Just read that the first passenger elevator safety brake was invented because a guy got tired of cutting ropes.

Found it in an old industry history book at the library. It was Elisha Otis in 1853, and he literally demonstrated it by having the rope cut while he was standing on the platform. Anyone know other weird origin stories for the gear we use every day?

2 comments

2 Comments

riley_price1d ago

Microwave ovens came from melted radar candy.

jamienguyen21h ago

My uncle swears his garage door opener was a military secret.