Lillian Gilbreth inspired us. After talking about her life and accomplishments, we thought it was high time to introduce you to four more problem-solving women whose inventions we use every day: Josephine Cochrane, Melitta Bentz, Mary Phelps Jacobs and Hedy Lamarr.

 

Chapter One: The Dishwasher

Josephine Cochrane was tired of her china being chipped during hand washing…so she invented the modern dishwasher and was granted a patent for it in 1886! Cochrane_J

 

Chapter Two: The Coffee Filter

Melitta Bentz invented the paper coffee filter, a product that both of us can thank her for daily. She and her husband began a company out of their apartment in Germany that is now known world-wide and named after its founder.627px-Melitta_Bentzcrop

Melitta and Hugo Bentz (

Melitta and Hugo Bentz

(For a lot more about coffee, its history and its consumption globally, go visit Love Some Coffee.)

 

Chapter Three: The Brassiere

As bra wearing women, we thank you Mary Phelps Jacobs (also known as Caresse Crosby), from the bottom of our cross our hearts..

Caresse Crosby

Caresse Crosby

The original plans for the first brassiere

The original plans for the first brassiere

 

Chapter Four: Frequency Hopping 

Glamorous movie star Hedy Lamarr was the brains behind technology that began life as a way to fight Nazi submarines but now makes our podcast and website possible (as well as quite a bit more).

Hedy Lamarr (From Come Live with Me)

Hedy Lamarr (From Come Live with Me)

Hedy's collaborator on the Secret Communications System, George Antheil

Hedy’s collaborator on the Secret Communications System, George Antheil

 

For more about Hedy’s life, check out Hedy Lamarr (dot org).

And you wanted to see the YouTube from Ecstasy? Google it. 🙂 (It’s really quite PG by our modern standards, but alas, we have some kids that visit.)