I am named after my great-grandfather, Harris (Tzvee) Epstein, aka, Epstein the Inventor, who lived in New York City and Spring Valley. I probably inherited my technical curiosity from him.
He was the inventor and patent holder of many practical items, a folding umbrella, an extension ladder, a double sided toothbrush, a vegetable grater and more.
Here are of his patents with their links from Google Patent search: FOLDING UMBRELLA Patent number: 1666692 Filing date: Jan 29, 1927 Issue date: Apr 17, 1928
SIGNALING APPARATUS US Pat. 1060898 - H. EPSTEIN. SIGNALING APPARATUS, APPLICATION PILED JAN. 26, 19.11. Patented May 6,1913.
EXTENSION LADDER US Pat. 949529 - Filed Feb 10, 1909
VEGETABLE GRATER US Pat. 1799963 - Filed Apr 4, 1930... UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRIS EPSTEIN, OF ROCKAWAY BEACH, NEW YORK VEGETABLE GRATER
GAS-CONTROLLING DEVICE US Pat. 968457 - Filed Jan 11, 1910
TOOTH BRUSH Patent number: 1111144 Filing date: Oct 4, 1913 Issue date: Sep 22, 1914
Papa Epstein, as he was called by his grandchildren, sure would have liked the age of the personal computer and the Internet, especially the iPad and smart phone.
[Augmented repost from 12/17/06]
Feb. 6, 2007
ReplyDeleteIt was a great pleasant surprise and inspiration when we were, how would you put it, blogging along? and we came across items invented by Harris Epstein. Thanks to you for alerting the entire universe to the inventive genius of a modest thinker in the 20th century who was far ahead of his times. Signed, Harris Epstein's grandson, ZZ
one of my great-uncles was also an inventor. a not terribly successful lawyer, and a not terribly successful inventor, his children have samples of the inventions - a magnetic pants presser, a boot puller, other things.
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