This month, we celebrate an invention that, thanks to the many enhancements made to it, is nearly obsolete in today’s technologically-advanced world!  Yes, September 1873 marks the first time a practical typewriter was commercially sold.

The “Sholes & Glidden Type Writer” was not widely successful, but it did pave the way for a worldwide industry that continues to evolve and revolutionize what was very time-consuming and tedious office work.

The American-made invention originated in the multi-talented mind of Milwaukee, Wis. publisher, politician and philosopher Christopher Latham Sholes, during the Age of Invention.  At the time, Sholes was working in Kleinsteuber’s Machine Shop, trying to produce a machine that would automatically number book pages.

It is believed that one of Sholes’ colleagues suggested he further advance the idea by devising a way the equipment would print the entire alphabet.  With that prodding, the typewriter was just a few strokes away.  Not surprisingly, when it finally was released, the “Type Writer” was named in part for Carlos Glidden, a man who worked with Sholes at the machine shop!

Sholes created the simple device, which utilized a piece of printer’s type on a small rod that was mounted to strike upward onto a flat plate.  The plate held a piece of carbon paper, sandwiched together with a piece of stationery.  Using an old telegraph key mounted to the base of his device, Sholes tapped down on his new invention and watched as the little type jumped up and hit the carbon paper against the flat plate.

And that was pretty much it!  The space bar and enter keys came later, but Sholes did construct the machine to include the entire alphabet.  Sholes’ prototype was sent to Washington as the patent model and still exists – although it’s locked in a vault at the Smithsonian!

Along with investor James Densmore, Sholes brought his typing machine to gun maker E. Remington & Son; but, because he lacked patience when it came to marketing the invention, Sholes sold all his rights to Densmore, who kept the idea afloat.

Originally, the “Sholes & Glidden Type Writer” was brought to market with brightly decorated decals and gold paint.  It had a QWERTY keyboard, but could type only in capital letters.  Similar to an antique sewing machine, the “Type Writer” also included a foot treadle for carriage return, possibly because a Remington sewing machine engineer had recently been transferred to set up the “Type Writer” factory!  The company also offered a table model, which did not include the foot pedal.

Five years later, a second model was introduced and it included upper case, lower case and a shift key.  The colorful panels disappeared and a new black-framed look emerged.  This, the “Remington No. 2,” became a big seller and catapulted the typewriter industry… that is, at least until computers, cell phones and iPads were invented! 

Whatever it is that we’re typing on today, Mr. Sholes, we thank you for your innovation!

Information for the article provided by Earthlink.net and About.com.

When we think of the 1950s, we may think of donning poodle skirts and saddle shoes and heading to the sock hop to dance to some Elvis.  But, it’s what we may NOT think of that we want to examine today…those ’50s fads and inventions that just didn’t quite catch on.

Here’s a list of our five favorite funky ’50s inventions:

1. Curved Barrel Machine Gun: The sleek, curved design of this fierce 1953 weapon allowed for shooting around corners!  It was perfect for taking the “fire first, look later” approach!  While it sounds pretty cool, we all may be a littler safer without this one!

2. Handwriting Game: As if repeatedly writing “I will not…” statements on the chalkboard wasn’t punishment enough, this engaging 1955 game challenged players to analyze each other’s handwriting!  I suppose practice makes perfect?

3. Venetian Blind Sunglasses: Kanye West may be trying to revive this trendy fad, but it certainly didn’t catch on when it was first introduced in 1950!  Though they seem to have no real practical purpose, I suppose they may good for only letting “some” UV rays in!

4.Honegar: All you “Man Vs. Food” fans actually may love this crazy concoction.  In 1959, Dr. DeForest C. Jarvis mixed together honey and vinegar in an effort to remedy minor aches and pains.  Hmmm… tempting, but I’ll stick with ibuprofen!

5. Vest Pocket Ash Tray, Rainy Day Cigarette Holder, Cigarette Holder Built for Two: We just couldn’t resist lumping these three ’50s inventions together.  They were perfect for “lighting up” with your lover on a rainy day and dropping the ashes in your vest!

For a look at these funky inventions, click here!

