was a device created by Richard Wright to support sensitive equipment aboard ships. What was it? Slinky!

Who's your daddy--or mama?

• Ever play with Lincoln Logs as a child? They were invented by John Lloyd Wright in 1916 and patented by him in 1920. If the name sounds familiar, it should. John's father was the architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

• Remember Liquid Paper? In the days of typewriters, this substance was a typist's best friend. The  white liquid was based on tempra paint and patented by Bessie Nesmith, a Texas artist and secretary. Perhaps you've heard of her son Michael? You would know him as Mike Nesmith of the Monkees.

My personal favorite...

• Frances Gabe of Newport, Oregon, lives in a house where each room has a special device secured to the ceiling. One push of a button and the room is sprayed with soapy water then doused with clean water to send the suds sliding down the sloped floor into the drain as the room is blown dry. Anything of value is safely hidden away under glass where the cleaning and drying process cannot harm it. Dishes are cleaned in the cabinets and clothes are washed in the wardrobe. Sinks, tubs, and toilets feature self-cleaning devices as well. In all, Ms. Gabe holds almost one hundred patents, most of which are incorporated into her home. And she lives in a self-cleaning house!

And finally...

• Cotton candy was invented by William Morrison and John C. Wharton of Nashville, Tennessee in 1897.

• The first ballpoint pen was created in 1935 by the Biro brothers, a chemist and a scientist. A ballpoint marker was created in 1888 and used for marking leather, but that device leaked and found no practical use outside of its original purpose in the leather industry. 

• Bubble Gum was invented by Frank Henry Fleer in 1907. He called the gum "Blibber Blabber" but it was not commercially successful owing to the fact that it was deemed too sticky to enjoy. Walter E. Diemer perfected the gum in 1928 with a creation he called "Double Bubble". And the rest is history!

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Bestselling author Kathleen Y’Barbo is a Carol Award and RITA nominee of forty-five novels with almost two million copies of her books in print in the US and abroad and nominations including a Career Achievement Award, Reader’s Choice Awards, Romantic Times Book of the Year, and several Romantic Times Top Picks. A proud military wife and tenth-generation Texan, she now cheers on her beloved Aggies from north of the Red River. 

Her latest novel, Millie's Treasure, a tale of Pinkerton inventors, Jean Lafitte's pirate treasure, and one determined Memphis belle is available now. To find out more about Kathleen or purchase any of her books:  www.kathleenybarbo.com.

They Never Sleep: The Pinkertons

by Kathleen Y'Barbo
          
Allan Pinkerton was a Scottish immigrant and barrel maker who accidentally discovered a talent for catching criminals—in his case counterfeiters using a neighboring island in the Fox River as their base. Meanwhile, Allan’s brother, Robert, was also using his wits to catch bad guys, first as a railroad contractor and then as a provider of guards for the Wells Fargo coach line.

            The brothers joined forces in 1850, and the Pinkerton National Detective Agency was born along with the motto “We Never Sleep”. Their three-story Chicago building boasted their logo, an eye painted in black and white, that was the origin of the term private eye.

            According to the Pinkerton Agency’s website, www.pinkerton.com/historywww.pinkerton.com/history, the Pinkerton Code is as follows:

• ·      Accept no bribes
• ·      Never compromise with criminals
• ·      Partner with local law enforcement agencies
• ·      Refuse divorce cases or causes that initiate scandals
• ·      Turn down money rewards
• ·      Never raise fees without the client’s pre-knowledge
• ·      Keep clients apprised on an ongoing basis

            Pinkerton agents were well trained and well paid. Their expertise in surveillance was beyond comparison. Allan Pinkerton was an early proponent of using female agents, determining that often it was the lady who was least suspected of being a detective.

            One famous lady Pinkerton was the widow, Kate Warne, thought to be the clean-shaven person standing behind Mr. Pinkerton in the photograph from the Library of Congress archives. Kate Warne, a woman who it is claimed walked into the Pinkerton offices seeking a secretarial job only to leave as a detective, is one of the more memorable Pinkertons, and definitely the first female agent.

            Among Mrs. Warne’s many accomplishments was the detection of a plot against President-elect Abraham Lincoln. Not only did she learn of the plot, but she also saved the president’s life by helping to smuggle him into Washington DC for his inauguration disguised as her invalid brother. Later, during the Civil War, it has been alleged that Mrs. Warne was quite adept at fitting in on both sides of the lines and brought back valuable intelligence to the Pinkerton offices. Quite the accomplishment considering women were not yet accepted as valuable members of any other crime fighting organization.

            Such is the legacy of agents such as Warne and her fellow Pinkertons that the agency is still in existence today. Now called Pinkerton Government services, they employ more than 4,000 security officers and claim a 90% government security clearance rate. Thus, even today, Pinkertons are on duty. 

Bestselling author Kathleen Y’Barbo is a multiple Carol Award and RITA nominee of forty-five novels with almost two million copies of her books in print in the US and abroad. A Romantic Times Top Pick recipient of her novels, Kathleen is a proud military wife and an expatriate Texan cheering on her beloved Texas Aggies from north of the Red River. To find out more about Kathleen or connect with her through social media, check out her website at www.kathleenybarbo.com.

Flora Brimm, a not so prim and proper Natchez belle with four fiances whose untimely deaths kept them from arriving at the altar has just discovered she is the subject of a Pinkerton investigation and just may be engaged to a jewel thief. Meanwhile Pinkerton agent and inventor Lucas McMinn is trying to decide whether the lovely lady is part of the solution or the problem. Southern historical with a dash of steampunk, Flora's Wish is in stores now.