On January 8, 1935, U.S. Patent No. 1,987,441 issued to Professor Arthur Cobb Hardy on a spectrophotometer.

Professor Hardy’s spectrophotometer transformed how science and industry measured color. At a time when color evaluation was still largely subjective and manual, Hardy’s invention introduced an automated way to scan light across the visible spectrum and continuously record results.

Earlier spectrophotometers required operators to take individual readings at selected wavelengths—slow, error-prone work that limited practical use. Hardy’s patented design replaced this with a mechanically scanned system that produced a continuous spectral curve, making measurements faster, more accurate, and repeatable. For the first time, color could be expressed as reliable numerical data rather than human judgment.

The impact of Hardy’s spectrophotometer extended far beyond the laboratory. Industries such as textiles, printing, paints, photography, and lighting adopted the instrument to ensure color consistency across production runs. Equally important, the data it produced aligned with emerging international color standards, helping to establish a shared scientific and commercial language for color.

By turning perception into measurement, his spectrophotometer laid the groundwork for modern color science and directly influenced the electronic spectrophotometers used today.

On January 6, 1857, Samuel Wetherillll, received U.S. Patent No. 16,362 on a Method of Obaining Metallic Zinc From the 0res of Zinc:

Wetherill has been described as an “obscure, but important, American inventor.” Educated at the University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University, Wetherill was a skilled chemist working for the New Jersey Zinc Company when he invented a novel process for extracting zinc oxide from ores. Previous processes for making zinc oxide use metallic zing, and Wetherill’s process saved the step of first making metallic zinc.

Rather than continuing to refine his process at New Jersey Zinc Company, Wetherill tried to sell his patented furnace to the company. Because he used their supplies and laboratory to develop his technique, the company refused, and Wetherill resigned to pursue his invention on his own, forming the Pennsylvania Lehigh and Zinc Company. At some point Wetherill began experimenting with the production of metallic zinc, with an eye toward going into business for himself, which resulted in his forced separation from the company.

This time Wetherill struck out on his own, forming the Wetherill Zinc Company, and continuing his work on producing metallic zinc. He successfully developed a furnace that produced quality metallic zinc, but the process was not commercially viable and later abandoned.

The outbreak of the Civil War caused great demand for zinc, and the Pennsylvania and Lehigh Zinc company where Wetherill once worked thrived. Years later it was purchased by a group of investors, including two of Wetherill’s sons.

On January 5, 1904, U.S. Patent No. 748,626 issued to Lizzie J. Magie on a Game Board:

Lizzie’s game is eerily similar to C.B. Darrow’s Monopoly game, patented 31 years later (U.S. Patent No. 2,026,082):

One has to wonder what justified Darrow’s monopoly on Monopoly after Lizzie’s patent? A bunch of street names from Atlantic City, New Jersey?

On January 5, 1886, U.S. Patent No. 333,564, issued to William Stanley, Jr. on a System of Electric Lighting.

William Stanley Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 28, 1858. The ‘564 was one of 129 patents, mostly related to electrical lighting, he received during his career. Among other things he invented the first practical AC transformer and the first complete system of high voltage AC transmission including generators, transformers and high-voltage transmission lines.

In 1913, he also patented an all-steel vacuum bottle, and formed the Stanley Bottle Company. Yes, that Stanley Bottle Company. The original simple reusable water bottles that were a success among blue-collar workers and outdoorsmen, it was not until 2016, long after William passed, that the company launched it’s Quench line of tumblers that became so popular.

In another footnote of history, William’s son, Harold Stanley, went on to found the modern day financial firm of Morgan Stanley with J. P. Morgan’s grandson, Henry Sturgis Morgan.

On January 4, 1921, U.S. Patent No. D56,894 issued to Augustus H. Sell on an article of manufacture — a campaign button design for the Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge:

Augustus filed on July 16,1920, weeks after the June 12, 1920, nomination of Harding and Coolidge at the Republican Convention in Chicago, Illinois, and the patent issued on January 4, 2021, two months after their November 2, 1920, election (but two months before their March 4, 1921, inauguration). However, due to to Harding’s premature death in 1923, the Augustus’ design was useless for the 1924 election.

It is unclear whether Augustus; design was ever used. Campaign buttons from the era were much simpler in design:

On January 3, 1995, U.S. Patent No. 5,377,411 issued to Demetrios Andriotis on a Hair Cutting Appliance:

Demetrios created a haircutting appliance comprising “an enclosed housing having a hollow handle connecting the housing to a vacuum source to carry away cut hairs from a subject’s head.” It sounds like a Flowbee, patented by Rick E. Hunts:

Hunts started in 1988 selling Flowbees from his garage before finding success with late-night informercials. By 2000, he had sold more than two million Flowbees.

On January 2, 2001, U.S. Patent No. D435802 issued to Donatella Versace on a ring:

If you like it, there is currently available on eBay for only $3995:

On January 2, 1985, Thomas Davis and Stephen Glasscock received U.S Patent No. 4,491,494 on Decorating Methods.

The patent says it all, folks. Happy New Year!