The World's Greatest Needs

On the eve of the annual convention in Sept 1937, of the Int'l
Inventors Congress, George Burns, President, listed 20 of the
world's most needed inventions, according to a United Press
dispatch from Des Moines. The list follows:

1. A skid-proof bathtub.
2. A sure-fire dandelion exterminator.
3. An automatic window-closer.
4. Cold light (82% of the energy produced by an electric
light bulb is heat, only 8% is light)
5. A device or substance to prevent rust.
6. An electric cable that will not fuse.
7. Gasoline will not carbonize in a motor.
8. A portable dictating machine.
9. A process for taking colored X-ray pictures.
10. Tarnishless silverware.
11. A noiseless airplane motor. (Many govts have been working
for years to produce such a motor for use in warfare)
12. A furnace that will conserve 90% of its heat, instead of
the average 30% now retained)
13. A method for producing rain in a given locality at any
time, and a method to stop the rainfall.
14. A process for recording speech directly on paper without
the use of a stenographer.
15. A machine for making the application of wallpaper simple
for amateurs.
16. A method of preventing electrolysis, or leakage of electric
current.
17. An electro-magnetic gun to fire noiselessly small projectiles
at high speeds.
18. A machine to weigh automatically and stamp postage.
19. A ray to paralyze the magnetos and high voltage coils of
gasoline and electric motors.
20. A burglar alarm so sensitive it can be tripped by the heat
emanating from a human body.

On 06/01/18 06:52, wrote:
The World's Greatest Needs

On the eve of the annual convention in Sept 1937, of the Int'l
Inventors Congress, George Burns, President, listed 20 of the
world's most needed inventions, according to a United Press
dispatch from Des Moines. The list follows:

1. A skid-proof bathtub.

Triuvial today, but no longer wanted

2. A sure-fire dandelion exterminator.

Glyphosate

3. An automatic window-closer.

Air conditionong or electric windows

4. Cold light (82% of the energy produced by an electric
light bulb is heat, only 8% is light)

LEDs are a huge step nearter
5. A device or substance to prevent rust.

Dont use steel.

6. An electric cable that will not fuse.
??? hardly necessary with moderm trip technoogy.

7. Gasoline will not carbonize in a motor.
??? hardly necessary with moderm engine technology
8. A portable dictating machine.
Been in existence since 1970
9. A process for taking colored X-ray pictures.

meaningless. Whar color are xrays?

10. Tarnishless silverware.
Replaced by stainless steel

11. A noiseless airplane motor. (Many govts have been working
for years to produce such a motor for use in warfare)

Almost irrelevant these days. Go supersonic and the plane is gone
before you hear it

12. A furnace that will conserve 90% of its heat, instead of
the average 30% now retained)

We dont use furnaces much tehse days.

13. A method for producing rain in a given locality at any
time, and a method to stop the rainfall.

Still wait9ng

14. A process for recording speech directly on paper without
the use of a stenographer.

Speech recognitin has outpaced it

15. A machine for making the application of wallpaper simple
for amateurs.

Whoi uses wallpaper? just projecty an LCD screen onto the wall.,

16. A method of preventing electrolysis, or leakage of electric
current.

No idea what that means even


17. An electro-magnetic gun to fire noiselessly small projectiles
at high speeds.

High speed projectiles are never nopiseless

Rail guns exist.

18. A machine to weigh automatically and stamp postage.

Standard

19. A ray to paralyze the magnetos and high voltage coils of
gasoline and electric motors.

EMP will do more than that.

20. A burglar alarm so sensitive it can be tripped by the heat
emanating from a human body.

exists




--
"It is an established fact to 97% confidence limits that left wing
conspirators see right wing conspiracies everywhere"

The one not on the list is.
Away to make unbiased desicions which do not upset anyone at all!
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
news
On 06/01/18 06:52, wrote:
The World's Greatest Needs

On the eve of the annual convention in Sept 1937, of the Int'l
Inventors Congress, George Burns, President, listed 20 of the
world's most needed inventions, according to a United Press
dispatch from Des Moines. The list follows:

1. A skid-proof bathtub.

Triuvial today, but no longer wanted

2. A sure-fire dandelion exterminator.

Glyphosate

3. An automatic window-closer.

Air conditionong or electric windows

4. Cold light (82% of the energy produced by an electric
light bulb is heat, only 8% is light)

LEDs are a huge step nearter
5. A device or substance to prevent rust.