Now, we know we said our favorite five inventions, but hope this honorable mention doesn’t ruffle your feathers – pun intended!

The Sanitary Appliance for Birds, an undergarment designed to catch bird…. ummm, well you know…. received patent number 2,882,858 in 1959!  While it never really caught on, it is too bad all the birds of the world aren’t required to wear undergarments as they soar high above our heads!

Practical or not, these inventions bring a whole new meaning to the “Nifty Fifties!”

What walks down stairs, alone or in pairs, makes a slinkity sound – and has made millions of dollars since it was invented in 1945?  The slinky, and other must-have toys and gadgets may be inexpensive to purchase, but continue to make their creators millions!  Today, we delve into our childhoods to explore the stories of 5 top toys that all started…with an idea!

The Slinky- Engineer Richard James and his wife, Betty, borrowed $500 to start production of this spiral-coiled success – which came from an idea Richard had aboard a World War II Naval ship, when a spring fell onto the floor and flip-flopped around, amusing him.  The James’ perfected the long, steel ribbon and Richard designed the machine that manufactured the 80-foot Slinky himself.  Although it took some persuading to get the Philadelphia department store, Gimbels, to market the toy – it sold out in 90 minutes!  Today, nearly 300-million Slinkys have sold…and, at $3.99 each, those sales add up…fast!

Pet Rock– Advertising executive Gary Dahl is the mastermind behind the $3.95 smiley-faced rock that made millions!  According to Dahl, the “pets” were created as a replacement for the hassle, mess and money of more-conventional pets, like cats and dogs.  His packaging even included a training manual with instructions on how to take care of, train and command the rocks!  Estimates show Dahl sold over 5 million pets in a six-month time period.

Koosh Balls– Originally invented to help his own children learn how to catch, engineer Scott Stillinger tied rubber bands together to make a soft ball that wouldn’t hurt their hands.  The name came from the “koosh” sound the ball made when it hit the ground.  Evolving from rubber bands, OddzOn, Stillinger’s company, says there are approximately 5,000 fibers that go into one ball!  The Koosh line included about 50 products in all, some of which are still on the market for only a few bucks!

Antenna Balls- While Jason Wall has “had a ball” with his invention, he has Jack to thank.  When Wall found out Jack in the Box had sold millions of “Jack” antenna balls, he got busy designing his own novelty creations.  Whether in the form of happy faces, cowgirls or sports logos, you’ve probably seen Wall’s designs as you’ve been out traveling.  With million-dollar sales since 1999, you may already have one on your own car!  If not, you can pick one up for about 4 bucks at your local gas station or convenience store!

Silly Bandz– A new trend for children of all ages, Robert Croak, the ingenious creator  of Silly Bandz, got his idea while on a Japanese business trip in 2002.  There, silicone bands were used as a more environmental-friendly option for rubber bands.  Croak, and his employer, BCP imports, transformed the office supplies into fashion must-haves by adding tons of shapes and colors.  First hitting the internet in 2008, Silly Bandz are now sold at over 8,000 locations nation-wide.  At around a couple bucks per pack, Croak says he’s shipping out millions of the bandz each week!  What’s even better – he’s selling them with NO advertising!  The buzz for the bandz is all on-line, and on the playground, of course!

So, whether these popular gadgets slink down the stairs, “koosh” against the ground or do nothing at all – they’re sure to bring a lot of fun to children of all ages – and a lot of “fun” money to their inventors!

The Oil Filter Gripper, first licensed in 1993 by Flo Tools International, was one of the first major successful products we designed for our clients. Myles and Lisa hired Davison to research, redesign and develop the innovative tool, which went on to win a bronze IDEA (Industrial Design Excellence Award) in the Consumer Products / Professional Tools category in 1996. 

The Oil Filter Gripper has had a great run and, after 17 years, it is still on the market and going strong. The product, which was designed by Davison’s VP of Inventegration, enables do-it-yourselfers to easily and neatly remove a hot and dirty oil filter.

As can be seen on its product page, the Oil Filter Gripper is now sold by Auto Alley through Amazon.com, and it is still licensed by Flotool / Hopkins Mfg. Corp., which also continues to show it at trade shows, such as the AAPEX (Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo). 

