History of Cars

by Richard Crittendon

The invention of wheel has brought about epochal changes in way human civilization has evolved. From bullock carts to modern vehicles, we have seen a paradigm shift in transportation modules and cars are unarguably the most evolved form of these. When you need to rock the road, you just turn on the keys of your machine.

But have you ever tried to sneak a peak into the history of your car? Or, for example, at what stages it has actually gone through to attain the current form? Or, have you checked to see what is the actual development story of your car?

Well, just give a bit of rest to your staggering neurons, as herein you'll find a brief account of the history of cars.

The First Car!

Many scholars have discrete opinions about the first ever automobile that appeared in the history and hence no exact inventor of the machine can be convincingly pointed out. Various automobile engineers from Nicolas Cugnet and Richard Trevithik to Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, have been credited with the invention of the car. But, the invention of modern cars is originally accredited to Karl Benz. This legendary inventor built the first ever four-stroke gasoline based automobile, "Motorwagon", in Manheim in 1885 and achieved patent over the technology under his company, Benz and Cie. The commercial production of the vehicle was started in 1888. Moving further with the advancement in vehicle technology, Benz designed the first internal combustion engine, named 'boxermotor' in Germany.

Several other entrepreneurs have hopped into the industry to make most out of the newly appeared automotive segment. Daimler and Maybach together founded the brand 'Daimler' in 1890. The most notable change in the car segment was marked in the year 1926, when 'Benz and Cie' and DMG merged to form Daimler-Benz company with Mercedes Benz as its most prominent brand. Meanwhile, a number of other brands were also emerging across the major parts of the world, especially Western Europe, Peugeot in France and DMC in Britain were among the few notable ones.

Improvements in Automobile Designs

The first automobiles consisted of the body of the horse-drawn vehicle with four rubber tires fitted beneath it. That apart it also lacked nearly any safety gears that are routinely available in modern vehicles. With the advent of new materials and technology, the automobile body underwent significant modifications in its structure and performance. The wooden exterior of the automobile was replaced with the metallic body and the interiors got more and more luxurious with the passage of time. Similarly significant changes were seen in engine design, architecture and technology. However the basic usage of an internal combustion remains prevalent in most cars even after the passage of a century. Modern cars have achieved high levels of perfection in performance as well as fuel efficiency. Along with high speeds and striking designs, automobiles today can also boast of effective safety measures. Last but not the least one must note that a lot of the development that we find in cars today are a result of incremental developments that took place during the long and illustrious history of cars.

About the Author

Article written by Richard Crittendon of Automobile.com. For related information, see the recent article on the 2008 Jeep Patriot review.

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Who Invented The First Inkjet Printer? The History Of Inkjet Printers

by John C. Arkin

No single person can be credited with the invention of the first inkjet printer. However, we can safely say that it was invented in 1976 but did not enter the popular consciousness until 1988 when Hewlett Packard released the DeskJet Printer and marketed it like a home consumer item. It must be said, however, that buying this printer and the printer cartridges was not everybody's cup of tea as it was priced at around $1000. A steep price indeed!

The Inkjet Revolution

If you compare the inkjet printer in use today to those that were launched some twenty years ago, you will find that they have indeed come a long way since then. Though they arrived in the stores in the 1980s; it was way back in the 1970s, that printer companies recognized the fact that the ink based printers were the way forward and this technology would be revolutionary in nature. They began the process of developing printers and printer cartridges. The initial challenge for the company was not only to concentrate on quality but also on affordability. Siemens invented a popular inkjet printer model in 1977 and it became quite popular amongst businesses and organizations. The biggest benefits of this printer were that it sprayed ink only when necessary and were not very expensive.

A Few Challenges

A major challenge faced by printer developers with regards to this type of printers was the fact that the flow of ink from the print head to the page needed to be controlled. This required cutting edge technological research not only in terms of the printers but also the printer cartridges. Initially the dried ink, clogged the printer head, and even the IBM strategy to use electrically charged droplets for coating the pages with ink was not successful and lacked consumer appeal. This challenge was tackled by two companies namely Hewlett-Packard and Canon. They introduced the inkjet printer in the market that used liquid ink, held in cartridges. These became vastly popular and this technology is still in use today.

The Inkjet Cartridges

An article on these printers won't be complete without mentioning the role of printer ink cartridges in the scheme of things. It is the ink cartridges that played a stellar role in the increasing popularity of these printers. Printer cartridges are the core element of each and very printer and they have also gone through a long and evolved process of development, side by side with the printers. Without the development of printer ink cartridges there would be no inkjet printers. It's as simple as that.

