Domestic Ingenuity

Even if you've never used the expression “The greatest thing since sliced bread”, I'm pretty certain that you've heard it used.

Many expressions have a kernel of truth, and the sliced bread saying is no exception. But do you know when sliced bread was invented?

The first prototype for a machine that could slice a whole loaf at once was built in 1912, but it got destroyed in a fire. However in 1928 they became common, and sliced bread hit the market hard. So hard in fact that traditional bakers tried to make pre-sliced bread illegal, claiming that it was immoral.

Yeah, you read that right. Immoral... Now, it's no secret and I'm sure it's no surprise to anyone that existing businesses always try to strangle innovation. But immoral? Really?

Needless to say - but I'll say it anyway – sliced bread became popular enough to stay.

But how about canned food? You know, tin cans containing anything from axle grease to sliced pineapple. Baked beans to cat food, etc.

The humble tin can (mostly aluminum cans today) was first patented in 1810, with the first cannery opening in England in 1813. But it wasn't until 1858 that the first proper can opener was invented. Before then the cans had to be hammered open.

Staying in a domestic environment, let's discuss the vacuum cleaner. Care to guess when it was invented? No?

1868!

But for a person like me who hates to vacuum, this model created by Ives W. McGaffey, must have sucked to use. (Sorry, couldn't resist). You see, you had to push it around with one hand while operating a crank with the other. Talk about a chore...

Finally, after hammering open cans of food, crank-vacuuming the floor and having a slice of pre-cut bread, maybe you're thirsty. How about a soft drink to quench your withering thirst? Could you have one?

Yes, the first soft drinks (non carbonated though) were invented in France in the 17^th century. The first bubbly sodas came in the 1770's when carbon dioxide was added to the sweet drinks. But it wasn't until 1886 that Coca Cola was introduced to the American public (registered trademark since 1944).

So there you have it. Things you consume and use every week can be surprisingly old.

Until next week.