This is One Small Step For Man Quiz

Answer: Mason jars

Prior to Mason's invention which combined a screw-top jar with a matching lid and rubber ring, the jars were sealed with wax. Sealing with wax was not an easy method and very prone to error.

Mason was granted the patent in 1868, but a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1876 ruled that the patent had been abandoned to the public. Some of the decision points were that: the invention was completed in 1859--eight or nine years prior to the application for patent; Mason created a model and had glass-makers Reed & Co. manufacture at least two dozen jars in 1859; he sold some of those jars; and Mason left the model jars at Reed until, not knowing how to contact Mason, they finally sold them at auction.

Answer: tea bag

Thomas Sullivan began using silk pouches to send samples to his customers, and intended to use it only to introduce product to his customers. But when customers began brewing the tea in the bags, the demand was created.

Though not the first to use tea bags, Lipton does claim to have introduced the tea bag with brewing instructions on the tag.

Tea drinkers all have preferential methods for preparing their tea, but the tea bag offers drinkers a convenient measure of tea ready to be brewed.

Answer: Sani-Towels

Many of the sites where I researched this report a story of serendipity. The Scott Paper Company had been selling toilet paper, but one railroad car delivery in 1907 had paper rolls that were too thick to be used for that purpose. Arthur Scott had read an article about a teacher distributing pieces of soft paper (to use and dispose of) to reduce the incidence of students getting sick from colds. With this idea in mind, the paper was perforated into small disposable towels.

The "Sani-Towels" were advertised as "For use once by one user". It wasn't until 1931 that the name was changed to "ScotTowels". Paper towels today generally are sold in rolls for home use, but are also sold in stacks of tissues for other uses such as restroom towels.

Answer: egg carton

From records I found, it appears that Coyle applied for patents in both Canada (filed 1927, issued 1930) and the U.S. (filed 1927, issued 1933).

As a newspaper owner in Aldermere, British Columbia, he was privy to the argument between the farmer, George Demell, and the hotel owner, Jack McNeill. He also has access to a large quantity of pulp from the paper process. His egg cartons grew in popularity and eventually he sold the newspaper and started a business to market the cartons. When this venture was not successful, he moved to the U.S. to find financing.

Though there have been improvements over time (e.g., the materials used to make the cartons), his basic invention has been utilized for over a hundred years.

Answer: stainless steel

Brearley, head of Brown Firth Laboratories, was actually looking for an improvement in rusting gun barrels. Today there are many grades of stainless steel and the alloy has been used many applications. In a kitchen you might find it in cutlery, a sink, or even counter tops.

In just over a hundred years so many other uses for stainless steel have been found. It has been used architecturally in buildings, bridges and monuments (e.g., the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO). Many surgical instruments are also made from stainless steel which can easily be sterilized.

Answer: Pyrex

The Pyrex brand came to the marketplace in 1915, and would eventually find its way into most American kitchens. Over the years they have manufactured many designs and used both bold colors and patterns to differentiate their products.

To celebrate their 100th anniversary, Pyrex created a measuring cup that would be a Guinness World Record holder. The cup was just over 4 feet and was unveiled filled with approximately 75 pounds or 3,040 cups of Garrett Popcorn.

Answer: pop-up

Some of the types of toasters included the Swinger (a swinging door), the Percher (the bread was placed atop the heating elements), and the Flopper (a hinged door that would drop open for bread placement and retrieval). The pop-up toaster eventually became the most popular version. The toaster was patented for home use in 1929, but it wasn't until 1930 when Wonder Bread (and other bread companies soon followed) began to sell pre-sliced bread that their popularity really surged.

For modern kitchens there are many colors and designs of pop-up toasters. In addition, we have the option of toaster ovens, many of which can be used to prepare others foods as well.

Answer: Fred Waring

Frederick Osius needed financial assistance after patenting his blender in 1933. He went to Fred Waring and pitched his product during the break of a live radio broadcast. Eventually Waring would rename the Miracle Mixer to the Waring Blender.

Hospitals and medical researchers also began using the Waring Blender, and in 1953 Dr. Jonas Salk utilized a version of the blender during the development of the polio vaccine.

Answer: microwave

The microwave was patented in 1946 by the Raytheon Company. Dr. Percy Spencer was working on a research project when he discovered a melted candy bar in his pocket. Further research showed that the microwaves could cook food. The first product was named Radarange, but because of the new technology, cost, size and weight, it really wasn't very popular. It wasn't until the 1960s that a unit was built that would sit on a counter top.

Spencer was working for Raytheon on a Department of Defense contract, but he was certainly able to think out of the box when the unexpected happened.

Answer: microplane

The grater was reportedly invented by François Boullier. During times when cheese was in surplus, it would harden and the grater made it easier to incorporate into meals. His grater is now displayed in the Muséum du Havre. There are also references that Isaac Hunt invented the grater in the same decade, but I couldn't find much more information than just the claims.

The microplane was originally created by Grace Manufacturing, Inc., as a woodworking tool. It wasn't until 1994 when Lorraine Lee got frustrated with her grater that she tried a tool from her husband Leondard's store, Lee Valley Tools. The orange zest being grated for an Armenian cake, fell like snowflakes. The Lee's changed the catalog description of the tool, and began selling it for kitchen use. Grace Manufacturing has continued to evolve their products also, and now include a microplane to shave dead skin from a human foot.