Perhaps one too many mistakes and an overflowing trashcan resulted in Hyman Lipman’s invention of a pencil topped with a rubber eraser. The Philadelphia man received a patent for his creation in 1858 and millions of schoolchildren have been erasing their math errors ever since.
Crayons weren’t always available in a rainbow of colors. They were originally made of dirty, toxic components used in industry. But in 1903, the crayon became mere child’s play when eight, inexpensive nontoxic colors were boxed up for kids… each pack selling for just five cents.
Sometimes a big problem produces our greatest triumph. Lewis Waterman, a New York insurance salesman, was about to land a huge contract when his “dip-pen” leaked ink all over the paper. While getting another copy, a competitor quickly signed the customer on the spot. Frustrated, Waterman vowed “revenge.” He perfected a new type of writing instrument… opened his own factory… and patented the fountain pen!
Douglas McArthur signed the peace treaty after Japan’s surrender in 1945… with a 20-year old pen!
Fifty-seven years after it was patented, the first ballpoint pen was sold. Nothing like waiting more than a half-century to profit from a great invention!
