The Top 10: Accidental Inventions

From cornflakes to the Jacuzzi, new products discovered by people looking for something else

Candido Jacuzzi invented the Jacuzzi whirlpool bath as therapy for his 15-month-old son, who was born with rheumatoid arthritis (Getty/iStock)

This was proposed by Josh Blacker several years ago, but sometimes the wheels of the trivia list machine turn exceedingly slowly. He suggested Post-It Notes, which came about when 3M (originally the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company) was trying to invent a new strong glue. Here are 10 more.

1. Cornflakes, 1894. Will and John Kellogg, Seventh-day Adventists, experimented with producing vegetarian food in 1894. Having allowed some wheat to go stale, they tried rolling it flat and baking it. It was popular, and they tried it with maize, which was even better. Nominated by Paul A Davies.

2. Cellophane, 1900. Jacques Brandenberger, a Swiss chemist, was trying to make a waterproof tablecloth and sprayed a coating onto fabric. This was too stiff but the coating peeled off and he had a new idea. Thanks to Graham Sutton.

3. Penicillin, 1928. Suggested by Lesley Smith, Andrew Denny and Harris. Arthur Jarman wrote to say: “‏My mother’s brother, Merlin Pryce, found the petri dish where a mould had killed the bacteria. He drew Alexander Fleming’s attention to it. The spore is thought to have come in through an open window in the lab. Pryce became Professor of Pathology at Saint Mary’s Hospital, Paddington.” An appeal to the High Court of Pedantry from Rob Hutton that this was a discovery not an invention was dismissed. All inventions are discoveries.

4. Antabuse, or disulfiram, 1937. Used to vulcanise rubber, making it more durable. A factory doctor in the US noted it made workers feel sick if they drank, so it was developed as a treatment for alcoholism. Thanks to Alan Robertson.

5. Teflon, 1938. “Contrary to popular belief it had nothing to do with the US space programme,” said Alan Beattie. Polytetrafluoroethylene was discovered by Roy Plunkett while trying to make a new refrigerant. The gas in a pressure bottle seemed to disappear. He found when he sawed the bottle in half its interior was coated with a waxy white, slippery material.

6. Slinky, 1943. Invented by Richard James, a naval engineer, when he dropped a loose spring he was using to stabilise instruments aboard ships and watched it “walk”. After it became a bestselling toy, his wife filed for divorce and he slunk off to become an evangelical missionary in Bolivia. Thanks to Lee “Budgie” Barnett and David McClure.

7. Microwave oven, 1945. The heating effect of a high-power microwave beam was discovered by Percy Spencer, an American self-taught engineer. Employed by Raytheon at the time, he noticed that microwaves from an active radar set he was working on started to melt a chocolate bar in his pocket. Another from Paul A Davies.

8. WD-40, 1953. “Water Displacement, 40th formula.” Developed, presumably after 39 attempts, by the Rocket Chemical Company in San Diego to keep moisture from rusting the outer skin of the Atlas missile. Thanks to Nigel Moore.

9. Liquid Paper, 1953. Invented by Bette Nesmith Graham, mother of Mike Nesmith of the Monkees. She was an artist and thought of bottling white paint to correct typing mistakes. Nominated by Simon Fanshawe, Alun Price and Andrew Stuttaford.

10. Jacuzzi, 1963. Candido Jacuzzi invented the Jacuzzi whirlpool bath as therapy for his 15-month-old son, who was born with rheumatoid arthritis. Nominated by Allan Holloway.

There is always one: Will Gore, who nominated the Liberal Democrats. Sometimes, there are two: Patrick Kidd, who suggested Prime Minister Jeremy Corbyn.

Lots of good nominations this week.

Next week: Ridiculous populisms, or “peoplesisms”, after the Morning Star called for a “People’s Boycott” of the European elections.

Coming soon: Songs about rain by Scottish bands, such as “Happy When It Rains”, by Jesus and Mary Chain.

Your suggestions please, and ideas for future Top 10s, to me on Twitter, or by email to top10@independent.co.uk