As with food inventions, it is sometimes difficult to pinpoint a products precise origins, nevertheless, here is a short list of at-the-time scientific wizardry that was introduced or
simply shown at the 1904 World's Fair:*
* The X-ray machine, now standard equipment in both hospitals and airports was introduced in the Palace of Liberal
Arts.
* The baby incubator were invented in 1888 by Doctors Alan M. Thomas and William Champion. Tennessee E.M. Bayliss brought the exhibit on the Fair's Pike. Fairgoers paid to watch nurses care for the babies, and the admission charge helped fund the project.
* Turning waffle irons debuted at the Fair.
* Coffeemakers were shown.
* The Poulson telegraphone, better known as the telephone answering machine.
* The automatic player piano debuted at the Fair.
* The electric typewriter was exhibited at Blickendorfer's booth (block 23) at the Palace of Liberal Arts. It was demonstrated daily.
* The telautograph, an early version of the fax machine, invented by Elisha Gray of Chicago was shown at the 1904 World's Fair.
* Letter carriers delivered and collected maul in automobiles at the fairgrounds, it was the first use of the mail car for that purpose in the United States.
* A steel-nickel storage battery for automobiles, was introduced at Thomas Edison's exhibit.
* Electric, gas and coal tabletop stoves were shown.
* A DeForest exhibit of a wireless telephone, precursor to the cordless phone.
* The electric dumbwaiter was a welcome update the old hand-operated house elevator.
* The automatic turnstile at each Fair entrance was the first to admit one person after receiving the proper coin, and then automatically lock again until the next coin was inserted.
* Electricity was the star of the Fair. All the major buildings on the fairgrounds were lit inside and out by electric lights. Thomas Edison himself was brought in to oversee the electrical exhibits.
* The electrical plug and wall outlet.
* The bread machine was shown.
* The airplane, though it was still in it's infancy. The Fair featured several demonstrations of various flying machines and balloons.
* Wireless telegraphy from the DeForest Wireless Telegraphy Company, which sent daily news of the Fair to the St. Louis newspapers from its observation tower and seven stations on the fairgrounds.
* Models of a new underwater vessel called the submarine, although the U.S. Navy's exhibit didn't include an actual submarine.
* The dishwasher was shown.
* T-shirts were introduced to the Fair.
* The dishwasher was shown.
* Air conditioning was debuted at the Fair.
* Still in its infancy, the automobile was showcased for private use at the Palace of Transportation.
* The electric clock was shown.
* The gas producer could transform a pound of coal into three times the power of a steam boiler.
* If anyone would like to add to this list, please email me the item as well as documented proof and I will credit you. Thanks!
