Benjamin Franklin was a true Renaissance Man. His expertise spanned a significant number of subject areas: publisher, statesman, nation builder, postmaster, scientist, and musician. Franklin was also a prodigious inventor. Among his many creations were: the Franklin stove, an odometer used in horse-drawn carriages, a musical instrument made from glass, and bifocal glasses. His most famous discoveries and inventions were on the subject of electricity. In fact, the story of him flying a kite in an electrical storm—to prove lightening was electricity—is standard reading for every school child across America.

Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 17, 1706.  As a teenager, Ben worked in his brother’s print shop, composing pamphlets and setting type. Though too young to get himself published in the local newspaper, Ben began writing letters to the editor and signing them with the name of a fictional widow, ‘Silence Dogood.’ These letters were not only published, but became very popular to the Boston citizenry, as they were filled with advice and were usually very critical of the Boston power structure. But once his ruse was found out, Ben and his brother found themselves at odds with Boston’s powerful Puritan preachers, and Ben left for Philadelphia, seeking a new start in a new city.

During his early days in Philadelphia, fires were a very dangerous threat to towns and cities. Many buildings were being struck by lightning and burned down because they were mainly built of wood. Franklin thought this was a preventable tragedy, and he set about trying to fix the situation. His first step was to organize Philadelphia’s first fire company to fight fires.

But, as we all know, Franklin believed that: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Therefore, he began to become interested in understanding the cause of these fires, and this lead him to take a closer look at lightning and the effects of electricity. Although not the first to suggest a correlation between electricity and lightning, Franklin was the first to propose a workable system for testing his hypothesis. While most scientists of his time were trying to fix the lightning problem by avoiding lightning, Franklin took the ‘thinking outside the box’ approach of attracting lightning.

Franklin had developed the theory behind his lightning rods invention several years before his reported kite experiment. He postulated that an iron rod—about 8 or 10 feet long with a sharp point at the end—placed on top of a building would safely redirect a lightning bolt:

“The electrical fire would, I think, be drawn out of a cloud silently, before it could come near enough to strike….”

Franklin spent the summer of 1747 conducting a series of groundbreaking experiments to prove that lightning was electricity, and in true altruistic fashion, also wanted to protect people, buildings, and other structures from lightning. In mid-1752, Benjamin Franklin conducted his famous kite flying experiments and proved that lightning is electricity. The lightning rod became a staple tool for preventing fires all over the world.

So on top of all of the wonderful things Ben Franklin did, his invention of the lightning rod probably saved tens of thousands of lives and prevented millions of dollars of property damage due to fires. And to top it off, Franklin also helped found the Philadelphia Contribution for Insurance against Loss by Fire so those who did have a fire were not wiped out financially. Ben Franklin was one of those rare people who could focus on the fine details of a subject while at the same time, understand how his finding fit into the big picture and the real world; and that ability alone, made him quite a remarkable man.  Not only did Ben Franklin prove that lightning was electricity, in true altruistic fashion, he also was able to protect people, buildings, and other structures from its devastation.

Thomas Edison was a great inventor; that is very difficult to dispute.  We’re all familiar with the story that he invented the light bulb, the phonograph and even the motion picture.  Those things alone would define him as a genius.

But, there are many things that he did in his life that you may not be familiar with – things that place him above just being a genius.  Edison could be considered an “icon.”  In fact, there are those who say that Edison was more responsible for creating the modern world than anyone else in history.

So, let’s find out a little more about this remarkable man.

Edison was born to middle-class parents in Ohio on Feb. 11, 1847.  Like other highly creative people (such as Einstein and Disney), he took longer than most kids to start talking and was thought to be “slow.” An early attack of scarlet fever left him with hearing problems in both ears, and would lead to almost total deafness as an adult.  When he was seven years old, his mother pulled him from public school and taught him at home because his teachers had grown tired of his persistent questioning and lack of focus and labeled him “difficult” (today, people might say that he was hyperactive or that he may have ADHD).

By the time he was 12, Edison began selling newspapers on the local Grand Trunk Railroad line.  His access to the newspaper’s tele-typed bulletins gave him the idea to create his own mini-newspaper, which he called the “Grand Trunk Herald,” and sold them to the train’s commuters.  His story caught the eye of a reporter who wrote about the little kid with his own newspaper and by the time he was 14, he was already becoming famous.

In 1869, when Edison was only 22 years old, he moved to New York City and created his first invention, the first practical stock ticker called the Universal Stock Printer.  It synchronized several stock tickers’ transactions into one, used letter and numbers — not Morse code like earlier machines — and had a printing speed of approximately one character per second.  When a company paid him $40,000 for the rights to the new, improved stock ticker, Edison used the money to start his invention business.

