I visited the Spirit of Invention exhibition at The National Archives, partly to get inspiration for my RBC Inventor badge, but also because I was interested in seeing the wacky Victorian inventions on display, alongside intriguing modern creations.
Innovation was rife during the nineteenth century, thanks to a combination of industrialisation, economic prosperity and societal change. In 1843, the Utility Designs Act made the process of protecting an idea much simpler and cheaper, so ordinary people were keener to get involved with inventing.
One of the most interesting and potentially useful inventions was the combined knife & fork by Messrs Arnold & Son. By making it easier to eat a meal with only one hand, it helped those with certain disabilities. John Mechi and Charles Bazin created the United Service Travelling Case, which even now looks handy for taking on holiday.
The modern inventions explored in the exhibition are no less intriguing. For example, the Soul Cap is a swimming cap designed to accommodate particularly thick and full hair. It is designed for those with afro hair, ensuring that Black people can also protect their hair while in the pool. The ‘Hero Arm’ is a prosthetic arm with transferable covers, so wearers can use an arm designed to look like Iron Man or other superheroes.
The exhibition was great fun and gave me plenty ofinspiration for the badge!
