Inventions That Have Been Used For Centuries

By Carey Bourdier


While our technological advances over the last millennium have been quite impressive, there are certain tools that have been used for hundreds of years and are still needed today. So, while we can use robots to build cars and our computers allow us to send a letter across the globe in mere seconds, these ancient tools still come in quite handy today.

One item that has remained much the same since ancient times is the wheelbarrow. While we now have gigantic machines and trucks capable of moving huge, heavy loads, if you need to carry away some dirt or rocks in your yard, a wheelbarrow is a handy tool to own. These items were used in Ancient China, Greece and Rome, and ancient examples of these devices can be seen in drawings and also have been found in archeological dig sites.

You've probably heard the song, "If I had a Hammer," and the singer is likely the only person on earth who doesn't possess this simple, but highly helpful tool. The typical claw-style hammer that we use to pound stuff and remove a nail has existed for many thousands of years, and before those were created, many used all types of stones as hammers. The hammer has been needed from man's earliest times, millions of years ago, and is still essential for many jobs today. Today there are many types of hammers, including mechanically powered hammers, which are designed for very specific types of jobs.

There are people whose whole life revolves around metrology, otherwise known as the science of measurement. Among the many tools used by these scientists, as well as surveyors and aerospace engineers, is the theodolite. This tool is helpful because it allows the user to measure angles in both planes, which obviously has many applications. This device is not something new, however, and the theodolites we see today are quite similar to those constructed in the late 18th century. The earliest theodolites were constructed in the early 16th century.

A large ocean-going ship relies on many high-tech devices, such as RADAR, SONAR and depth finders, but most ships do still carry navigational tools that have existed in some form for many centuries. Among these are compasses and sextants, as well as a variety of telescopes. While today's telescopes are more powerful and accurate than those from centuries ago, the basic design principles are much the same and sailors still learn how to use a variety of these old tools, which can be helpful if, for some reason, power is suddenly cut off.

While not precisely ancient, the clinometer is an important tool that dates back more than 100 years. This tool measures the angles of slope in relation to gravity, and sometimes you will hear this tool called an inclinometer or even a tilt gauge or tilt meter. These types of measurements are essential to many different professions, from those who design airplanes and space craft to those who study volcanoes and even for those who are creating the slopes at a new ski resort.




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