Birmingham: The home of invention!

Birmingham used to be regarded as the workshop of the world which spearheaded the industrial revolution.
Hockley inventors Matthew Boulton and James Watt put rail travel on the right track by creating the first effective steam engine, John Baskerville revolutionised printing and Joseph Priestley was one of the key developers in the discovery of oxygen.

And, as well as the industrial discoveries, the region has produced some of our best known commercial products too.

Custard powder was cooked up by Digbeth pharmacist Alfred Bird, the world's first pure chocolate cocoa drink made by Cadbury's in 1864, and Nottingham grocer Frederick Gibson Garton produced the original recipe for HP sauce.

Although not all of the efforts of Midland inventors are a success, one Midlander applied for a patent for his less well known creation - a brick patterned satellite dish, designed to fit in with buildings.

Midland inventors are still working hard to improve life.

Last year the Patent Office received nearly 2,000 patents from inventors in the East and West Midlands.
And Birmingham inventors are currently working on a range of products.

These include an oral hygiene wand, which acts as a tongue cleaner and can be used by all the family, and a cheap tent for disaster zones, called a tentahedron.

Every week this blog will feature the stories behind the region's successful, and unsuccessful inventions.

IN our increasingly high tech digital world we are used to clever gadgets which can help to make our lives easier and safer.

And in 1966 one inventor came up with an idea to help protect police officers who were in charge of directing traffic.

The idea came after a special constable police was killed in a road accident.

The plan was simple - to use the distinctive blue flashing light, still used on police vehicles today, and to place it on top of a police man's helmet.

The designers hoped that the light would make officers on traffic duty more visable to drivers and, therefore, safer.

The helmets were operated by an accumulator, an apparatus for storing energy or power, which was worn at the belt.

They were first trialled in Derby.

And Derby Borough Council said they planned to use a dozen of them.
The items were produced by Birmingham manufacturer Jospeh Lucas Ltd, which was closely associated with the motor industry at the time.

The company was founded by Joseph Lucas, along with his son Harry, around 1872.
Initially called Joseph Lucas & Son it was based on King Street, Birmingham.

At first it made general pressed metal merchandise, including lamps for ships and coaches, and later moving into oil and acetylene lamps for bicycles.

In 1902, the company started making automotive electrical components such as mangnetos, alternators, windscreen wipers, horns, lighting, wiring and starter motors.

But the company started its main growth in 1914 with a contract to supply the Morris Motor Compnay with electrical equipment.

During World War One Lucas made shells and fuses as well as electrical equipment for military vehicles.
At its peak the company employed 92,000 employees. It has since merged to become Lucas Varity plc.

But the company has proven more successful than its flashing police helmets.
Police forces elsewhere in the UK declined to buy up the items.

They are now on display in West Midlands Police Museum in Sparkhill, Birmingham.