In 1870, Edison set up his first small laboratory and manufacturing facility in Newark, New Jersey, and in a few years had developed a reputation as a first-rate inventor. In 1876, he moved his expanding operations to Menlo Park, New Jersey, and built an independent industrial research facility, incorporating machine shops and laboratories.  As one of the first inventors to apply the principles of practicality and marketing to the practice of invention (he always had an eye on the reality of manufacturing and ease of use for the customer), he is often credited with the establishment of the first industrial research laboratory.

It was at Menlo Park where Edison created the things we remember him for today.  In 1877, Edison invented and developed the carbon microphone used in all telephones and later in radio broadcasting and public address systems. In 1878, he made the first phonograph. In 1879, he made the first practical incandescent light bulb after testing over 3,000 filaments (contrary to popular belief, he did not invent the light bulb, but made it practical and manufacturable – and, he got the patent as well).  He was so prolific and his inventions were so amazing that he became known as “The Wizard of Menlo Park.”

But, probably his most astounding achievement was something most people today don’t associate with Edison: he was the first to envision, design and construct a successful model for providing a safe and economically-viable system for generating and distributing electrical power to the public.  Think about it; there was no electricity as we know it – light and heat came from gas and coal. But, Edison saw a world of incandescent lights and machines, all powered by electrical power that was created and distributed to homes and businesses from a central power plant. Talk about a “Big Picture” guy.

To get the public interested, he built a street lamp outside his laboratory in Menlo Park to demonstrate the possibility of what electric power could bring to the world. From there, he founded the Edison Illuminating Company and, in 1882, he built the Pearl Street generating station in lower Manhattan that provided 110 volts of electrical power to 59 customers.  [As a side note, the Edison Illuminating Company was purchased by Consolidated Gas and later changed its name to Consolidated Edison, or “ConEd”].  By 1887, there were 121 Edison power stations in the United States and he brought them all together to form a new company called the Edison General Electric Company. After later merging with another firm, his company transformed into General Electric Corporation, or “GE.”  Though he didn’t own GE, he was a major stock holder.

By the time of his death in 1931, Edison had become the most prolific inventor in history, holding 1,093 US patents in his name, as well as several patents in France, Germany and the United Kingdom.  His direct inventions, advancements to other’s inventions, and grand vision have literally changed the world.

Some say Edison was more responsible for creating the modern world than anyone else in history.  Most of us would agree that he was ahead of his time in many ways.

SOURCES

http://www.thomasedison.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bledison.htm

http://www.biography.com/people/thomas-edison-9284349

http://www.thomasedison.com/enlightened.html

Photo Source:

Nicku / Shutterstock.com

Every now and again we receive letters in the mail or via email from our clients, which is obviously a great thing.

Sometimes they are simply checking on their new product idea, asking questions or dropping a line to give us a nice pat on the back. And what a pat on the back this letter from Diane DiRaimo, the inventor of the Hydro Bone, gave Mr. Davison, Dan Simbeck, the Licensing team, the Creationeers and all other Davison designers!

Check out the letter below for the whole story:

Congratulations to Diane and everyone at Davison!  The innovative Hydro line has become a hit on store shelves across the U.S. and beyond!

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

George Davison (Founder & CEO of Davison) and Sharon, inventor of the Cool Cot House (as part of her “Dare to Invent” episode), will be featured on an all-new episode of Lifetime’s “The Balancing Act.”

Mr. Davison (September 14th at 7:00 a.m.) will talk about the Davison Way to Invent and the Cool Cot House before and after the airing of Sharon’s episode of “Dare to Invent” – the webisode series that explores what can happen when everyday people work with Davison to make their invention ideas a reality.

Sharon, a small-town homemaker and self-published poet, got tired of seeing pets in stuffy, dirty doghouses or (worse yet) out in the rain, snow or sweltering sun, where there was no comfortable spot to stretch out on.

The animal lover, who often took her pet cats on walks and even camping trips, devised her own way to protect Fido, Lassie and Fluffy Kitty from bad weather and stinky shelters.

She brought her innovative idea for a comfortable, portable “tent” to Davison, where our team began working on an extreme pet home makeover that resulted in Sharon’s Cool Cot House!

Equipped with a comfortable raised pet bed that can be used indoors and out, the Cool Cot House is lightweight, portable and features a heavy-duty, water-resistant canvas cover with mesh vents to protect pets from the rain, while increasing air flow.

Congratulations to Mr. Davison, Sharon and the Davison team for blowing a cool breeze across national audiences!