Dont use steel.

6. An electric cable that will not fuse.
??? hardly necessary with moderm trip technoogy.

7. Gasoline will not carbonize in a motor.
??? hardly necessary with moderm engine technology
8. A portable dictating machine.
Been in existence since 1970
9. A process for taking colored X-ray pictures.

meaningless. Whar color are xrays?

10. Tarnishless silverware.
Replaced by stainless steel

11. A noiseless airplane motor. (Many govts have been working
for years to produce such a motor for use in warfare)

Almost irrelevant these days. Go supersonic and the plane is gone before
you hear it

12. A furnace that will conserve 90% of its heat, instead of
the average 30% now retained)

We dont use furnaces much tehse days.

13. A method for producing rain in a given locality at any
time, and a method to stop the rainfall.

Still wait9ng

14. A process for recording speech directly on paper without
the use of a stenographer.

Speech recognitin has outpaced it

15. A machine for making the application of wallpaper simple
for amateurs.

Whoi uses wallpaper? just projecty an LCD screen onto the wall.,

16. A method of preventing electrolysis, or leakage of electric
current.

No idea what that means even


17. An electro-magnetic gun to fire noiselessly small projectiles
at high speeds.

High speed projectiles are never nopiseless

Rail guns exist.

18. A machine to weigh automatically and stamp postage.

Standard

19. A ray to paralyze the magnetos and high voltage coils of
gasoline and electric motors.

EMP will do more than that.

20. A burglar alarm so sensitive it can be tripped by the heat
emanating from a human body.

exists




--
"It is an established fact to 97% confidence limits that left wing
conspirators see right wing conspiracies everywhere"

On Saturday, 6 January 2018 07:03:20 UTC, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 06/01/18 06:52, wrote:
The World's Greatest Needs

On the eve of the annual convention in Sept 1937, of the Int'l
Inventors Congress, George Burns, President, listed 20 of the
world's most needed inventions, according to a United Press
dispatch from Des Moines. The list follows:

5. A device or substance to prevent rust.

Dont use steel.

stainless already existed. I guess it means chrome plate, epoxy etc.


8. A portable dictating machine.
Been in existence since 1970

I thought they were already in existence in '37, simple wind-up mechanical recorders using wax coated discs, or their predecessors Edison cylinders.


9. A process for taking colored X-ray pictures.

meaningless. Whar color are xrays?

2&3 colour films already existed, but I see no way to expose each emulsion separately by x-ray other than by using 3 separate B&W films. I guess different voltages could be used for the 3 colour channels.


12. A furnace that will conserve 90% of its heat, instead of
the average 30% now retained)

We dont use furnaces much tehse days.

They're called boilers over here. 30% is terrible.


13. A method for producing rain in a given locality at any
time, and a method to stop the rainfall.

Still wait9ng

we have desalination to do that job


16. A method of preventing electrolysis, or leakage of electric
current.

No idea what that means even

probably refers to tram rails, they were an electrolysis problem


18. A machine to weigh automatically and stamp postage.

Standard

surely that's easy to do with 1937 technology


19. A ray to paralyze the magnetos and high voltage coils of
gasoline and electric motors.

EMP will do more than that.

police have other ways now - they didn't then


20. A burglar alarm so sensitive it can be tripped by the heat
emanating from a human body.

exists

PIR

The idea that this lot is the world's greatest needs is bizarrely unrealistic though


NT

wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 6 January 2018 07:03:20 UTC, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 06/01/18 06:52, wrote:
The World's Greatest Needs

On the eve of the annual convention in Sept 1937, of the Int'l
Inventors Congress, George Burns, President, listed 20 of the
world's most needed inventions, according to a United Press
dispatch from Des Moines. The list follows:

5. A device or substance to prevent rust.

Dont use steel.

stainless already existed. I guess it means chrome plate,

So did plating.

epoxy etc.

8. A portable dictating machine.

Been in existence since 1970

I thought they were already in existence in '37,

Yes, wire recorders.

simple wind-up mechanical recorders using wax
coated discs, or their predecessors Edison cylinders.

Those too.

9. A process for taking colored X-ray pictures.

meaningless. Whar color are xrays?

False color presumably.

