Tyre rubber was invented by dropping some on a stove.
In 1839 Charles Goodyear, the story goes, accidentally heated rubber mixed with sulphur and got a tough material, yet he died in debt, and the famous tyre company was named after him by others.
More amazing facts
- 1838 The first person ever photographed got into the picture because he was having his boots shined.
- 1838 Mexico's General Santa Anna buried his own leg with full military honours.
- 1839 · 1842 The word 'dinosaur' is younger than photography: the daguerreotype was unveiled in 1839, while Richard Owen coined the 'terrible lizard' only in 1842.
- 1840 Before the railways, Bristol kept its own time, ten minutes behind London.
- 1840 Britain is the only country whose stamps carry no country name.
- 1840 Before stamps, the recipient paid for a letter, so people cheated.