Mr. Davison, along with more Dare to Invent episodes, will be featured on “The Balancing Act” in the next several months.  We will keep you updated on dates and times.

Lifetime Network’s “The Balancing Act” is America’s premier one-hour women’s morning show dedicated to creating trusted solutions for today’s woman and treats viewers to the most current and hot topics, while featuring some of the hottest celebs from the sports and entertainment industries.

The Lifetime Network can be found on the following channels:

• DirecTV Channel 252 (SD/HD)
• Dish Network Channel 108 (SD/HD)
• Available on most cable systems: Check local listings
• Verizon FiOS Channel 140 (SD); Channel 640 (HD)
• AT&T U-verse Channel 360 (SD); Channel 1360 (HD)

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

To create a successful product, you need an edge over your competition. Oftentimes, that edge is the ability to create something that no other company can replicate. On your road to success, keep an eye on your competition.  Thomas Edison, often credited as the inventor of the movie camera, had the Lumière Brothers right on his heels; Coke continues to wage war with Pepsi; and Go-Gurt … well, few others dare to put fermented milk in a portable tube.

If you don’t patent your product, you never have to make the ingredients public – a simple way to keep your secret recipe under lock and key. But, that doesn’t mean competitors won’t make a run at your throne.

DR. PEPPER

Wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper, too? That won’t be happening for aspiring soda-making rivals anytime soon, because another soft drink with a famously secret formula is Dr. Pepper, which is made from 23 natural and artificial flavors. Only three people are said to be privy to the recipe, which was invented in 1885 by pharmacist Charles Alderton in Waco, Texas, and is kept locked in a vault in company headquarters in nearby Plano.

The company has gone on the record to deny one common guess at an ingredient: There is no prune juice in Dr Pepper. – Yahoo

Dr. Nos

• Dr. Topper – Clover Valley
• Dr. Riffic – Eckerd Drug
• Dr. Thunder — Dollar General

WD-40

The world’s best known household lubricant got its secret agentesque name in 1953 from its inventor, Norm Larsen, and it stands for “Water Displacer—40th attempt.” An article in The Wall Street Journal reported that the formula is in a bank vault and has only been taken out twice—when changing banks and on the product’s 50th birthday, when CEO Garry Ridge rode on a horse into Times Square while wearing a suit of armor and carrying the formula. He said the company mixes the concentrate in three locations, then distributes it to aerosol manufacturing partners worldwide.

The company reveals what’s not in the secret formula on its FAQ page: WD-40 Multi-Use Product does not contain silicone, kerosene, water, graphite, or chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). – Yahoo

Slick Competitors

• Hosa Cable D5S6 Deoxit Contact Cleaner Spray
• Boeshield T-9 Lubricant
• 3-IN-ONE 10041 Professional Silicone Spray Lubricant

KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken)

KFC’s “Secret Recipe of 11 Herbs and Spices” for its original fried chicken recipe is nearly as famous as the former Kentucky Fried Chicken ad slogan “finger lickin’ good.” A section of the company’s website is now devoted to spreading the lore about the spice blend. It states that Colonel Harland Sanders kept his recipe in his mind and used to carry the mixture in his car, but today it’s kept under lock and key in a Louisville, Ky., safe. One company blends part of the spice recipe, and another company mixes the rest, so that neither party has the entire recipe. The Colonel commented how low-security of an operation he and his wife, Claudia, ran when he was starting out. “After I hit the road selling franchises for my chicken, that left Claudia behind to fill the orders for the seasoned flour mix. She’d fill the day’s orders in little paper sacks with cellophane linings and package them for shipment. Then, she had to put them on a midnight train.”

Many reverse-engineered recipes for KFC-style fried chicken include speculation that the flavor-enhancing additive MSG is part of the secret mix. Others claim the distinctive KFC chicken experience owes a lot to the pressure-frying technique, which is patented. — Yahoo

KFC’s Wingmen

• Church’s Chicken
• Popeye’s Chicken
• Kennedy Fried Chicken

It takes something special to stand out from the crowd. That’s why Davison has spent over 20 years perfecting the Davison Inventing Method – a better way to help clients develop their ideas.

Whether you’re starting your first year in the dorms or transitioning into off-campus housing, Davison has products that make college life more efficient, more comfortable and more organized, so you can worry more about burning through those books and less about burning out.

Fast, Fresh Food

Ordering pizza has never been so fresh. The Pizza Keeper keeps your leftover pizza fresh and ready to reheat, so you have much more time to concentrate on the things you need to do. Pizza Keeper is a neat, convenient way to store leftover pizza compactly in the refrigerator. The air-tight container has a second tier and a separator, so one unit can hold four large slices of pizza neatly and easily. The product also can be used to microwave all the slices at once, making reheating as easy as three, two, one, beep.

