We can list a lot of famous French inventors, but there is one name that is sure to come to your mind almost immediately. That is Paul Revere. It is debatable as to whether his mechanical clock was the first mechanical clock in the world, but it was surely an innovative invention. The idea was to have a loud alarm that would ring out only when someone’s wrist was touched. This was a crude and primitive form of a time piece, and many years later it was turned into a clock that was operational with a spring and a hand operated dial. Although it did not make any significant technological advances, it was certainly an important stepping stone in the progression from analogue clocks to more elaborate mechanical devices.
Another important French inventor of importance is Louis Eustache. His contributions to the world of watches and clocks were certainly of a high order, and his influence was vast. It was he who created the first mass-produced watch, and his ideas and his creation of the automatic androids we know today owe a lot to him. His creations such as the Eiffel Tower Clock, and the Chateauneufles Clock inspired many later designers. Even so, the Eustache brothers’ patent for the automatic winding of watch has long been disputed, with some claiming it to be a design based on an earlier design by Jules Eudox de Laforcade.
It is also worth remembering that it was a number of French men who actually came up with some of the great works of art that have become world famous. This includes writers, painters and composers, whose names are synonymous with some of the most famous works in the world today. Many people might not have heard of them, but their impact on the art and literature world cannot be denied. There is no debate about the fact that Renoir and Courreges were the pivotal works of the artists that followed their footsteps, and these famous French inventors have become the symbols of artistic brilliance in the Romantic period, which still holds true today.
Some of the most important inventions and discoveries that were made by these famous French inventors can be loosely grouped under three heads. The first was the process of making clothes dry, and the second was the development of the assembly line. And finally, the last invention was the method of preserving food.
The French chef, Prosperaire Parfait, is said to be the progenitor of the modern steam digester. His creation came at a time when there was a great need for an easy and effective way of preserving food. As a matter of fact, the French government and industry saw the benefit of this and invested heavily in the process of creating appliances that could help in the production of this important product. Appert became the forerunner of the modern sand cooler. Parfait invented the thermometer and became the forerunner of thermometers. The combination of these two inventions eventually lead to the modern and easy to use sand cooler.
The French seamstress, Marie Antoinette was the first person to create what we call the dressmaker’s ladder. This simple but effective contraption was used by women all over the world as an alternative to the more flimsy and expensive sewing machines of her time. There are many more great French inventors and it is only through their inventions that we are still able to take advantage of their labor and ingenuity. If you are looking for great resources on French furniture and sewing, check out Jean-Louis Tavernier’s website.