Dayton, Ohio: City of Inventors

Dayton is home to famous inventors all around the globe. The city offers vibrant stories of how inventions shaped the culture, history, and economy of Dayton. Everyone who originated from Dayton is taught that the city is where aviation started and the Wright Brothers who first thought of the idea of flight are locals of the town. Did you know that the square cut pizza also came first in Dayton, particularly at Marion's Piazza. Aside from these two remarkable inventions, other things have Dayton as their birthplace, and they deserve recognition as well.

If you didn't know yet, Ermal Fraze of Dayton invented the pop-top or pull-tab cans which made opening cans more convenient for us. He created it in 1959 when he forgot his device that opens cans at a picnic. Fraze then used his knowledge in operating machines to come up with the brilliant idea of the pull-tab cans. In 1977, he redeveloped this invention as the push-in and fold-back tab which we now have the luxury of using. His company became a leading producer of the tab design. He passed away because of a brain tumor in 1989.

Have you ever heard of John H. Balsey? No? How about stepladders? You probably have. Balsey patented his invention of a stepladder in 1862. It was the first foldable stepladder that makes it easier for us to keep and store it.

Nowadays, people use icemakers to create ice, but before these were made, ice cube trays were the thing, and they still are for some. Ice cube trays were Arthur J. Frei's invention when he was working at Frigidaire. He created 23 patents throughout his career.

Levitt Luzern Custer, like his friends, the Wright Brothers also had a considerable interest in flight, but he was more interested in hot air balloons. He was known for the Statoscope, his first significant invention built in 1916. Aside from the hot air balloon, Custer also created some amusement park rides such as the aquatic bicycle with pedals. Most importantly, we should thank Custer for inventing the electric wheelchair. He died in 1962 and was buried at the Woodland Cemetery.

When we talk about greatest inventors in Dayton, we will always mention the late Charles F. Kettering. He was the brilliant mind behind the first electric ignition system in 1913. Aside from that, he also created electric lights for automobiles which made it more convenient and safer for drivers to travel at night. But before he even made it big in the automobile industry, he is already known for inventing the first ever cash register. He also created other automobile-related creations such as leaded gasoline, spark plugs, and four-wheel brakes. His house was also historic because it is the first in the country to have electric air-conditioning system, using Freon. He is recognized as one of the members of the renowned National Inventors Hall of Fame. Like the other inventors we mentioned, he also was buried at Woodland Cemetery when he passed away in 1958.

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