Leeds Inventions

exiled in essex · Post by **exiled in essex** » Thu 13 Jan, 2011 6:10 pm

Brandy wrote: Heres one for you kids of the 60's-remember SPIROGRAPH! the stupid,mad art and design toy thatwas branded as being 'simple to use'.............yeah right.Anyway that was invented by an engineer from Leeds called Denys Fisher. I have no idea how true this is but this is what I was told by the next door neighbour when I first moved into my old house. Apparently the chap who lived there many years ago was friends with Denys Fisher and he was pottering about in the garage one day for something to keep his grandson entertained with. He came across some old gears, put them with pen and paper and voila! He showed this to his friend, who happened to be Denys Fisher, and he developed the idea into the Spirograph that we all knew and hated (it never did what I wanted it to do, ever). And so, it's quite feasible that the Spirograph was possibly invented in my old garage!

uncle mick · Post by **uncle mick** » Thu 13 Jan, 2011 6:14 pm

Cultjunky wrote: The siphonic flush, not that man Crapper, but our own Joseph AdamsonThe last invention needed was the siphonic flush, patented in 1853 by Joseph Adamson of Leeds. The siphon is now found in nearly all modern British loos. The crucial thing about it is that it allows a measured flush to be delivered on command, with no waste of water between times. http://www.funkylab.co.uk/know_it/toilets.htmlThough I'm struggling to find any biographical details about him, must have all gone down the pan Think we have a likely candidate here!851 censusJoseph Adamson aged 33Born- Wakefield 1818Occupation-Superintendent at Leeds Water WorksLiving in Hunslet (can't make out the street name)"I'm flushed with success" Also in later census's in the water and gas industry

Leeds Hippo · Post by **Leeds Hippo** » Fri 14 Jan, 2011 8:58 am

Cultjunky wrote: The siphonic flush, not that man Crapper, but our own Joseph AdamsonThe last invention needed was the siphonic flush, patented in 1853 by Joseph Adamson of Leeds. The siphon is now found in nearly all modern British loos. The crucial thing about it is that it allows a measured flush to be delivered on command, with no waste of water between times. http://www.funkylab.co.uk/know_it/toilets.htmlThough I'm struggling to find any biographical details about him, must have all gone down the pan Amazing how important this invention was - and how little progress has been made since - mind you if it's not broken don't fix it!

Leeds Hippo · Post by **Leeds Hippo** » Fri 14 Jan, 2011 9:02 am

raveydavey wrote: Two more:http://reporter.leeds.ac.uk/518/news.htmTwo Leeds inventions were listed in the top 100 world-changing innovations from British universities in the last 50 years. They were the first computerised train schedule, designed by Emeritus Professor Tony Wren from the School of Computing and Professor of Auditory Neuroscience Deborah Withington's "localiser" siren, which uses directional sound, reported the Independent and The Guardian. Good finds raveydavey - I'm surprised the localiser siren has not been more widely adopted. I recall hearing it a couple of years ago in Leeds - these are the ones that alternate a normal "nee-naw" siren with a shussssh noise for location finding(best way I can describe it)

Leeds Hippo · Post by **Leeds Hippo** » Fri 14 Jan, 2011 9:04 am

exiled in essex wrote: Brandy wrote: Heres one for you kids of the 60's-remember SPIROGRAPH! the stupid,mad art and design toy thatwas branded as being 'simple to use'.............yeah right.Anyway that was invented by an engineer from Leeds called Denys Fisher. I have no idea how true this is but this is what I was told by the next door neighbour when I first moved into my old house. Apparently the chap who lived there many years ago was friends with Denys Fisher and he was pottering about in the garage one day for something to keep his grandson entertained with. He came across some old gears, put them with pen and paper and voila! He showed this to his friend, who happened to be Denys Fisher, and he developed the idea into the Spirograph that we all knew and hated (it never did what I wanted it to do, ever). And so, it's quite feasible that the Spirograph was possibly invented in my old garage! Could qualify for a blue plaque!

exiled in essex · Post by **exiled in essex** » Fri 14 Jan, 2011 11:36 am

Indeed, Hippo!Like I said though, I have no idea how true it is. But, true or not it's a nice little story. The neighbour who told me had lived there since the 1950's so would have been living next door at the time, so it might be true.

Mick McCann · Post by **Mick McCann** » Fri 14 Jan, 2011 1:47 pm

Brilliant, some other things I missed . You do all know that I'll nick them when I do an update or if I do Vol 2, not credit anyone and pretend I found them myself in my exstensive research? exiled in essex wrote: Indeed, Hippo!Like I said though, I have no idea how true it is. But, true or not it's a nice little story. I love stories like that and true or not it sounds very feasible. Wonder if there's anyway of checking if Denys ever lived on that street?I heard the back end of a feature on Radio 4 about the first comp train schedule but I was right up to my deadline with a few entries still to straighten out so I had to ignore it.....which was a pity. Also, being a bit daft, I'd forgotten all about it by the time I updated.

FLOJO · Post by **FLOJO** » Fri 14 Jan, 2011 5:42 pm

I worked at Waddingtons from 65/ 72 and remember being able to buy Monopoly/ Cluedo/ and lots of Jigsaws at Halfcrown{2/6 each) also when Norman Watson the Chairman died we were all given remeberance packs of cards.

exiled in essex · Post by **exiled in essex** » Fri 14 Jan, 2011 6:14 pm

Mick McCann wrote: I love stories like that and true or not it sounds very feasible. Wonder if there's anyway of checking if Denys ever lived on that street? It's a house in Scholes (LS15), Mick. I don't know for sure if Denys Fisher lived in the village but I can recall little snippets of memories as a kid that he possibly did.I'd really love it if it was true.

Mick McCann · Post by **Mick McCann** » Fri 14 Jan, 2011 7:18 pm

exiled in essex wrote: It's a house in Scholes (LS15), Mick. I don't know for sure if Denys Fisher lived in the village but I can recall little snippets of memories as a kid that he possibly did.I'd really love it if it was true. I'll have a root around if I do another update. Even if he did it obviously doesn't mean the stories true but it does make it that bit more likely.Just read that Denys also invented Stickle Bricks.