As can be seen, the whole process of developing a printer is long and goes through a long period of trial and error. This is one of prime reasons why so many companies have contributed to the development of printing technology.

About the Author

This Article is written by John C. Arkin from PrintCountry, the contributor of Printer Ink Cartridges Articles. More information on the subject is at Who invented the first Inkjet Printer? The History of Inkjet printers, and related resources can be found at Lexmark Ink Cartridges.

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Bawdsey Radio Station

by Will Averill

Did you know that radar was developed and first tested in Suffolk between the two World Wars? Today you can visit the place where much of the ground breaking work in radar technology took place. RAF Bawdsey, operational in 1937, was the first of a chain of radar stations to be built around the coast of Britain. During the Battle of Britain with 2,600 Luftwaffe planes to the RAF's 640, it was the use of radar for detecting aircraft en route to the UK so they could be intercepted that saved the day.

History of Bawdsey Radar Station

Following the First World War, protecting the UK from attack was discussed at great length. But it was not until 1934, when an air-defence exercise to test defence was carried out that things really started to get going.

Although the targets and routes of the exercise were known, more than half the bombers managed to get through to their targets. This led to the Air Ministry looking at the idea of radio "death rays" which would eliminate or disable pilots and their aircraft. The Scots physicist Robert Watson-Watt, supervisor of a national radio research laboratory and descendant of James Watt, inventor of the first practical steam engine, was contacted and asked for his views.

Watson-Watt dismissed the idea of death rays but said that radio beams could be bounced off enemy aircraft to detect them. He then drew up a memo outlining his ideas and although it was met with enthusiasm, proof that the system could work was demanded.

On 26 February 1935, Watson-Watt and Arnold Wilkins successfully demonstrated their system using a BBC transmitter which managed to pick up a bomber being used as a test target.

In May 1935 Watson-Watt, Wilkins and a small team of scientists moved to Orfordness to conduct a series of historic experiments over the sea that would lead to the world's first working 'RADAR' system. It soon became apparent that Orfordness was inadequate for further research and Bawdsey Manor Estate was purchased for £24,000.

In February 1936 the research scientists occupied Bawdsey Manor House and the stables and outbuildings were converted into workshops. 240ft wooden receiver towers and 360ft steel transmitter towers were built and Bawdsey became the first Chain Home Radar Station. By the outbreak of World War 2 a chain of radar stations was in place around the coast of Britain.

These radar stations were to prove invaluable during the Second World War and particularly during the Battle of Britain. With 2,600 Luftwaffe planes to the RAF's 640, it was the use of radar for detecting aircraft en route to the UK so they could be intercepted that saved the day.

Bawdsey was used as an RAF base through the Cold War until the 1990s when the Bloodhound Missile was the last 'tenant' in this base. On 31st May 1990 the Bloodhound force ceased operations and in June all the missiles were withdrawn to RAF West Raynham. The RAF Ensign was lowered for the last time on the 25th March 1991 and the station closed on the 31st March.

Sadly, the last of the giant transmitter masts came down in 2000, but you can still see photos and exhibits from the stations working days, including -

The Magic Ear Exhibition: A Radar Exhibition on display in The Transmitter Block, Bawdsey, Suffolk - Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The exhibition tells the story of a technology and an institution which helped win a war - and shape our future. It reveals how scientists came together in total secrecy before World War 2 to prove that radio waves could locate aeroplanes, ships and other targets and how their invention dramatically affected the course of the conflict. It explains how their work laid the foundations for the age of electronics and the computer.

The exhibition was designed by David Robertson, a communications professional specialising mainly in science and technology, as a touring exhibition for the Millennium celebrations in Malvern. It has also been on display at Bletchley Park and more recently at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton.

Special visits can be arranged. Please phone (07821 162 879) or email info@bawdseyradargroup.co.uk for details.

The Bawdsey Radar Group is a registered charity which aims to restore the Transmitter Block at Bawdsey to create a unique exhibition, educational facility and visitor attraction. High-tech displays will explain how radar was invented, the central role that Bawdsey played in this and how both saved Britain during the Battle of Britain. The ultimate dream is to raise one of the radar transmitter towers that defended the country in the Second World War. See their website for more details of this fascinating piece of history, and read veterans stories including Hilda's, who was a Radar Operator at Bawdsey

About the Author

Will Averill is a freelance writer for Suffolk Tourist Guide. Suffolk Tourist Guide is the online guide for Suffolk Hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, pubs, Attractions, days out and things to do in Suffolk.

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