With every new finding, the world is changed a bit more each time. But while most of us remember the biggest inventions that have changed our world for the better, such as the lightbulb, the printing press, and even airplanes, others aren’t so lucky to be remembered every day. Countless forgotten historical inventions have shaped our world but have been pushed aside to make room for newer inventions.
These forgotten historical inventions are the precursor for even more advanced creations, but they are just as important as the rest, as they are the beginnings of advancements we use every day.
6. The Jacquard Loom
The Jacquard Loom is a device that fits a loom that simplifies the process of manufacturing textiles. This device made complex patterns such as brocade, damask, and matelassé easier to create. The machine was patented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in 1804 and was based on earlier inventions by the Frenchmen Basile Bouchon (1725), Jean Baptiste Falcon (1728), and Jacques Vaucanson (1740).
The machine was controlled by a “chain of cards”, which were just several punched cards laced together in a continuous sequence to follow the design. The punch card system would later inspire early computers, and this invention helped accelerate the mechanization of weaving, paving the way for modern textile production. However, even with such great advancements, this is one of the many forgotten historical inventions.
5. The Lodestone Compass
Navigating the world is tricky, but things like compasses make it a bit easier. The first compass, however, wasn’t the kind that we see today. The first was known as the lodestone compass and was used by ancient navigators as early as the 1st century. This changed how humanity explored the seas. As some might know, a compass is made to point north thanks to the Earth’s magnetic pulls.
The lodestone compass was a spoon-shaped compass made of lodestone, or magnetite ore, that was placed on a case bronze plate. Ancient Chinese alchemists realized that magnetite ore would point towards a magnetic north. But even with this substantial finding, this is one of the many forgotten historical inventions as more advanced compasses started being made.
4. The Polygraph
Copying documents is a boring chore for many, and a convenience many of us don’t think about. But how did the copier come about? Well, it actually started with a polygraph, a duplicating device that produces a copy of a piece of writing simultaneously. The invention was patented by John Isaac Hawkings in 1803 and was famously used by Thomas Jefferson, who acquired the first one in 1804.
Jefferson later suggested improvements to Charles Willson Peale, the owner of the American rights. Jefferson used the polygraph to duplicate correspondences, giving historians insight into his viewpoint and actions. Though it’s alongside many forgotten historical inventions that paved the way for popular and useful devices today, Jefferson still boasted about its invention during the time.
3. The Baghdad Battery
Some inventions have truly shaped our world. Electricity and plumbing are arguably the ones that come to mind when you think about creations to be thankful for. And of course, there are countless forgotten historical inventions regarding these things that you probably don’t know about. For instance, the Baghdad Battery is an ancient device dating back to the Parthian period (250 BCE to 225 CE) that could have been one of the earliest forms of a galvanic cell or battery.
The device was made with a ceramic pot, a copper cylinder, and an iron rod, and it could produce a small electric current when filled with an acidic liquid. While the true purpose of this is still up for debate, it proves that the idea of electricity was around long before it became mainstream in the 19th century.
2. The Phonautograph
Thomas Edison usually comes to mind when you think of recorded sound using his phonograph. However, the discovery of the phonautograph actually takes the lead, which predates Edison’s invention by about 20 years.
The device was made by French inventor Edouard-Leon Scott in 1857, and could visually record sound waves, however, it had no mechanism for playback. It marks the first time that sound could be captured, leading the way for future sound recording technologies. Unfortunately, like many forgotten historical inventions, this device was overshadowed by another’s.
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1. The Antikythera Mechanism
Similar to electricity, computers have shaped our world, constantly changing and evolving society as computers progress. That’s why this is the number one spot for forgotten historical inventions that shaped our world. The Antikythera Mechanism was discovered in an ancient shipwreck in 1901 and is considered the earliest known analog computer.
The device is made with a complex arrangement of gears and dials that show an advanced understanding of celestial mechanics. It can be used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses decades in advance and used to track the four-year cycle of athletic games similar to an Olympiad. Even with this advanced invention, it wasn’t until centuries later that similar technology emerged. It’s a remarkable feat of engineering for such ancient civilizations.
