This month in History – April

1973    Francis W. Dorion was granted patent #3,724,070 for a “dual razor blade assembly”.
1978    Francisco Garcia was granted patent #4,081,909 for “orthodontic pliers”.
1881    Houston and Thomson were granted a patent for a centrifugal separator – the creamer.
1869    Isaac Hodgson received patent #88,711 for the “roller skate”.
1896    Tolbert Lanston was issued a patent for the monotype printing press.
1849    Walter Hunt patented the first safety pin.
1893    Frederic Ives patented the process for half-tone printing press.
1988    Leder and Stewart on behalf of Harvard University were issued the first patent #4,736,866 for a new   animal life form – a genetically altered mouse.
1990    “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” movie was copyrighted.
1939    John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” was copyrighted.
1775    American Revolution begins.
1897    Simon Lake was granted a patent for an even keel submarine.
1857    Albert Douglas patented a ladies bustle.
1931    Ester Kiefer received a patent for ornamental paper.
1907    “Anchors Aweigh” the march and two-step by Chas. A. Zimmerman was copyrighted.
1881    Frederick Allen patented a life raft.
1892    Sarah Boone patented an ironing board.
1920    Elijah McCoy received a patent for an air brake pump lubricator.
1908    Leonard Dyer obtained a patent for an automobile transmission.