A History of Gadgets and Gizmos

From 1935 electrical devices were discovered at an increasing rate. Some of the highlights include:

• 1935 The orange sodium vapour lamp commonly used in street lighting was invented. Hearing aids which ran from batteries, rather than aids with large horns attached, were used for the first time.
• 1936 The upright Hoover vacuum cleaner was released. The first fluorescent tube was produced. The first thermostatically controlled iron went on sale.
• 1937 The first photocopier was demonstrated.
• 1938 Thermostats were first used in ovens.
• 1939 The first studies on solar houses were made. Hand-held electric slicing knives introduced.
• 1940 The isotope of Uranium, U-235, used in nuclear reactors was isolated for the first time. The first gas powered station for generating electricity was opened in Switzerland.
• 1941 The first windmill connected to an electrical grid system came into operation.
• 1942 The first controlled, self-sustaining nuclear reaction occurred.
• 1943 The first operational nuclear reactor was built.
• 1944 The first automatic, digital computer went into operation. The first searches for oil took place.
• 1945 Enormous oil reserves discovered in Saudi Arabia.
• 1946 First car telephones used. The rotary clothes hoist invented in Australia.
• 1947 Use of Xenon in lighthouses. First microwave ovens produced.
• 1948 The Polaroid camera was developed.
• 1949 RCA developed the first 45 rpm record.
• 1950 The first radio-paging service was started. The first nuclear accident occurred in Canada.

After 1950 there were many more developments and discoveries in electrical devices. If you want to know more use your library and the Internet. You can visit the energymuseum at www.energymuseum.com.au