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Sylvester Roper
Sylvester Howard roper had always been fascinated by all things mechanical. By age twelve he had constructed small stationary engine. As a teen he became an avid inventor. One of his biggest inventions was the the steam powered bicycle. This invention never found commercial success but provided inspiration for other inventors to develop their creations to improve our daily life. -
The Revolving Door
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1888, Theophilus Van Kannel invented the revolving door. This door was easier to open by not creating a vacuum affect when there was an updraft. It also saved heat. The was a big step up from the regular door. -
The Gas Powered Tractor
John Froelich had a mobile threshing service but his machinery was to bulky, hard to transport, and expensive to use. It also was a fire hazard, with one spark from the boiler the field could go up in flames. In 1892, he invented the first gas powered tractor by mounting a one-cylinder gasoline engine on his steam engines running gear. This improvement in farming technology increase the safety of machinery and used minimal gas. -
L.H. Baekeland
L. H. Baekeland was an American chemist who created Velox photographic paper in 1893. Kodak purchased Velox for $750,000. This experience led him a few years later, when he was working as an independent consultant.
