Antiques are valuable because they provide a window into the past. They are telling a story. They had been a part of someone’s life. And they show us how people used to think. The World’s Fair was an annual international exhibition of accomplishments and inventions, a wonderland of science and discovery. Here are some of the most intriguing World’s Fair inventions!
The Telephone System
It’s incredible to think that the telephone was first publicly introduced in 1876 at the Philadelphia World’s Fair. Alexander Graham Bell performed a demonstration that prompted Brazil’s Emperor Dom Pedro to exclaim, “My God, it talks!” We no longer think twice about this technology, which is improving year after year. In fact, it is insufficient for the majority of people; many prefer texting.
The Wheel of Fortune
The Ferris Wheel is a must-see attraction at any fair or carnival. It’s frequently regarded as boring and mundane. The Ferris Wheel, on the other hand, was once an unheard-of concept that wowed everyone at the World’s Fair in 1893.
It cost 50 cents per ride, which was a lot of money at the time, but people lined up to try it out. The Ferris Wheel was designed by George Washinton Gale Ferris Jr, who wanted to outdo the previous year’s unveiling of the Eiffel Tower.
Autonomous Vehicles
General Motors displayed the Firebird IV at the New York World’s Fair in 1964. The car was not operational at the time, but investors claimed it was a prototype for a vehicle that would not require driving and would operate on automated highways. The car would drive itself through a pre-programmed automated highway interface, which is similar to what many car manufacturers say about their autopilot features today. Unfortunately, this never progressed beyond a prototype, but it remains a dream for many car enthusiasts and commuters: a car that does not need to be driven.
Zippers
Zippers, formerly known as “clasp lockers,” were invented by Whitcomb Judson in 1893. At the Chicago World’s Fair, he presented the invention with salesman Lewis Walker.
A patent was filed in 1913, and the name was changed to “zipper” in the 1920s. Zippers appear so simple — almost a given — that it’s amusing to consider them an invention worthy of being announced at such a fair.
Cones of Ice Cream
For a long time, ice cream was only consumed in a cup. The iconic ice cream cone first appeared in Italy and then made its public debut at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904. According to legend, Ernest A. Hamwi was at the fair selling a waffle-like dessert next to an ice cream vendor. When the ice cream vendor ran out of cups, Hamwi decided to roll up his waffles to hold the ice cream. Viola!
Video Conferencing
People wanted something bigger when the phone was first introduced in 1876. Enter video conferencing. You probably had no idea video calling dates back to the 1960s. In 1964, Bell Labs unveiled the Picturephone at the New York World’s Fair. Back then, video calling allowed each person to see each other while speaking on the phone. People attending the fair could enter booths to video chat with people at Disneyland in California.
By 1975, 100,000 of these devices had been manufactured. However, the service was prohibitively expensive to use. A three-minute call on the Picturephone could cost as much as $27, which is now more than $250.
Looking for your own connection to the past? Eloquence has a large collection of antique and reproduction furniture, so you can find any style to match your decor. An antique reproduction will give you the feel of that era in history while also incorporating modern improvements, much like all of these inventions over the years.
Author Bio
My name is Lucy Wilson, and I have a keen interest in the field of writing. I have written a couple of articles on various gemstones, fashion and would love to express my opinion on more such stones. Hope it has maximized your knowledge of gemstone jewelry and satisfied your quest to buy an Tourmaline jewelry from an authentic place. We believe in quality and offer the same in our information and products.