Tag Archives: Invention

Talcum Powder

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Talcum Powder

Silky smooth talcum powder…

  • Talcum powder, also known as ‘talc’ or ‘talc powder’, is a personal hygiene item often used to prevent rashes, and the powder is typically used in baby powder and other cosmetic powders.
  • Talcum powder is typically ground talc, a mineral that has many uses, including use in some food products, chalks and lubricants, as well as some paper making processes.
  • The talc in talcum powder is found in soapstone and other rocks, and is the softest mineral ever.
  • To make talcum powder, talc is extracted from mines, ground, made pure and processed.
  • Talcum powder is used to absorb moisture on the body, so it is useful in infant care and in hot and humid climates to prevent chafing and rashes.

Talcum powder, white, cosmetics, talc, mineral, ground, baby powder, Ten Random Facts,

  • Talcum powder is generally soft, fine-grained, white, grey or pale green in colour, and has a pleasant smell often due to the perfume that is sometimes added.
  • With excessive exposure, it is said that talcum powder can cause cancer in some people, although this is strongly debated, and through inhalation of the powder, there is a small chance of lung damage.
  • Talcum powder can be substituted with cornstarch, which can be bought in the food section at retailers.
  • Talcum powder has been used to prevent the squeakiness of floorboards.
  • Talcum powder was first made into a baby powder to help with nappy rash in 1893, by Johnson & Johnson, and the powder was available to the public in 1894.
Bibliography:
Talcum Powder, 2013, The Facts About, http://www.thefactsabout.co.uk/content.asp?menuid=23&submenuid=100&pageid=100&menuname=Talcum+powder&menu=sub
What is Talcum Powder?, 2013, WiseGEEK, http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-talcum-powder.htm

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Shovel

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Shovel

Shovel all day long.

  • Shovels are tools that are primarily used to move or dig substances such as dirt or sand.
  • Shovels are basically a long rod, sometimes with a handle, with a somewhat flat scoop on the end.
  • Shovels are commonly used in landscaping, building or farming.
  • Shovels are typically made of steel or tough plastic, with a fibreglass or wooden handle.
  • Throughout history, animal bones, particularly the shoulder blade, have been used like a shovel.

Shovel

  • In the 1900s, advancements in machinery started to replace shovels.
  • In 1967, a wooden shovel from approximately 2000 BC was discovered in Turkey.
  • There are many types of shovels; some are used to pry open items, dig holes, and scoop away snow or coal.
  • Shovels range in size and shape; some are square, while others are small, and some have sharp blades.
  • Some shovels are designed to collapse and be easily stored, and are often used by the military or campers.
Bibliography:
A History of the Shovel, 2009, Landscape and Garden Tools, http://landscapeandgardentools.blogspot.com.au/2009/11/history-of-shovel.html
Shovel, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shovel

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Kendama

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Kendama

Flick up the kendama ball and catch it on the stick.

  • A kendama is a traditional Japanese toy, typically made of wood.
  • Kendama are historically hammer-shaped with a spike, and have a ball attached with string.
  • Kendama have four main parts: ‘ken’ (stick or handle), ‘crosspiece’ (cup body), ‘string’, and ‘ball’ , and the toy usually has three different cup sizes to balance the ball on.
  • The aim of a kendama is to get the ball onto the spike or catch it on one of the sides of the hammer.
  • A ‘kendama’ is also known as ‘ring and pin’, and it is similar to the European cup-and-ball toy.

Kendama, Toy, Japanese, Traditional, Two, Mini, Wooden, Small, Anatomy, Ten Random Facts

  • Kendama are particularly common in Japan, where trick competitions are held.
  • While some people think that the kendama toy originated in Japan, it possibly came to the country by trade in the 1770s from the French, who had a similar toy named a ‘bilboquet’, to which the Japanese made some modifications.
  • The modern kendama was patented by Japanese Hamaji Egusa in 1920 and the official competition design came from the 1970s.
  • The string on a kendama is typically between 35 to 45 centimetres (1.1 to 1.5 feet) in length; a longer string makes it harder to complete the aim.
  • The grip and stance of kendama change the performance, with specific recognised standards of each.

 

Bibliography:
Kendama, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendama
Kendama, n.d, Kids Web Japan, http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/kendama/kendama01.html

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Vegetable Peeler

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Vegetable Peeler

What would you do without a vegetable peeler?

