Invention Timeline – David M. Smith, American Inventor; Patented “Awls on the Haft”
b, ? 1809 and d. November 10, 1881
American inventor. In 1832 he patented “awls on the haft.” The awl-haft as made by him was similar to the Aiken awl. In 1849 he patented a combination lock and improved the first lathe dog. He invented a peg-splitting machine, two sewing-machines and a patent clothes-pin. In 1860 he devised machinery to make spring hooks and eyes. He received letters patent for sixty inventions, including one for folding newspapers.
The wise ones tells us that it is intellect that has
done it. And all honor to intellect! It is not I, nor you,
fellow-workers, who will attempt to rob the royal power
of intellect of one iota of his renown. Intellect is
also a glorious gift of the Divinity, a divine principle
on the earth. We set intellect at the head of labor, and
bid it lead the way to all wonders and discoveries; but
know that intellect cannot go alone. Intellect cannot
separate itself from labor.
—The True Dignity of Labor: William Howitt
1563—The manufacture of pins was begun in England.
1695—John Lofting, from Holland, established the manufacture of thimbles at Islington, London.
1790—Thomas Saint patented a machine for sewing boots and shoes.
1816—Odion invented a machine for making cut nails.
1841—Walter Hunt invented a double reciprocating nail engine which cut 600 ten-penny nails a minute.
