Have you ever wondered who was the first person to think of using a fork rather than eating with our hands? Or why do we put candles on birthday cakes? If you have, or even if you never did, now’s the time to start wondering because we have the answers. The world existed long before some of the things we think are normal were around, and the first time they debuted was often in a different form than what we know today. Join us as we discover the strange and entertaining origin stories of popular inventions.
#1: We’re All Fans of the Ceiling Fan
Despite its usefulness, one of the frequently overlooked inventions is the ceiling fan, which is believed to have originated in the 17th century as the “punkah” in India. These devices were commonly installed in the residences and palaces of affluent individuals.
The punkah design, though innovative for its time, was pretty simple. It consisted of a frame with a cloth or large palm fronds attached to the ceiling, and to generate airflow, it relied on a system of pulleys that required manual operation by a person.