What would our lives look like without inventors? These individuals are the drivers of progress, their innovative and unique perspectives generate fresh technologies and simplify our lives. Typically, inventors exhibit an eccentric nature, differing from mainstream thought processes. Rather than focusing on the present, their minds often wander, contemplating improvements to existing tech or considering new methods of accomplishing tasks. This eccentricity, while beneficial for the inventing and creative process, can sometimes result in peculiar repercussions. These effects can range from being hilariously entertaining to downright horrifying. You are about to discover some of the oddest, wildest, and greatest minds that have ever existed, responsible for innovative technologies like the computer, tablet, or phone you are currently using. Each generation builds upon the discoveries and revelations of its predecessor, shaping the world we inhabit today.
These are 25 Quirky Stories About Inventors And Their Inventions!
Featured Image: wikipedia
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Robert Chesebrough, the inventor of Vaseline, ate one spoonful every day
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 24
Nobody knows who invented the fire hydrant because the patent was lost in a fire
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 23
Clara Lazen, a 10 year old from Kansas City, accidentally discovered a new molecule during science class (tetranitratoxycarbon)
Source: popsci.com, Image: wikipedia 22
Modern credit cards were invented by Frank X McNamara when he was supposed to pay for a dinner but forgot to bring cash
Source: about.com, Image: wikipedia 21
Charles Richter, the man who invented the Richter scale for measuring earthquakes, was a nudist
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 20
Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, and Thomas Edison have something surprising in common - none of them have a college degree!
Source: huffintonpost.com, Image: wikipedia 19
Adolf Hitler considered Henry Ford an inspiration and even kept a photo of him on his desk
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 18
In 1903, Thomas Edison electrocuted an elephant to show that Tesla's AC current was dangerous
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 17
Leo Fender, the man who invented two of the most famous guitar models in history (Stratocaster and Telecaster) never learned to play guitar
Source: fender.com, Image: wikipedia 16
The man who invented diesel engines, Rudolph Diesel, killed himself in 1913 because he thought his invention had failed
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 15
Mikhail Kalashnikov, inventor of the AK-47 recently quoted, "I'm proud of my invention, but I'm sad that it is used by terrorists". The former Soviet officer later said that he wished he had invented something more benign, like a lawnmower
Source: theguardian.com, Image: wikipedia 14
Kalashnikov's comment is reminiscent of Einstein's statement after seeing the destruction of the nuclear bomb ("If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker")
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 13
Tea bags were invented by accident. In 1904, Thomas Sullivan thought it would be better to send tea samples to customers in small silk bags rather than in boxes. Customers thought they were meant to be dunked in water and soon Thomas was inundated with requests for his "dunking bags"
Source: tea.co.uk, Image: wikipedia 12
Richard Gatling, a doctor during the American Civil War noticed that most soldiers died of disease and not bullets. He is famous for saying "if I could invent a machine – a gun – which could by its rapidity of fire, enable one man to do as much battle duty as a hundred, that it would, to a large extent supersede the necessity of large armies, and consequently, exposure to battle and disease would be greatly diminished". He went on to develop the Gatling Gun, which was the world's first machine gun.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 11
When Peter M. Roberts invented the quick-release ratchet as a teenager, he came to Sears and the company offered him $10,000 for the patent saying it had no value. Sears went on to make nearly $50 million off of quick-release wrenches.
Source: latimes, Image: wikipedia 10
Edwin Armstrong, inventor of FM radio, was bullied by numerous powerful AM radio supporters (NBC and AT&T) until he committed suicide in 1954 thinking that FM radio was a failure
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 9
Ruth Wakefield, the inventor of chocolate chip cookies, sold her invention to Nestle in return for a lifetime supply of chocolate
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 8
When Anders Celsius proposed the Celsius temperature scale, he initially put the freezing point at 100 degrees and the boiling point at 0 degrees. One of his colleagues, Carl Linnaeus, waited until Anders's death to switch the scale around which facilitated more practical measurements
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 7
James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, is the only coach in University of Kansas history to have a losing career
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 6
The upside down ketchup bottle earned its inventor, Paul Brown, $13 million
Source: seattletimes.com, Image: wikipedia 5
After Thomas Jefferson invented the swivel chair, he sat on one while writing the Declaration of Independence
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 4
B. F. Skinner, an American psychologist, once invented a temperature controlled crib. He called it the "heir conditioner".
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 3
Gunpei Yokoi, the inventor of GameBoy, was working as a maintenance man at a Nintendo factory when he impressed the CEO with a toy he had created while the CEO happened to be passing by one day. His career quickly changed directions
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 2
When Volvo introduced the three point seat belt, it gave all other car manufacturers a free license to use it. Today, the company can proudly say that "there is a little bit of Volvo in every car".
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 1
Whoopee cushions were first invented by Elagabalus, a 14 year old Roman Emperor and he would often use his invention on guests. He was assassinated at the age of 18
Source: focreviews.blogspot.com, Image: wikipedia 
