1920's Inventions

Were the 1920s A Revolutionary Time Period for Inventions? The 1920s were considered an extremely prosperous and positive decade in history. The economy was relatively stable, and people’s lives were generally sound and enjoyable. One aspect that greatly contributed to the success of the “Roaring Twenties” was the modern and innovative inventions that were being created. These inventions allowed for various daily tasks to be completed in a much more efficient manner. New and improved communication related devices helped to connect Canadians nationwide. Advanced forms of transportation established links to other cities, provinces, and even countries. Personal and medical inventions helped to maintain the economical and physical wellbeing

These inventions changed the way that people interacted with one another. An example of this is the battery-less radio, created in 1925 by Edward Samuel Rogers. This invention was extremely helpful, as the radio could be plugged into a household electrical socket, opposed to requiring cumbersome batteries. The radio was so well regarded that it was considered “…The set that marks a new era in radio” (Freeman-Shaw, Haskings-Winner 47). This invention not only secured Rogers’ place in the history of communication technology, but also allowed more Canadians to have access to a radio, as anyone with household electricity could use it. Furthermore, the invention of air mail was also a revolutionary idea that made communication more efficient. Aircraft were substantially faster than any form of ground vehicle, which, “…Made receiving your letters timelier and more reliable” (McAleer). Not only was delivery more prompt, but with the use of bush pilots and bush planes, mail was also able to reach very secluded areas of Canada where land vehicles were unable to deliver. Evidently, air mail became the most effective form of mail transportation, and permitted Canadians to communicate across the entire nation with ease. Finally, advancements in the telephone were very advantageous for people in the 1920s. Instead of requiring a separate earphone and mouthpiece, as well as

State-of-the-art vehicles and systems were being developed that could transport people and cargo in more efficient manners, and new manufacturing systems were able to create these vehicles at a much higher rate. One of these systems was the variable pitch propeller, invented by Wallace Turnbull in 1922. Unlike conventional fixed pitch propellers, this propeller utilized a motor to alter the pitch of the blade and cut through varying amounts of air. This helped the airplane obtain maximum power and thrust on takeoff, and then transition to an economical cruise setting, which, “…Made the air-transport industry possible” (Freeman-Shaw et al. 43). With this invention, aircraft were able to transport considerably greater volumes of people or cargo, which provided significant economic benefits. Another important system was the assembly line, which was introduced into the automotive industry by Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company. The assembly line was a much more productive way of manufacturing automobiles, as the workers continuously did the same task to construct the vehicle, and then passed it on to the next worker. This method, “…Allowed cars to be driven out of factories at the rate of about one every three minutes. It also made car ownership more accessible to many more people” (Colyer et al. 203). Thus, with cars being mass produced, manufacturing costs