Myles has changed a little over the years, but he is still a big fan of Davison and our unique 9-step process that turned his dream into a reality. The Oil Filter Gripper, like the Davison Method, certainly has stood the test of time!

“The things that make America great are the things we invent. The strength of this nation was formed by idea people and inventors who had the freedom to dream big and create new things.” So begins the new video, “Davison, Making Ideas,” which captures the timeless power of inventing and shows how that spirit is championed by the Davison Inventing Method. We are posting this video as a tribute and an inspiration to idea people everywhere.

“I believe we must believe in a better future, and you start that off by fueling the human spirit,” said George Davison, founder and CEO. “We have spent many years climbing the ladder in this business, and I’m very proud of our team putting together such an inspirational message in this new video. It pays respect to some of our greatest mentors of the past, and transitions us to believe in ourselves and a better future. It’s wonderful when you create something to inspire others. Great work team.”

The Perfect Serve, Davison’s new combination pizza cutter and spatula, is now for sale in Taylor Gifts, a popular online retailer. The innovative kitchen gadget makes it easier to neatly slice and serve a pizza without having to cut through repeatedly, or use your fingers to help dish it up.

We developed the Perfect Serve pizza cutter and with a non-slip rubber handle, so users can secure a tight grip as the stainless steel wheel slices through pizza crust and all of the toppings. The cutting wheel is located at the front of the spatula to avoid rubbing knuckles across hot pizza, and the contoured edge conforms to the crust of the pizza for serving it to friends and family. Not only great for pizza, it can also be used for dishing up dessert after dinner! 

This corporate product was invented and licensed by Davison for its own benefit.

A Davison-designed client product, the Pizza Keeper, will air early next year on the nation’s most popular home shopping network. The innovative container stores leftover pizza compactly in the refrigerator.

The first manufacturer that saw the Pizza Keeper licensed it immediately. The president of the company loved the product and said he thinks it will do well because it solves a problem that everyone has experienced.

The client has not made a profit on this product.

Our client, Gary, was blown away when he found out his pet care invention, the Dog Wash, was selling in Sky Mall, an airline catalog that features luxury goods and products from specialty manufacturers. The sprinkler installer got the great news as an invited guest to Davison in Pittsburgh, PA, where his new product idea was developed. During a visit to Inventionland, he saw the packaged product for the first time and learned it was already on the market.
“That was awesome,” said Gary. “It was even better than when I submitted my idea!”

He got a bigger surprise when George Davison, founder and CEO, presented him with his first royalty check. When asked what he was going to do now, he laughed and said, “I’m going to Disneyworld!” After several years of working on his idea, the receipt of his first royalty check was “a blessing” and “perfect timing,” said Gary, who was temporarily out of work due to the poor economy.

Inventor’s story:
Gary came up with his new product idea in an attempt to help his buddy, “Snake,” who had a dirty, white dog that ran away whenever he tried to give him a bath. Gary had some scraps of pipe and hose in his truck, so he built a device that would enable his friend to contain and wash the dog. Lo and behold, it worked. He saw a need for such a device on the market, so he went online and found Davison, a new product development firm that provides services to inventors, corporations and entrepreneurs. He submitted his idea and the design team went to work.

The finished product, which was licensed by Hugs Pet Products, is a portable and inflatable dog washing station that is easy to set up and use. The lightweight, heavy duty unit hooks up to a garden hose and has an adjustable full spray nozzle and gentle side spray, as well as a side entry for easy canine access.

Gary was not only thrilled with the product and royalty check, but by the royal treatment he and his friend, Scott, received at Davison. They toured Inventionland, “the world’s most creative workplace,” and met with Mr. Davison and members of the design and licensing team. The client was impressed with the “professional operation” and the work everyone has put into his product.

Gary described Mr. Davison as “a down-to-earth dude” who “really knows what he’s doing.” He was also impressed with the company’s development process.

“Davison didn’t just develop my idea, they actually expanded on it,” he said. “I was skeptical; I never saw it coming this far. But it’s there, it happened, and I can’t believe it.”

A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit.