Study Storage

Despite the pervasiveness of electronic media, highlighters, pencils and pens will be part of college life as long as you’re paying $200 a pop for that Intro to Philosophy text book. Save time by keeping your study accessories organized with Davison’s Magna Jars. Davison’s team of designers created a small jar that has a magnetic lid and can hold up to a pound of pens, highlighters and various other study materials. The powerful one-way magnet embedded in the jar lid makes it easy to attach the set of four jars to metal cabinetry and other metal objects.

Rooting Rack

You don’t need to mess around when it’s time to suit up and root for the alma mater, and with college teams spanning sports from chess team to NCAA football, you are going to need a variety of hats. Davison will help you keep those hats organized. Cap Racks mount to most doors and walls and are perfect for organizing, storing and protecting hats, as well as belts and bags.

Pamper Products

At school, you’re on your feet a lot. Between hustling to class and squeezing in that lunch-hour Zumba class, your feet and knees take a beating. Pamper yourself during your downtime with the TheraPED, a wearable product that offers moist heat as well as cooling therapy to soothe sore feet and toes. Or, soothe your knee pain with the Hot/Cold Therapy Brace.

Transitioning from summer vacations to midterm cram sessions can be a difficult task. Let these Davison products make the transition a little smoother.

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

For our client, George, it was sheer coincidence that first led him to Inventionland… but, there were many things that have kept him coming back!

“I found Inventionland by accident.  My boss sent me to RIDC Park to pick up a part.  [When I saw Inventionland], I snapped a picture and in two to three days, I was on it.  I Googled ‘Inventionland’ and did some research.  At the time, I already had one invention going on… and, here I am today,” said George.

Now, the local firefighter is working on his second product idea at Inventionland.  According to Senior Director of New Products, Robert, who has been working closely with George, it is a privilege to help a client with an idea that could save lives.

“George and several high-ranking members of Pittsburgh fire departments have banded together to do this idea.  They have coordinated several real fire tests on the product together… which is fascinating,” said Robert.

Earlier this month, George brought a group of his fellow inventors to the place where their dream may become a reality… Davison’s Inventionland!

“My tour consisted of family members, professional firefighters, the fire marshal and investors,” said George.  “[The tour and my group's reactions] gave me confidence and motivation as to what I’m trying to achieve here.  [Inventionland] is for real and a select few people get to see this.”

While many of our wide-eyed visitors are initially impressed with Inventionland’s whimsical scenery and magical sets, it was the more technical side of the facility that really impressed George and his tour group.

“What caught my attention most was the video and photography department… from the green screen to the kitchen display.  The other tour group members were also impressed with the graphic design capabilities,” said George, who also said that his crew is not always easily impressed. It really wowed them.  It’s a tough crowd [that] I’m dealing with.  They would tell me!” George said.  “[At first], a lot in my group were speechless.  Then, they couldn’t stop talking about [Inventionland]!”

In fact, one member of George’s tour group was so inspired that we just may be hearing from him again soon!

“One gentleman in particular has had an idea in his head and I think he was able to open up about it more.  [Inventionland] inspired him to consider taking the steps to do something for himself,” said George.

George also told us that working with Davison has helped him realize he truly is an inventor… and, he has no plans to quit looking for that next new project!

“I don’t think I’ll ever stop thinking.  My mind is always going.  I always think, ‘how could I improve this?’ I give it a quick thought, then move on to the next thing,” said George.

According to George, that next thing could be… anywhere!

“I really wouldn’t mind one day, possibly, to even have the opportunity to work [at Inventionland],” said George, who also said he would recommend the inventing process to anyone!  “Whether they have a new idea or an idea on how to improve a product, I would not hesitate to work with Davison or Inventionland.  They are great people to work with,” said George.

Robert, one of Davison’s Senior Directors of New Products, said that feeling definitely is mutual!

“I’m looking forward to seeing the development on the product as [George's] dream comes to life,” said Robert.

And, so are we!  Check back for more updates on George and his invention!

George Davison (Founder & CEO of Davison) and the inventor of the Better Tether Ed Yoder (as part of his Dare to Invent episode) will be featured on the next episode of Lifetime’s “The Balancing Act,” America’s premier one-hour women’s morning show dedicated to creating trusted solutions for today’s woman.

Mr. D and host Kristy Villa (Friday, August 17, 2012 at 7:00 a.m.) will talk about the Davison Inventing method and the Better Tether before and after the airing of Ed’s episode of “Dare to Invent” – the webisode series that explores what can happen when everyday people work with Davison to make their invention ideas a reality.

