Cover of the book entitled Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor written and illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully. (Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 2006--available from Amazon.com
Margaret Knight is credited with more than 90 inventions and more than 20 patents. She came to be known as "Lady Edison," the inventor of a wide range of devices including a:
- Numbering machine,
- Barbecue spit,
- Window frame,
- Sole-cutting machine used in making shoes, and
- Compound rotary engine.
Her first invention came at age 12 (12!) while working in a textile mill in New Hampshire. It was a life-saving, stop-motion device that made looms safer to operate. Sharp steel-tipped shuttles could abruptly be sent flying, turning them into deadly missiles. Her invention stopped that from happening. She came up with the idea after witnessing such a missile kill a worker.
Imagine what it was like to shop before the paper and plastic bags we enjoy using today. Basically, merchants would wrap your purchases in paper and tie the bundle with string, or use flour sacks and metal containers to hold your merchandise. Department stores like Macy's and Lord & Taylor's were quick to use the flat-bottomed paper bags. Clerks could package a customer's purchases and move on rapidly to help the next customer.
Credit for Ms. Knight's invention was almost lost to a man who saw her prototype machine and stole her idea. She sued and fought a long, costly but successful legal battle, finally being awarded the patent. A woman couldn't understand such mechanical complexities, the thief is said to have asserted in his defense.
Prior to her invention, flat-bottomed paper bags were made by hand and supplies were limited. Her invention enhanced production and cut costs. One machine could do the work of 30 people. So, yes, her invention put people out of work. But overall its impact on the economy was hugely beneficial.
It's timely for us to think about Ms. Knight. Her story reminds us that:
- Ingenuity matters to our economy. You may never know when or where a new invention will appear that has the power to transform.
- It's true that "necessity is the mother of invention." Inventors do what they do usually because they're trying to solve a problem, cut costs or improve a process.
- Inventors sometimes have to overcome great adversity.
- Bottom line: Inventors help grow the economy.
There's much talk these days about the Great Depression. Are we about to relive it? No one can say for sure. But while we're looking backwards let's hope that we DO relive the days when the Margaret Knights and Thomas Edisons were busy finding opportunities and creating many new inventions that helped grow the world's economy.
That's a focus that is optimistic.
Given our nation's great history of innovation, I think our chances are excellent of finding a solution to the current economic difficulty. In fact, I think it's in the bag.
Quick Vue: This is a film made by Thomas Edison called "What Happened on Twenty-third Street, New York City." It's dated August 21, 1901. The video lasts just 1 minute and 21 seconds but it provides a rich view of everyday life over 100 years ago. Take a look and notice what inventions you don't see--such as no pedestrians with a Starbucks latte, cellphone or iPod, and of course no automobiles. Also notice how some things never change, such as the woman pedestrian crossing the street who picks up her pace to "beat out" an approaching street car. Also, note the older man in white hat at the end of the film who looks over with interest at the woman (an actress hired by Mr. Edison?) whose skirts were just blown about by a passing subway train (pre-Marilyn Monroe).
I've watched this several times but have not found anyone holding a flat-bottomed paper bag. Perhaps you can spot someone.
Sources for the post include The Wall Street Journal, Inventor Hall of Fame, Paper Industry Hall of Fame, Ohio State University, Engineerguy.com.
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