Inventions

Below are some of the many inventions from the past with a Worcester history behind it.

The Pill: Drs. Irving Pincus and Min Chueh Chang invented the oral contraceptive now used by millions.

Candlepin Bowling: Justin White opened the first candlepin bowling alley in 1880 in Worcester. COVID-19 would shut candlepin down for good in 2020.

Valentines: Esther Howland took valentines from a home-based assembly operation to a $100k per year gross.

Smiley Face: Creator Harvey Ball drew this now-universal pop culture icon in 1963 for State Mutual Life Assurance Co.

Grinding Wheel: Sven Pulson and John Jeppson of Norton Grinding Co. built a grinding wheel that could hold up to use on hard steel components.

Power Loom: Edmund Cartwright (Britain, 1785) and Erastus Bigelow (U.S. 1839) automated the carpet loom that saved labor costs.

Monkey Wrench: invented by Loring Coes, a wrench adjustable by a single hand.

Lockstitch Sewing Machine: Elias Howe created the first lockstitch sewing machine claimed to sew 250 stitches per minute.

Take your place in Worcester's history

We invite and encourage you to tell a story, share a photograph or memory…anything that pertains to Worcester. Places in the city that hold special meaning for you, events that shaped your experience, people you will never forget—your stories are welcome.