Ed desired a more convenient and humane way to tether his dog outdoors! He got tired of his precious pup’s chain knocking over the food and water bowl while the pet was tethered in the yard… not to mention, the dish and the chain were often in the way of the lawnmower! Ed brought his idea for a “better” tethering device to Davison.

Unlike traditional tethers that wrap around trees or unwieldy stakes, Ed’s tether is secured to the ground, eliminating an obstacle to pets, humans and machines. The divided food and water bowl can never be tipped over and the entire unit sits lower than the blades of a lawnmower and never has to be moved. A leash can be attached directly to the strong steel post, and the vivid orange color makes the bowl highly visible.

Congratulations to Mr. Davison, Ed and the Davison Creationeers for getting the chance to showcase the Dare to Invent – Better Tether episode to a national audience!

More Dare to Invent episodes and Mr. Davison will be featured on “The Balancing Act” throughout 2012. We will keep you updated on dates and times as they become available.

Lifetime Network’s “The Balancing Act” treats viewers to the most current and hot topics, while featuring some of the hottest celebs from the sports and entertainment industry.

___________

PLUS – You Could Win a Better Tether for your pooch on the Davison Facebook page!*

We will be giving away one Better Tether — a better and more humane method of tethering a dog outdoors — to celebrate the airing of the “Balancing Act” episode, featuring George Davison talking about the development of this versatile product.

The giveaway will be held from Friday, Aug. 17 to Friday, Aug. 24. Contestants will be entered to win a Better Tether when they “Like” the Davison Facebook page and complete the information on the entry form/giveaway page.

*This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

Davison’s research, development and presentation services are provided for an upfront fee paid by the client and a contingent fee (which is a percentage of royalties obtained by the client, if any). New product development is an uncertain endeavor and the use of Davison’s services typically does not result in a license agreement, sales on any market or profit to the inventor. Davison does not perform analysis of the feasibility, marketability, patentability or profitability of ideas submitted to it.

Sponsor: Davison

Term: The Davison BETTER TETHER Giveaway begins on August 17, 2012 at 12:00 noon EST and ends on August  24, 2012 at 12:00 noon EST.

To Enter: No purchase necessary to enter or win the Sweepstakes. A purchase will not improve your chance of winning. Register to win by liking the Davison Facebook Page and completing the information on the giveaway page. The employees of Davison and members of their respective immediate families are not eligible to enter this giveaway. By entering this giveaway, you are also opting-in to receive informational and promotional emails from Davison.

Prizes: Sponsor will giveaway one(1) better tether, valued at $25. No more than one prize will be awarded.

Winner Selection: Potential winner will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received by August  24, 2012 noon EST. Odds of winning are dependent upon the number of eligible entries received.

Petside.com – an NBC Universal company that covers pet health, behavior, lifestyle and trends, highlighting the joys and challenges of having pets by serving up current, topical content from around the pet care world – featured Davison’s Hydro Bone in its “9 Products to Keep Your Pet Cool” article.

Petside’s Charlotte Reed writes, “Combining fun and chewing-refreshment, the Hydro Bone is the ultimate hydrating chew toy for your pet. The molded dog toy has a foam core, which absorbs and holds liquid. Simply soak the Hydro Bone in water and it slowly releases water to quench your dog’s thirst and keep [him or] her hydrated as [he or] she plays. The Hydro Bone is also freezable for lasting enjoyment.”

The Hydro Bone was created by a dog lover, who knew there had to be a better way to keep her puppy hydrated while in the car. Diane DiRaimo loved taking her Japanese Chin puppy Alexander James for rides, but she had a hard time keeping him hydrated and happy on long trips. She knew putting a water bowl in the car or feeding him out of a water bottle was out of the question… but, she thought, surely there must be a better way to provide Alexander with on-the-spot refreshment!

Dogs need water, and dogs love bones, right? So Diane brought her idea for a hydrating bone to Davison, where fellow animal lover and Creationeer, Curtis, and his creative team, got to work on helping Diane’s idea soak up success, creating an absorbent chew toy with a foam core.

The Hydro Bone, which was selected as a Dog Fancy Editor’s Choice Winner, comes in three sizes, for dogs and puppies six weeks and older. The water-holding toy combines refreshment with fun, so it quenches your dog’s thirst while playing. When soaked, the molded rubber bone’s foam core absorbs water (just like a sponge), which is then released through specially designed holes as the toy is squeezed. The durable Hydro Bone is also freezable for lasting refreshment and cooling.

Congratulations to Diane and the Davison team for whetting the appetites of national pet pundits!

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