1. Blog/
  2. Engineering/
  3. February 11th is National Inventors’ Day!

February 11th is National Inventors’ Day!

Jan 31, 2018 / By Katherine Rea

Did you know that today is National Inventors’ Day? This day was chosen in honor of Thomas Edison’s birthday. Thomas Edison is most famously known as the inventor of the lightbulb, but he invented lots of other things, too, that didn’t necessarily catch on! One example is The Edison Home Service Club, which was similar to Netflix! Subscribers received 20 records (used to listen to music) every month. They would pick 2 to keep and send the rest on to other subscribers. Pretty cool!

Here at KiwiCo, our favorite inventor is Rube Goldberg. Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist and engineer. He became so well known for his cartoons (which depicted complex contraptions that perform simple tasks, linked together with a domino effect), that people now use his name to describe that type of machine!

rubegoldberg_photo_gal_4153_photo_1953107372_lr.jpg

rubegoldberg_photo_gal_4155_photo_1695691461_lr.jpg

Here are some of our favorite Rube Goldberg machines:

Squishing a creme egg!




To turn a newspaper!





This young innovator, inspired by OK Go’s music video:




And the world’s slowest Rube Goldberg machine…


If you’re interested in learning more about Rube Goldberg machines (or in building your own), check out the 2018 Rube Goldberg Machine Contest to pour a bowl of cereal!



Want to practice creating your own innovative designs? Maker Crate delivers a new art and design workshop every month for ages 14+. It’s the perfect way to help your imagination run wild!

More from Engineering

  1. 3 Inspiring Young Creators Kid Inventors Day

    (image via Atlantic Mirror)

  2. Maker Profile: The Inventor of Post-it Notes

    Did you know that the inventor of Post-it Notes, a convenient office supply that we take for granted, created them completely by accident?

  3. Meet Kid Engineers Building a Better Tomorrow

    Here at KiwiCo, we believe in the power of small. And that’s because kids have a tendency to dream bigger and see possibilities through an unfiltered lens. It’s a core KiwiCo belief: That by learning the skills to problem-solve, innovate and create, kids can truly change the world tomorrow. And a lot of kids are already making their mark (after they finish their homework, of course). From detecting water contamination to creating human connections, we got to know four young engineers who are thinking big and building a better future.

See all from Engineering ➜

You might also like

Top categoriesBurst graphic

Get hands-on projects, delivered!

Shop KiwiCo Store ➜

Added

View cart