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Learn about the inventions that changed the world in the Roaring Twenties, from convertibles and traffic lights to cheese burgers and radio. Discover the inventors, dates, and stories behind these innovations that shaped the modern era.
Jul 1, 2014 · Learn about the inventions that shaped America in the 1920s, such as the electric iron, washing machine, radio, vacuum cleaner, automobile, refrigerator, and more. See the timeline of inventions from 1905 to 1928 and the inventors behind them.
- Eskimo Pie (1920) Inventor: Christian Nelson. The popular Eskimo Pie ice cream was first manufactured by Christian Nelson in 1920, a chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream wrapped in a foil.
- Jungle Gym (1920) Inventor: Sebastian Hinton. Sebastian Hinton, a lawyer from Chicago, invented the first jungle gym in the year 1920. It was very popular amongst kids.
- Radio/TV Transmission (1920) Inventor: Ernst Alexanderson. Before 1920, radio transmission consisted of a series of dots and dashes, transmitted by inefficient machines.
- Traffic Lights (1920) Inventor: William Potts. William Potts, a police officer from Detroit, Michigan, invented the traffic lights. He made his invention by using red, green and amber lights, and wire.
- Eskimo Pie (1920): Sweet Innovation. In 1920, Christian Nelson introduced a delectable innovation to the world—the Eskimo Pie. This beloved ice cream treat featured a novel combination of chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream wrapped in foil, providing a delightful solution for those torn between the choices of chocolate and ice cream.
- Band-Aid (1920): Healing Innovation. In 1920, Earle Dickson, an employee at Johnson & Johnson, introduced a revolutionary solution for tending to small injuries—Band-Aid.
- Tilt-A-Whirl (1926): Spinning Fun and Nausea. In 1926, the Tilt-A-Whirl, a thrilling amusement park ride, made its debut at a park in Minnesota. The brainchild of inventor Herbert Sellner, who dedicated years to its construction, the Tilt-A-Whirl quickly captivated audiences with its unique spinning motion.
- Garbage Disposal (1927): A Clever Culinary Solution. In 1927, John W. Hammes envisioned and laid the foundation for the world’s first garbage disposal.
- The Electric Automatic Traffic Signal. Garret Morgan is credited with inventing the first electric automatic traffic signal in 1923. Although other types of traffic signals were in use since 1868, Morgan’s design used a T-shaped pole and had three positions.
- Quick-Frozen Food. Can you imagine not having a pack of frozen peas in the freezer just when you need it? Or how about a frozen pizza for when a craving hits?
- The Band-Aid® Earle Dickson, a Johnson and Johnson employee, created the first adhesive bandage for small wounds in 1920. Dickson invented the special bandage for his wife, Josephine, who seemed to cut and burn herself regularly while cooking.
- Water Skis. In 1922, Ralph Samuelson created a new sport—water skiing! It quickly became a favorite summer pastime. Samuelson first used a pair of boards as skis and a clothesline as a towrope.
During the 1920s, ideas and inventions on which scientists and engineers had been working for years came out of the developmental stage and entered people's lives for the first time. For instance, the automobile became a fixture of everyday American life.
The 1920s saw a healthy amount of scientific advancements as well as innovation in the commercial sector. Take a look at 11 of the most influential inventions from that decade.
