This week we wrap our month long posts honoring women’s history month. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as we’ve enjoyed the learning and sharing. For our final post, we’re taking a look at women inventors who either invented or created the “first” of something or invented one of the key building blocks that allowed others to create something radically different or improve upon something already in use.
There are a lot of lists out there about women inventors and their work. I scanned them and then did a little more digging. Here are four of my favorites, based merely on personal use and benefit. Remember, these are only four out of all the different examples to choose from. Feel free to share your favorites!
Simple Pleasures – Food & Beverage
Ahhhh, coffee. I joke that coffee is my favorite beverage – and outside of water, I’d say it is. The quality of my morning beverage and enjoyment of my morning routine benefit from German inventor and apple strudel maker, Melitta Bentz. After experiencing her own frustration with coffee grounds getting through the drip system, cleaning grounds from the bottom of coffee pots, and cleaning cloth filters, Ms. Bentz came up with something better. She designed a paper filter, which was registered in Berlin 110 years ago. Today, the Melitta brand filter continues to be used across the globe. Next time you are in the coffee aisle in the supermarket, take a look and see if you can find her on the shelf.
Who knew the sacrifice of one of my favorite sweet treats would be required when we cut out gluten for medical reasons? It was easier to forego Sour Dough bread than this little cookie that didn’t even exist 90 years ago, my favorite: the Tollhouse Chocolate Chip cookie. I know there are many other types of chocolate chip cookies, and many are both gluten free and very tasty. However, I still think Ruth Wakefield’s accidental “invention” of the Chocolate Chip cookie is the best. Not only did her new recipe swiftly gain popularity with the travelers that stopped and stayed at the Wakefield’s tollhouse, it grabbed the attention of Nestle. Yep, when Ruth’s cookie sales took off, so did the sale of Nestlé’s semi-sweet chocolate bars. Who says mistakes can’t yield sweet rewards?
Mistake Free
Anyone remember taking typing tests as part of your high school curriculum? Speed and accuracy tests that were easy evaluated because, even with a correction key on an automatic typewriter, the errors were still evident. And, if you were on a manual typewriter, or using carbon paper, then forget it. No backspace or correction options for you. Little did I know that I would owe a debt of gratitude to another woman inventor for creating the product that let me turn in many term papers and reports looking clean and error-free. It was Bette Nesmith Graham who invented Mistake Out, which would be refined and later patented as Liquid Paper, it was meant to help secretaries fix, rather than retype entire pages. Her inspiration came from watching painters fix mistakes by covering them up with another coat of paint. She took her invention to work, where she quickly fixed errors by covering them up with her “paint” matched to the company’s letterhead. Her success with the product ultimately ended her employment, but gave her the time needed to perfect the product and receive a patent.
Think Liquid Paper is obsolete because of the computer? Think again.
Contributors to Simply Tim’s Blog Spot list a variety of applications, from touch up nail polish to touch up for a bathroom vanity, appliances, and even dying eyebrows, mustache and beard for a Santa Clause role.
(If you recognized the terms and tools mentioned in this example, you are either of ‘a certain age’, remember your parents’ conversations, or checked them out on Google. We won’t judge!)
Seeing Clearly
Every time it rains or snows, or there’s a foggy mist, or the high desert dust and sand leave my windshield nearly impossible to see through, I turn on my windshield wipers without a second thought.
It’s hard to conceive of a time when cars did not have wipers. In fact, it’s considered an equipment violation for a car to be operated without functioning wipers.
It was Mary Anderson that invented windshield wipers in 1903, 15 years after the car was invented. She was inspired by her experience living in New York City, riding on trolleys during inclement weather, when front windows had to remain down for the driver’s vision. While assisting safe driving, it was definitely not comfortable for passengers, whose experience during the ride could be cold, wet and damp. Although mandatory today, when Mary tried to sell the rights to her wipers, she was told her idea would never amount to anything. So, thank you, Mary Anderson, your invention definitely amounted to something, as wipers are now standard across the world.
Thanks to all women inventors and designers who have changed the world in small and large ways. And, to all of the women who are creating and designing today, keep up the amazing work. Statistics show that of all the patents that are submitted, a very low percentage actually end up making money. What does that mean for women today? Simply put, it requires that we put in the hard work, only then will one of our many efforts or ideas become successful. Keep plugging away and pushing past your labels and limits. We will all benefit from your ideas. If you are wondering where to begin, you might be in the prime position to consider a strategic vision coach. If you’d like to further the conversation to get clarity on your next steps, I encourage you to reach out.