2&3 colour films already existed, but I see no way
to expose each emulsion separately by x-ray other
than by using 3 separate B&W films. I guess different
voltages could be used for the 3 colour channels.

We do in fact have false color xrays now.

12. A furnace that will conserve 90% of its heat,
instead of the average 30% now retained)

We dont use furnaces much tehse days.

They're called boilers over here. 30% is terrible.

13. A method for producing rain in a given locality at any
time, and a method to stop the rainfall.

Still wait9ng

we have desalination to do that job

They did too. Thats nor rainfall.

16. A method of preventing electrolysis,
or leakage of electric current.

No idea what that means even

probably refers to tram rails,

More likely boats.

they were an electrolysis problem

Nope.

18. A machine to weigh automatically and stamp postage.

Standard

surely that's easy to do with 1937 technology

Not really with varying the stamp used. That was before they
had replaced stamps with something printed on the envelope.

19. A ray to paralyze the magnetos and high
voltage coils of gasoline and electric motors.

EMP will do more than that.

police have other ways now

Nope.

- they didn't then

They still dont.

20. A burglar alarm so sensitive it can be tripped
by the heat emanating from a human body.

exists

Now. It didnt then.

PIR

The idea that this lot is the world's greatest
needs is bizarrely unrealistic though

True.

wrote:
The World's Greatest Needs

On the eve of the annual convention in Sept 1937, of the Int'l
Inventors Congress, George Burns, President, listed 20 of the
world's most needed inventions, according to a United Press
dispatch from Des Moines. The list follows:

1. A skid-proof bathtub.
2. A sure-fire dandelion exterminator.
3. An automatic window-closer.
4. Cold light (82% of the energy produced by an electric
light bulb is heat, only 8% is light)
5. A device or substance to prevent rust.
6. An electric cable that will not fuse.
7. Gasoline will not carbonize in a motor.
8. A portable dictating machine.
9. A process for taking colored X-ray pictures.
10. Tarnishless silverware.
11. A noiseless airplane motor. (Many govts have been working
for years to produce such a motor for use in warfare)
12. A furnace that will conserve 90% of its heat, instead of
the average 30% now retained)
13. A method for producing rain in a given locality at any
time, and a method to stop the rainfall.
14. A process for recording speech directly on paper without
the use of a stenographer.
15. A machine for making the application of wallpaper simple
for amateurs.
16. A method of preventing electrolysis, or leakage of electric
current.
17. An electro-magnetic gun to fire noiselessly small projectiles
at high speeds.
18. A machine to weigh automatically and stamp postage.
19. A ray to paralyze the magnetos and high voltage coils of
gasoline and electric motors.
20. A burglar alarm so sensitive it can be tripped by the heat
emanating from a human body.

So that is where we got the ideas.

The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 06/01/18 06:52, wrote:
The World's Greatest Needs
snip
9. A process for taking colored X-ray pictures.

meaningless. Whar color are xrays?

True, but false colour for showing e.g. chemical or elecrical activity
(additional to grey scale anatomy) in brain scans is routine,


snip

12. A furnace that will conserve 90% of its heat, instead of
the average 30% now retained)

We dont use furnaces much tehse days.

Furnace is American for boiler. We seem to have got up to 90%



snip

--

Roger Hayter

On 06/01/18 11:37, Roger Hayter wrote:
The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 06/01/18 06:52, wrote:
The World's Greatest Needs
snip
9. A process for taking colored X-ray pictures.

meaningless. Whar color are xrays?

True, but false colour for showing e.g. chemical or elecrical activity
(additional to grey scale anatomy) in brain scans is routine,


snip

12. A furnace that will conserve 90% of its heat, instead of
the average 30% now retained)

We dont use furnaces much tehse days.

Furnace is American for boiler. We seem to have got up to 90%



The statement makes no sense even for boilers.

What is the point in lighting a boiler that conserves 100% of its heat?



snip



--
"When one man dies it's a tragedy. When thousands die it's statistics."

Josef Stalin

The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 06/01/18 11:37, Roger Hayter wrote:
The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 06/01/18 06:52, wrote:
The World's Greatest Needs
snip
9. A process for taking colored X-ray pictures.

meaningless. Whar color are xrays?

True, but false colour for showing e.g. chemical or elecrical activity
(additional to grey scale anatomy) in brain scans is routine,


snip

12. A furnace that will conserve 90% of its heat, instead of
the average 30% now retained)

We dont use furnaces much tehse days.

