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On March 3, 1821, Thomas Jennings invented a dry cleaning source after his customers complained that cleaning their clothes ruined the fabric. He was also the first black man to win an award for his patent.
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In October 1844, Elias Howe invented the sewing machine. He patented a lockstitch sewing machine. His invention helped the mass production of sewing machines and clothing.
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On December 8, 1857, Joseph Gayetty invented toilet paper. Each sheet was watermarked "J C Gayetty N Y". It was produced in 1857 but it was available as late as the 1920's.
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On January 5, 1858, Ezra Warner patented the first can opener in USA. It had a curved handle, a long bayonet blade and a sliding shoe.
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In 1861, Nikolaus Otto built his first gas-powered engine. Three years later, he formed a partnership with Eugen Langen, and they developed an improved engine that won a gold medal in 1867.
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On February 21, 1865 John Deere, who was a blacksmith, received a patent for ploughs. He invented the first commercially steel plow.
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On May 20, 1873, Levi Strauss was given a patent to create work pants that were reinforced with metal rivets.
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On March 7, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for his brilliant invention. On March 10, 1876, he conducted a successful experiment with telephone.
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On October 14, 1878, Thomas Edison began developing research on an incandescent lamp. On January 27, 1880, he came up with the light bulb.
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On May 8, 1886, John Pemberton created the syrup for Coca-Cola. He used coca leaves and cola nuts to find a cure for headaches, but his lab assistant mixed them with carbonated water.
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In 1888, George Eastman invented a handheld camera. To take pictures with it, you had to simply press a button.
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In early 1882, Nikola Tesla created a basic design of the radio. Then, on November 8, 1898 he patented a radio controlled robot-boat.
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On November 10, 1903, Mary Anderson was granted her first patent for an automatic car window cleaning device.
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In 1906, Frank Fleer invented bubble gum. Although it was able to blow bubbles, it was hard to chew, and fell apart too easily.
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In 1981, Patricia Bath received a patent for the Laserphaco Probe. In 1986, she invented the Laserphaco Probe to treat cataract. She was the first African American female doctor to receive a medical patent.