Older Than You Think

When was the last time you stopped to think about when something was actually created? From your phone to your computer, these inventions have been around for longer than we give them credit for. But to really surprise you, today we're going to date back an entire hundred years. You'd be surprised by how many everyday items you use now were made back then - here's 20 to get started with!

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1. Air Conditioners

Though we now live in a world where we can hardly imagine going through summer without a/c machines, these life-changing devices have been around longer than you might think. In fact, they were first invented back in 1902 by Willis Haviland Carrier, who forever changed our idea of comfort. The models we see today are obviously far more advanced than those from 100 years ago, but Carrier's manufactured ability to control humidity and temperature was truly impressive. 

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2. Hair Dryers

We might have fancy handheld models these days that can accomplish more than just drying your hair, but let's be honest, we all just care about its main function. And the original invention, which was first released in 1888 by Alexandre-Ferdinand Godefroy, did just that! Though it was a massive contraption that wasn't nearly as portable or easy-to-use as today, it was a huge step forward in hair care. 

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3. Robots

Robots have always been considered a futuristic idea, and while it wasn't a physical invention, the first use of the word dates back a shocking 100 years ago. In 1920, a Czech playwright named Karel Čapek was the first to ever describe artificial beings as robots, leading us to where we are now in developing artificial intelligence. Though it was just a creative idea, the play, "R.U.R" is still considered very significant.

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4. Vacuums

Making all of our lives easier, vacuums are the greatest gift that mankind could have ever asked for when it came to clean living. And while these cleaning devices don't feel like the newest inventions around, they have been around for longer than most expect. First created back in 1901 by Hubert Cecil Booth, he even gave it a funny nickname, "Puffing Billy."

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5. Hearing Aids

Isn't it hard to believe that something as groundbreaking as hearing aids was first invented as far back as 1898? Thanks to the brilliant mind of Miller Reese Hutchison, the first electric hearing aid called the Akouphone lead us down a path to help millions of hearing impaired individuals today. Hutchison may have created it for his deaf friend, but his invention became so much more than that. 

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6. Airplanes

An iconic invention created by iconic brothers, most of the world already knows about the Wright brothers and their role in the development of flight. The world has never been the same since 1903, and it's quite difficult wrapping our heads around how such a technological feat was accomplished so long ago. While others before them made many attempts, the Wright brothers are credited with the first to control and maintain flight.

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7. Colored Photographs

Most people think back 100 years and likely just see it as black and white, but that isn't the case! In fact, the first colored photo came out during a time you probably didn't think was possible. In 1861, Thomas Sutton took the world's first practical color photograph which was of a tartan ribbon. The idea of the three-color method was first hypothesized by James Clerk Maxwell six years prior, but it was Sutton who brought it to reality. 

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8. Lie Detectors

An object that feels like it came from straight out of a modern movie, lie detectors (polygraphs) may seem like new tech but they're actually much older than you are. Created by John Augustus Larson in 1921, the idea was to use peoples' changes in blood pressure and heart rate to determine if they were telling the truth or not. 

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9. Teddy Bears

Your cuddly best friend from your childhood has actually been around the block for quite some time. You likely have never thought about who and when teddy bears were invented, but would you have guessed they date back to 1903? Believed to have been first developed by Morris Michtom, this adorable kids toy actually got its name modeled after the president at the time, Theodore Roosevelt.

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10. Escalators

The perfect mix between elevator and stair, the escalator is a brilliant invention that improved the convenience of people on the go. Although the first concept of an escalator was patented by Nathan Ames in 1859, it wasn't until 1892 that his vision came to life. Jesse W. Reno managed to build the first working escalator, called the inclined elevator, which would continue to be improved for years to come. 

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11. Crayons

Those satisfying coloring tools you used as a kid? Turns out, many kids before you used them too. Invented way back in 1903 by Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith, these two men helped unleash creativity in a safe and beautiful manner with crayons of varying colors. That was when the art giant we know now today as Crayola, was born.

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12. Teabags

You likely don't think twice about teabags before dunking them in steaming hot water to create the perfect cup of tea, but did you know these were patented way back in the early 1900s by Roberta Lawson and Mary McLaren? The initial designs were even made with hand-sewn fabrics, some even with silk!

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13. Cellophane

Forever changing the way we package things, can you imagine just how differently things would look if cellophane wasn't invented? But thanks to Jacques Brandenberger in 1908, over 100 years ago, the packaging industry was changed forever. It's such a simple product yet so life-changing. 

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14. Tractors

We don't know how farmers used to work without tractors, but before 1892, we can't imagine it was all that easy. Although steam-powered versions had been around for a few decades already, it wasn't until 1892 that John Froelich developed the first gasoline-powered one. Although technology has advanced even further so diesel and electric engines are the most popular options now, we can't deny the impact these initial creations had on where we are today. 

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15. Crossword Puzzles

These fun brain teasers might be a part of your weekend routine, but they were first created over a century ago. And if you're a huge fan of these puzzles, you owe it all to journalist Arthur Wynne in 1913, who is credited with developing the first one (which was funnily called the "Word-Cross" Puzzle).

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16. Band-Aids

You probably reach for a band-aid without much thinking whenever you hurt yourself with a little cut or scrape, but this seemingly modern brand has actually been around for a century. Invented by Earle Dickson, this Johnson & Johnson worker created these medical products in 1920. The idea actually came from wanting to help his wife who was always accidentally injuring herself in the kitchen. 

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17. Frozen Food

While most of the popular brands of frozen food we enjoy today weren't around 100 years ago, the method of freezing was. Which is rather surprising given that a century ago seems like it would be a completely different time from how we are now! But it was Clarence Birdseye who cracked the code in 1924 that allowed for quick-freezing. Your favorite frozen pizzas and ice creams? You owe it all to him. 

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18. Life Savers Candy

This tasty, sweet, and fruity hard candy isn't just a sweet enjoyed by people of this generation, it's been eaten throughout the last century! Life Savers candy was shockingly invented in 1912 by Clarence Crane. The first flavor ever made was "Pep-O-Mint," and since then, they've explored many other flavors all featuring that iconic shape. 

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19. 3D Movies

3D movies have been around for a while, but even now, they seem like futuristic advancements in film that belong to this decade. That's why you may be shocked to learn that the first 3D film dates actually as far back as 1922! The first to ever be released to the public was The Power of Love, and though this style of movie didn't gain traction for many years after, it finally started to pick up later in the '50s.

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20. Corn Flakes

You're probably used to seeing corn flakes in the cereal aisle whenever you go to the grocery store, but just because you're familiar with it doesn't make it a recent invention. In fact, this popular cereal has been around since 1894, created by, you guessed it, John Harvey Kellogg! 

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