Furnace is American for boiler. We seem to have got up to 90%



The statement makes no sense even for boilers.

What is the point in lighting a boiler that conserves 100% of its heat?


True. It does make better sense for an oven.

--

Roger Hayter

On 06/01/2018 06:52, wrote:
The World's Greatest Needs

On the eve of the annual convention in Sept 1937, of the Int'l
Inventors Congress, George Burns

He was a comedian, wasn't he?

, President, listed 20 of the
world's most needed inventions, according to a United Press
dispatch from Des Moines. The list follows:

1. A skid-proof bathtub.
2. A sure-fire dandelion exterminator.
3. An automatic window-closer.

Goebbels had a house with electric windows.

4. Cold light (82% of the energy produced by an electric
light bulb is heat, only 8% is light)

Durr. Boring list.

--
Max Demian

wrote:

20 of the world's most needed inventions

1. A skid-proof bathtub.

Mine has some sand embedded in the enamel to give a non-slip area

20. A burglar alarm so sensitive it can be tripped by the heat
emanating from a human body.

We have PIRs.

Seems like we need a new list ...


1. A mute control for dogs

On Sat, 06 Jan 2018 13:57:05 +0000, Andy Burns wrote:

wrote:

20 of the world's most needed inventions

1. A skid-proof bathtub.

Mine has some sand embedded in the enamel to give a non-slip area

I want to know why these people are ****ting in the bath!

--
My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £1 a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

Chris Hogg submitted this idea :
They've put the coal in the loo by mistake?

Good reply :-)

On Saturday, 6 January 2018 09:46:03 UTC, Rod Speed wrote:
tabbypurr wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 6 January 2018 07:03:20 UTC, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 06/01/18 06:52, wrote:
The World's Greatest Needs

On the eve of the annual convention in Sept 1937, of the Int'l
Inventors Congress, George Burns, President, listed 20 of the
world's most needed inventions, according to a United Press
dispatch from Des Moines. The list follows:

5. A device or substance to prevent rust.

Dont use steel.

stainless already existed. I guess it means chrome plate,

So did plating.

yes, but not chrome. Goods were nickel plated.


8. A portable dictating machine.

Been in existence since 1970

I thought they were already in existence in '37,

Yes, wire recorders.

those weren't portable


13. A method for producing rain in a given locality at any
time, and a method to stop the rainfall.

Still wait9ng

we have desalination to do that job

They did too. Thats nor rainfall.

how did they de-sal?

16. A method of preventing electrolysis,
or leakage of electric current.

No idea what that means even

probably refers to tram rails,

More likely boats.

??


18. A machine to weigh automatically and stamp postage.

Standard

surely that's easy to do with 1937 technology

Not really with varying the stamp used. That was before they
had replaced stamps with something printed on the envelope.

trivial

wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 6 January 2018 09:46:03 UTC, Rod Speed wrote:
tabbypurr wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 6 January 2018 07:03:20 UTC, The Natural Philosopher
wrote:
On 06/01/18 06:52, wrote:
The World's Greatest Needs

On the eve of the annual convention in Sept 1937, of the Int'l
Inventors Congress, George Burns, President, listed 20 of the
world's most needed inventions, according to a United Press
dispatch from Des Moines. The list follows:

5. A device or substance to prevent rust.

Dont use steel.

stainless already existed. I guess it means chrome plate,

So did plating.

yes, but not chrome. Goods were nickel plated.

Chrome plating was available at that time.

8. A portable dictating machine.

Been in existence since 1970

I thought they were already in existence in '37,

Yes, wire recorders.

those weren't portable

Corse they were.

13. A method for producing rain in a given locality at any
time, and a method to stop the rainfall.

Still wait9ng

we have desalination to do that job

They did too. Thats nor rainfall.

how did they de-sal?

Distillation and osmosis.

16. A method of preventing electrolysis,
or leakage of electric current.

No idea what that means even

probably refers to tram rails,

More likely boats.

??

Boats have used electrolysis to reduce corrosion for a long time now.

18. A machine to weigh automatically and stamp postage.

Standard

surely that's easy to do with 1937 technology

Not really with varying the stamp used. That was before they
had replaced stamps with something printed on the envelope.

trivial

Sure but still had to be possible.

