Directory
Who Invented It? Everyday Things A to Z
Everyday things all have a first chapter. This directory lists the inventors and dates behind objects we use without thinking, with links to the full OG stories.
Many inventions had several contributors, so the names here are the ones most widely credited, with nuance on each page.
A zipper on jeans: see file page, CC BY-SA 3.0
| Thing | When | Credited to |
|---|---|---|
| Barcode | 1952 patent | Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver |
| Blue jeans (riveted) | 1873 patent | Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss |
| Cassette tape | 1963 | Philips (Lou Ottens' team) |
| Chuck Taylor All Star | 1917 | Converse |
| Crayola crayons | 1903 | Binney and Smith |
| Frisbee | 1948 / 1958 | Fred Morrison; Wham-O |
| Game Boy | 1989 | Nintendo, Gunpei Yokoi's team |
| Handheld cell phone call | 1973 | Martin Cooper, Motorola |
| Hot Wheels | 1968 | Mattel |
| Ice cream cone (mould patent) | 1903 | Italo Marchiony |
| Instant camera | 1948 | Edwin Land, Polaroid |
| Light bulb (long-lasting) | 1879 to 1880 | Joseph Swan; Thomas Edison |
| Pencil (graphite and clay) | 1795 | Nicolas-Jacques Conte |
| Post-it Note | 1968 to 1980 | Spencer Silver and Art Fry, 3M |
| Rubik's Cube | 1974 | Erno Rubik |
| Sliced bread | 1928 | Otto Frederick Rohwedder |
| Sony Walkman | 1979 | Sony |
| Toothbrush (mass-produced) | About 1780 | William Addis |
| TV remote (wireless) | 1955 | Eugene Polley, Zenith |
| Typewriter (commercial) | 1868 patent, sold 1874 | Christopher Latham Sholes and partners |
| Velcro | 1940s to 1950s | George de Mestral |
| Zipper (modern) | 1917 patent | Gideon Sundback |
Read the stories
1868 patent, sold 1874
Typewriter (commercial)
Credited to Christopher Latham Sholes and partners.
Shop
The Original General collection
Tees and hoodies in the Original General colors, printed to order in the USA. Use code VIP15 from the newsletter for 15% off your first order.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources (updated Oct 12, 2026). Spot an error? Email hello@fireempireshop.com.