  • ‘Vegetable peelers’ are also known as ‘potato peelers’ and ‘peelers’.
  • Vegetable peelers are a kitchen utensil, typically used to peel the skin off fruit and vegetables.
  • A vegetable peeler is typically a steel blade with a handle, that is usually made from wood, steel or plastic, some of which have ergonomic features.
  • The handles of vegetable peelers generally are straight, ‘C-shaped’,  ‘U-shaped’ or ‘Y-shaped’, with the straight peeler more like a knife, the C-shaped is like the letter C with a handle, the Y-shaped like a safety razor, and the U-shaped similar but shaped like a ‘U’ rather than a ‘Y’.
  • A vegetable peeler blade usually has a slot, that has one side that is sharp to peel the food, and the other side stops the blade digging into the food as you peel it.

Vegetable Peeler, Potato, Y-Shaped, Swivel, Stick, Long, Blade, Blunt, Steel, Plastic, Green, Yellow, Blue, Ten Random Facts

  • Vegetable peelers have been reinvented hundreds of times in history with numerous patents taken out for various styles, and in the 1800s alone, 500 peeler inventions were patented.
  • Some industrial vegetable peelers have rubber bumps that peel the skin off potatoes or other round foods.
  • Most vegetable peelers have a sharp point or other feature to remove the eyes from potatoes or gouge out other unwanted parts of the food.
  • Many vegetable peelers has a swivel blade, which allows more flexibility for following the curves of the food, making it easier to use.
  • Blunt vegetable peeler blades are more dangerous as they slip easier than sharp blades.
Bibliography:
How do I choose the best vegetable peeler?, 2013, WiseGEEK, http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-choose-the-best-vegetable-peeler.htm
Peeler, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peeler

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Stuffed Toy

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Stuffed Toy

Cuddle up with your stuffed toy.

  • Stuffed toys are toys that are made of fabric and are stuffed with a type of stuffing material.
  • ‘Stuffed toys’ are also known as ‘stuffed animals’, ‘plushies’, ‘plush toys’, ‘soft toys’, ‘softies’ and ‘cuddle toys’.
  • Over the years, stuffed toys have been stuffed with fibre, wool, plastic pellets, beans, cotton, batting and straw.
  • Stuffed toys are often made into the shape of an animal or other objects.
  • Stuffed toys are commonly used for comfort, or given on special occasions, sometimes to express one’s feelings of love.

Stuffed Toy, Beige Monkey, Green Teddy Bear, Plushie, White bear, Brown kangaroo, mulitcoloured dolphin, seahorse, Ten Random Facts

  • In 1880, Steiff, a German company started by Margarete Steiff, was the first commercial company to produce stuffed toys.
  • The first patented stuffed toy was a rabbit from Beatrix Potter’s stories, Peter Rabbit.
  • Stuffed toys have their origins in stuffed dead animals and home made rag dolls from the 1830s, and once teddy bears were created in 1902, they became increasingly popular.
  • Some antique stuffed toys, notably, late 1800 and early 1900 Steiff toys, have been sold for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
  • Electronics and mechanics are sometimes placed inside stuffed toys to allow sound and movement.

 

Bibliography:
Learn about the History of Plush Toys and Stuffed Animals, Purr-fect gifts, http://www.purr-fectgifts.com/history/
Stuffed Toy, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuffed_toy

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Mario Franchise

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Mario Franchise

“It’s-a me, Mario!” – Mario from the Mario franchise.

  • The Mario franchise is the most popular video game franchise ever, and is produced by Nintendo, featuring the main hero, Mario.
  • The main series from the Mario franchise is Super Mario (from 1985), which involves the player to venture through the setting, ‘Mushroom Kingdom’.
  • There are more than 200 games that are based or derived from the Mario franchise, and together the number of copies sold is over 865 million.
  • Spin-offs of the Mario franchise include Mario Party (from 1999) and Mario Kart (from 1992), which are some of the longest running series.
  • The first release in the Mario franchise was Donkey Kong in 1981, designed by Shigeru Miyamoto, involving the player known as ‘Jumpman’ (later known as Mario) to jump over objects and save ‘Lady’.

Mario Franchise. Games, Nintendo 64, Wii, New Super Marios Bros Wii, Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 OLympic Games, Mario Party 8, Mario Tennis, Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64

  • Hudson Soft, another video game publisher, has been responsible for producing some of the Mario franchise games, including Mario Party until 2012.
  • The Mario franchise has released anime, comics, an unsuccessful film, and manga as well as general items such as shirts or pens.
  • The Mario franchise is mainly a platform genre, but other games in sport, racing, puzzle, party and role-play have also been published.
  • The common logo of the Mario franchise features a red ‘M’, on a white circle, which is in a red square, and is usually featured on the character Mario’s hat.
  • The first 3D game of the Mario franchise was Super Mario 64, featuring a camera that follows the path of Mario, for the Nintendo 64 console.
Bibliography:
Mario Franchise, 2013, Giant Bomb, http://www.giantbomb.com/mario/3025-1/
Mario (Franchise), 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_(franchise)

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