On Saturday, 6 January 2018 23:26:56 UTC, Rod Speed wrote:
tabbypurr wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 6 January 2018 09:46:03 UTC, Rod Speed wrote:
tabbypurr wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 6 January 2018 07:03:20 UTC, The Natural Philosopher
wrote:
On 06/01/18 06:52, wrote:
The World's Greatest Needs

On the eve of the annual convention in Sept 1937, of the Int'l
Inventors Congress, George Burns, President, listed 20 of the
world's most needed inventions, according to a United Press
dispatch from Des Moines. The list follows:

5. A device or substance to prevent rust.

Dont use steel.

stainless already existed. I guess it means chrome plate,

So did plating.

yes, but not chrome. Goods were nickel plated.

Chrome plating was available at that time.

but nickel was used in practice

8. A portable dictating machine.

Been in existence since 1970

I thought they were already in existence in '37,

Yes, wire recorders.

those weren't portable

Corse they were.

a comic claim

13. A method for producing rain in a given locality at any
time, and a method to stop the rainfall.

Still wait9ng

we have desalination to do that job

They did too. Thats nor rainfall.

how did they de-sal?

Distillation and osmosis.

neither of which was a realistic proposition afaik to replace rain in watering fields


16. A method of preventing electrolysis,
or leakage of electric current.

No idea what that means even

probably refers to tram rails,

More likely boats.

??

Boats have used electrolysis to reduce corrosion for a long time now.

ok

18. A machine to weigh automatically and stamp postage.

Standard

surely that's easy to do with 1937 technology

Not really with varying the stamp used. That was before they
had replaced stamps with something printed on the envelope.

trivial

Sure but still had to be possible.

Maybe I should have spelt it out for you: it's trivial to do with the technology of the time

wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 6 January 2018 23:26:56 UTC, Rod Speed wrote:
tabbypurr wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 6 January 2018 09:46:03 UTC, Rod Speed wrote:
tabbypurr wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 6 January 2018 07:03:20 UTC, The Natural Philosopher
wrote:
On 06/01/18 06:52, wrote:
The World's Greatest Needs

On the eve of the annual convention in Sept 1937, of the Int'l
Inventors Congress, George Burns, President, listed 20 of the
world's most needed inventions, according to a United Press
dispatch from Des Moines. The list follows:

5. A device or substance to prevent rust.

Dont use steel.

stainless already existed. I guess it means chrome plate,

So did plating.

yes, but not chrome. Goods were nickel plated.

Chrome plating was available at that time.

but nickel was used in practice

Irrelevant to Burns' claim that it needed to be invented.

8. A portable dictating machine.

Been in existence since 1970

I thought they were already in existence in '37,

Yes, wire recorders.

those weren't portable

Corse they were.

a comic claim

You never could bull**** your way out of a wet paper bag.

13. A method for producing rain in a given locality at any
time, and a method to stop the rainfall.

Still wait9ng

we have desalination to do that job

They did too. Thats nor rainfall.

how did they de-sal?

Distillation and osmosis.

neither of which was a realistic proposition afaik to replace rain in
watering fields

You were the only one stupid enough to
bring it up when rain was being discussed.

16. A method of preventing electrolysis,
or leakage of electric current.

No idea what that means even

probably refers to tram rails,

More likely boats.

??

Boats have used electrolysis to reduce corrosion for a long time now.

ok

18. A machine to weigh automatically and stamp postage.

Standard

surely that's easy to do with 1937 technology

Not really with varying the stamp used. That was before they
had replaced stamps with something printed on the envelope.

trivial

Sure but still had to be possible.

Maybe I should have spelt it out for you: it's
trivial to do with the technology of the time

Not when the system didnt allow you to print your own stamps.

On Sunday, 7 January 2018 01:13:39 UTC, Rod Speed wrote:
tabbypurr wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 6 January 2018 23:26:56 UTC, Rod Speed wrote:
tabbypurr wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 6 January 2018 09:46:03 UTC, Rod Speed wrote:
tabbypurr wrote in message
...

18. A machine to weigh automatically and stamp postage.

Standard

surely that's easy to do with 1937 technology

Not really with varying the stamp used. That was before they
had replaced stamps with something printed on the envelope.

trivial

Sure but still had to be possible.

