The City of Fort Wayne is home to a number of notable Inventors and Patents. These include the FTRC plant and the self-measuring pump invented by Bowser. These innovations have a broad range of applications and have impacted the Fort Wayne economy and society.
Inventors
During the early part of the 20th century, the city of Fort Wayne became one of the major manufacturing centers in the world, and many of the world’s major industries originated from the area. The FTRC plant opened in 1939, and it spurred the economy in Fort Wayne and the surrounding region. FTRC produced phonographs, television sets, and radios, and the company’s research and development department was highly productive. Pem Farnsworth said that her husband’s input helped to keep the men at the plant on their toes.
Fort Wayne has a rich history of innovation and invention. Inventors in Fort Wayne have produced some of the most valuable products in the world, from automobiles to medical devices. Inventors are the driving force behind our economy. A city that is growing as a center of innovation can attract more patents.
Patents
The Indiana University Maurer School of Law has a new Intellectual Property Law Clinic that is located in Fort Wayne. This clinic provides a variety of services for those who are interested in obtaining patents and trademarks. The intellectual property attorneys at the Maurer School of Law are certified in patents and trademarks, and they are able to provide consultations to clients.
The Fort Wayne area has a rich history of innovation. During the mid-1880s, Fort Wayne natives and newcomers started new businesses. These entrepreneurs brought prosperity to the area and helped to shape Fort Wayne for the better. The city also became a hub for motor manufacturing during World War II. One Fort Wayne motor was used in the first electric garbage disposer, known as Bill Morrill’s Electric Pig.
The invention of magnet wire began in Fort Wayne. Magnet wire is made of insulated copper or aluminum wire that is wound into coils that produce an electromagnetic field. Without this technology, most electrical devices would not work. In 1901, George Jacobs, a bright young chemist at GE Fort Wayne Works, was attracted to a problem involving the wire insulation of GE motors. Alongside his partner, Ethel Mossman, Jacobs invented the first commercial magnet wire.
Another Fort Wayne metals company received a patent for a bi-tapered bobbin. This product has an innovative design that prevents snags and helps wire pay-off spool easily. This design also helps reduce machine downtime, improves product yields, and lowers overall costs.
FTRC plant
Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been home to many inventors. The Farnsworth Television and Radio Corporation was founded in Fort Wayne in 1939. The company, which was later renamed Capehart-Farnsworth, specialized in television equipment, radios, and phonographs. Farnsworth was a partner in the company and oversaw the production process. He often provided input for production, which his wife said kept the men on their toes. The Fort Wayne company was also responsible for the first electric garbage disposer. The patented invention was called the Electric Pig.
Fort Wayne is home to several patents. One of these is for a patented device used to store information. In addition to this, there is a permanent exhibit called Allen County Innovation. The exhibition showcases a variety of past and present-day entrepreneurs and their creations. The exhibit also features a variety of items made by Hoosiers, including quilted cotton luggage company Vera Bradley, Fort Wayne Metals, and Sweetwater Sound, a dealer of digital recording systems throughout the country.
Another Fort Wayne contribution to the international economy was magnet wire. The city is home to the largest magnet-wire manufacturing facility in the world. During the early 20th century, magnet wire became one of the most important components of electrical devices. A strand of aluminum or copper, magnet wire creates a magnetic field when energized. Without this field, electricity would be useless. George Jacobs developed magnet wire insulation as a substitute for cotton, which was prone to rapid wear.
Another Fort Wayne invention was the television. Farnsworth, a Fort Wayne native, created the first television set in 1927 and later demonstrated the technology at a public demonstration. His next two years spent in Philadelphia and San Francisco perfecting his TV tube technology. By the mid-1930s, his company had gone into deep financial trouble. The company was bought by the International Telephone and Telegraph in 1949. In the 1950s, the company was renamed Capehart-Farnsworth and continued to produce televisions until the end of the 1960s.
Bowser’s self-measuring pump
Bowser’s self-measurability pumps were introduced in the early 1900s, and were a huge success. This pump was a simple device with a square metal tank and a wooden cabinet. The pump dispensed gasoline through a flexible hose. It also had a 50-gallon metal storage tank. The pump could be set up curbside in front of a store and dispense fuel to cars.
Bowser’s company also manufactured fuel storage tanks, which were later made mobile and self-propelled. These tanks provided fuel directly to the end user, making them distinct from petrol stations that do not supply the public directly. Bowser was also a leading company during the Second World War, serving as a refueling station for aircraft. Eventually, the company became a global company, servicing people in dozens of countries.
Bowser’s self-measurability pump was designed with accuracy in mind. It could accurately measure liquid volumes and adjust the volume to achieve an optimum level. In addition to its high accuracy, it was simple to use and adapt to minor changes in the production process.
Marion Donovan’s waterproof diaper cover
The first waterproof diaper cover was invented by an American woman, Marion Donovan, in 1946. Donovan, a post-World War II housewife and married architect, became frustrated by the need to change dirty cloth diapers. Using a sewing machine and a shower curtain, she devised a waterproof diaper cover that kept babies dry and clean.
When Marion Donovan created the first waterproof diaper cover, she aimed to help parents overcome the common problems with cloth diapers. Using cloth diapers was very messy and often meant soiled bed sheets and clothes. Even the rubberized diapers still leaked and held the effluvium against the body, leaving the child prone to diaper rash. Donovan’s waterproof diaper cover not only prevented rashes but also protected the surrounding area.
The waterproof diaper cover has a unique design. Its nylon parachute fabric allows air to circulate to the baby’s bottom and reduces the risk of diaper rash. In addition, Donovan’s invention also replaced safety pins with snaps, which were less likely to poke the baby’s bottom. In 1951, she sold the rights to her waterproof diaper cover to the Keko Corporation for $1 million.
Since the waterproof diaper cover has such a wide-ranging application, it’s important to choose the right material. Choosing a durable material is essential for preventing rashes and other skin irritation. It must be easy to clean, and must have a large amount of breathability.
In 1949, a few of Marion Donovan’s products were available at Saks Fifth Avenue and became instant bestsellers. However, it took another decade before the waterproof diaper cover was marketed. After gaining a patent in 1951, Donovan sold her company to the Keko Corporation. At the same time, she was working on a disposable diaper made of absorbent paper. This idea helped Pampers start mass-producing disposable diapers.