Great Inventors And Their Inventions

by Frank Puterbaugh Bachman

Twelve stories of great inventions, grouped under inventions of steam and electric power, inventions of manufacture and production, and in ventions of printing and communication. The final chapter introduces the famous inventors of the early twentieth century. The story of each invention is interwoven with that of the life of its inventor. Through these stories the reader learns how big things are brought about, and on the traits of mind and heart which make for success. Suitable for ages 10 and up.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Science, School

214 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1918

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains illustrations and an index. This book tells us the stories of men who worked very hard to find a way to get a job done easier, quicker, and safer. The author tells us about some of the others also working towards those ends, and perhaps why these particular men succeeded where others failed or gave up. Overall, the reader revisits some of the milestones of what has brought civilization from the fifteenth century to modernity. Through the individual stories, the common thread is hard work for which there was no guarantee of pay or success. Each inventor seemed almost driven to bring about their invention, exhausting their time and their resources. Perhaps many of these inventions have now faded into obscurity, but they were very important for a long period of time. Another common thread is the idea of the new invention perhaps being difficult to take hold, especially if workers felt threatened that a machine would take their work away from them. For this reason, sometimes the inventions had to be hidden and protected so that they wouldn't be destroyed. In other instances, the paper work for the patents had to be filed or else someone else could steal the idea with no legal recourse. Even then, legal battles were often difficult and exhausted more resources.

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homeschool book

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a school year read and it was fascinating. G was getting things better than I was at first. I had to check with my dad on a couple of mechanical things to see if what G was comparing things to were correct, and they were. Some of it felt truly over my head but I was thankful for the precise telling of how these inventions and inventors worked. I finally think I understand how wireless things work but it still amazes me.

One thought that struck me again and again was how much effort some of these men put into trial and error at great expense to further technology in the world and how different our world would be if there tenacity was any less. I think that is less of a quality in some inventors today because of Edison's reasonings and I think it has both plus and minuses. Thankful to deep-dive into this world. Several have made me want to learn more about them. G LOVED the book.

[Iami Menotu · Rating 2 out of 5]

A concise overview of technological inventors and inventions.

[Treva · Rating 5 out of 5]

John loved this and we found it fascinating.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this for Ambleside Online Year 5. At first we really didn’t like it but by the end of term 2, it has become one of our favorite texts this year. We thoroughly enjoyed learning all the intricacies of inventions that have made the modern world what it is as well as the stories of the inventors who invented them.