Our client, Sharon, was featured on ABC affiliate, KXLY, as well as in her hometown newspaper, “The Latah Eagle.” She described how she came up with her new product idea and told of her amazing visit to Davison. The wife, mother and entrepreneur learned her invention was already selling in Sky Mall and saw the packaged product for the first time during a visit to Inventionland, where her Cool Cot House was developed.
“That blew me away,” said Sharon. “It was way better than my original idea!” She got an even bigger surprise when George Davison, founder and CEO, presented her with her first royalty check. “I cried,” she recalled. “I couldn’t believe all the zeros at the end!”

After five years of work, her dream had become a reality and success had come to her family, which had been struggling through some hard times and stressing about how they were going to finance a move to another town.

“It’s been a long time coming, and I’m so excited and thrilled that it made it somewhere,” Sharon told the team that developed her product. “And it couldn’t have happened without you guys; I’m so grateful.”

Inventor’s Story:
Sharon came up with her idea because she wanted a comfortable, convenient shelter for her pets to use on camping trips or at home. One day in Walmart, she noticed a small demonstration tent and thought that a real tent about that size would be perfect. She found Davison, a new product development firm that provides services to inventors, corporations and entrepreneurs. She submitted her idea online and the team went to work.

The finished product, which was licensed by Hugs Pet Products, features a water-resistant tent with vented roof, raised bed and mesh cot designed to keep dogs and cats cool and dry, even on the hottest or wettest of days. The portable, sturdy and easy to clean unit also offers a convenient alternative to traditional dog houses.

Sharon was not only thrilled with the finished product and royalty check, but by the royal treatment she and her son, Anthony, received at Davison. They toured Inventionland, “the world’s most creative workspace,” and met with Mr. Davison, who she described as “fun, amazing and down-to-earth.” They also got to meet members of the design and licensing team, as well as her new products director, who encouraged Sharon as she struggled to keep her project going throughout financial difficulties.

“I love the whole team,” Sharon said. “They went above and beyond the call of duty – they put their whole heart and effort into my project.”

A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit.

Update: Our client, Jean, was featured on ABC demonstrating the Meatball Baker in her kitchen during a newscast. She made perfect meatballs and showed how her dream became a reality.

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The Meatball Baker, an innovative new bakeware item we developed for our client, sold out of all units that were ordered for its debut on QVC from the International Housewares Show in Chicago (follow the link and click Videos to view the latest airing). The Meatball Baker has earned a Customer Top Rating on QVC.com. All customers who rated the product gave it 5 out of 5 stars and rave reviews! To quote just one: “I would LOVE to MEET the person who invented this marvelous pan. Talk about GENIUS!!”

“I just couldn’t believe it!” said our client, inventor of the Meatball Baker. She has great hopes and is receiving a royalty payment on each unit sold!

“It’s great when one of our client’s products gets in with a company like QVC,” said George Davison, CEO. “They have a tremendous marketing tool in their demonstration, which shows the product’s true functionality – cooking some of America’s favorite foods in a healthy way. I thought QVC did a great job and I couldn’t be happier for our client, Jean.”

Due to its initial success, the top-ranked home shopping network in the nation, which broadcasts via cable and satellite TV 24 hours a day to 90 million homes, will feature the Meatball Baker again in an upcoming broadcast. So, check back later for that date and for more exciting news.

In the meantime, View QVC’s on air presentation of this fantastic new bakeware invention!

Inventor’s Story:
We developed the new product for our client, Jean, a busy homemaker. She came up with her idea after getting discouraged whenever she cooked meatballs. They always got flat and cooked unevenly in the frying pan or oven and would sit in their own grease – unhealthy as well as unappetizing.

“I just didn’t like the way mine turned out,” Jean said. “I love to cook, although I’m not that good; but I love to try new things.”

One day, she came up with a solution that would solve both problems. She found Davison and submitted her idea, and the design team went to work. The final product has a unique, rounded rack system that holds and preserves the shape of meatballs and other foods, enabling them to cook evenly while keeping them completely out of the grease.

The product was licensed by a company specializing in extraordinary products for the home. Jean visited Davison while on vacation in 2007 to meet with those working on her project.

“It’s been great – you guys are very knowledgeable,” she said of her experience with Davison. “I was new to all this and I learned a lot.”

A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit.