7 Things Invented or Popularized by Thomas Jefferson

INNOVATION

BY TREVOR ENGLISH

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INNOVATION

1. Dumbwaiter:

Jefferson had five dumbwaiters in his dining area, including a particular model that was described as a spring-loaded turning shelf between the kitchen and dining room.  

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Monticello

2. Revolving bookstand:

He essentially developed a turntable that held books on adjustable stands. It had five individual stands for the books and the user could swivel it to read a new passage.

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INNOVATION

3. The great clock: 

The seven-day clock is mounted in the Entrance Hall of Monticello and has a second, exterior face on the east front of the house, which has only an hour hand.

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INNOVATION

4. Wheel cipher: 
The wheel cipher was a helpful tool devised by Jefferson for encoding messages with ease. It was described as a small circular device that had 36 wooden disks on a spindle. 

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5. Polygraph:

Jefferson first acquired a polygraph in 1804 and called it "the finest invention of the present age.

INNOVATION

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INNOVATION

6. Macaroni machine:

It was a board with different holes spread about it that would produce small curved, hollow macaroni noodles as a crank was turned.


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INNOVATION

7. Pedometer:

Jefferson's contribution to the history of the pedometer may have involved improving on then-current designs and taking learnings from existing devices.

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INNOVATION

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