Maybe I should have spelt it out for you: it's
trivial to do with the technology of the time

Not when the system didnt allow you to print your own stamps.

are you by any chance not too smart?

wrote in message
...
On Sunday, 7 January 2018 01:13:39 UTC, Rod Speed wrote:
tabbypurr wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 6 January 2018 23:26:56 UTC, Rod Speed wrote:
tabbypurr wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 6 January 2018 09:46:03 UTC, Rod Speed wrote:
tabbypurr wrote in message
...

18. A machine to weigh automatically and stamp postage.

Standard

surely that's easy to do with 1937 technology

Not really with varying the stamp used. That was before they
had replaced stamps with something printed on the envelope.

trivial

Sure but still had to be possible.

Maybe I should have spelt it out for you: it's
trivial to do with the technology of the time

Not when the system didnt allow you to print your own stamps.

are you by any chance not too smart?

You never could bull**** your way out of a wet paper bag.

That was the invention he suggested we need.

On Saturday, 6 January 2018 07:03:20 UTC, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
3. An automatic window-closer.
Air conditionong or electric windows

Much simpler is the wax cylinder used on greenhouses.
9. A process for taking colored X-ray pictures.
meaningless. Whar color are xrays?

I presume what is meant is the pictures are in colour, and we almost have that with CRT and other medical imaging, even if the colours are simulated.

12. A furnace that will conserve 90% of its heat, instead of
the average 30% now retained)
We dont use furnaces much tehse days.

For furnaces (USE) read central heating boilers (BrE) and we've got there with gas.

13. A method for producing rain in a given locality at any
time, and a method to stop the rainfall.
Still wait9ng

But pretty close for agricultural purposes, with polytunnels and irrigation.

14. A process for recording speech directly on paper without
the use of a stenographer.
Speech recognitin has outpaced it

Nowhere near it in quality, as TV subtitles show.

15. A machine for making the application of wallpaper simple
for amateurs.
Whoi uses wallpaper? just projecty an LCD screen onto the wall.,

Didn't The Gadget Show or similar invent one?

Owain

wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 6 January 2018 07:03:20 UTC, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
3. An automatic window-closer.
Air conditionong or electric windows

Much simpler is the wax cylinder used on greenhouses.
9. A process for taking colored X-ray pictures.
meaningless. Whar color are xrays?

I presume what is meant is the pictures are in colour, and we almost have
that with CRT and other medical imaging, even if the colours are
simulated.

12. A furnace that will conserve 90% of its heat, instead of
the average 30% now retained)
We dont use furnaces much tehse days.

For furnaces (USE) read central heating boilers (BrE) and we've got there
with gas.

13. A method for producing rain in a given locality at any
time, and a method to stop the rainfall.
Still wait9ng

But pretty close for agricultural purposes, with polytunnels and
irrigation.

14. A process for recording speech directly on paper without
the use of a stenographer.
Speech recognitin has outpaced it

Nowhere near it in quality, as TV subtitles show.

15. A machine for making the application of wallpaper simple
for amateurs.
Whoi uses wallpaper? just projecty an LCD screen onto the wall.,

Didn't The Gadget Show or similar invent one?

Yep, but given you can't buy it, it can't have been viable.

wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 6 January 2018 07:03:20 UTC, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
3. An automatic window-closer.
Air conditionong or electric windows

Much simpler is the wax cylinder used on greenhouses.
9. A process for taking colored X-ray pictures.
meaningless. Whar color are xrays?

I presume what is meant is the pictures are in colour, and we almost have
that with CRT and other medical imaging, even if the colours are
simulated.

12. A furnace that will conserve 90% of its heat, instead of
the average 30% now retained)
We dont use furnaces much tehse days.

For furnaces (USE) read central heating boilers (BrE) and we've got there
with gas.

13. A method for producing rain in a given locality at any
time, and a method to stop the rainfall.
Still wait9ng

But pretty close for agricultural purposes, with polytunnels and
irrigation.

14. A process for recording speech directly on paper without
the use of a stenographer.
Speech recognitin has outpaced it

Nowhere near it in quality, as TV subtitles show.

15. A machine for making the application of wallpaper simple
for amateurs.
Whoi uses wallpaper? just projecty an LCD screen onto the wall.,

Didn't The Gadget Show or similar invent one?

Yep, but given you can't buy it, it can't have been viable.