♠ Posted by Unknown in inventions,technology at 5:27 PM
It's hard to imagine that inventors wouldn't get excited by their own
inventions. After pouring hours, days, or even years into a single
creation, it must be thrilling to see something finally come to life as
it was imagined. However, some inventions don't ever seem to work properly. It's not unheard of to spend tons of time working on something new, only to have it blow up in your face. For these unfortunate few, that's literally what happened to them. Their life's work ultimately led to an early death.
Franz Reichelt, 1879-1912.
Austrian-born Franz Reichelt created what is
now jokingly known as the "Flying Taylor" — an aviator's suit that was
supposed to double as a parachute in the event of an emergency. Though
tests using dummies and other inanimate objects wearing the suit proved
to be successful, Reichelt unsuccessfully tested the suit himself by
jumping from the top of the Eiffel Tower and falling to his death.
Horace Lawson Hunley, 1823-1863.
Hunley served as a Marine engineer for the
Confederacy during the American Civil War. His creation of the first
combat submarine, the aptly named CSS Hunley, seemed like it'd give the
South a major advantage. However, during the craft's tests, Hunley and
seven other crew members were unable to bring the sub to the surface,
causing everyone on board to drown.
Thomas Andrews, Jr., 1873-1912.
Thomas Andrews was an Irish shipbuilder who
designed one of the most infamous vessels of all time — the RMS Titanic.
Andrews also had the unfortunate honor of traveling on the "unsinkable"
ship's maiden voyage, during which it sank after hitting an iceberg.
Andrews was one of many passengers on the Titanic who died in the
disaster.
Karel Soucek, 1947-1985.
Karel Soucek lived for danger. In 1984, the
daredevil went over Niagara Falls in a homemade barrel, somehow
surviving the 75-mph plunge. However, when Soucek attempted a similar
stunt one year later from the roof of the Houston Astrodome, his
contraptions failed, causing him to die shortly after landing.
Max Valier, 1895-1930.
Max Valier created rocket engines that would
eventually serve as a starting point for the first spaceship engines.
Valier's mechanisms used liquid fuel, which he thought could be used for
both space and land vehicles. Sadly, less than a month after testing
the first "rocket car," one of Valier's engines exploded, killing him
instantly.
Marie Curie, 1867-1934.
Marie Curie made extensive contributions and
discoveries in the world of radiation and radioactivity. However, since
Curie was constantly working with hazardous materials, she exposed
herself to lethal amounts of radiation. She was even known to carry
radioactive materials in her pocket. This eventually caused her to die
of aplastic anemia, a degradation of the bone marrow.
William Bullock, 1813-1867.
William Bullock created the web rotary
printing press — a major improvement on a similar contraption built by
Richard March Hoe. Bullock's creation helped improve the printing
industry by quickly producing quality material, which in turn would
allow for greater distribution and larger volumes of texts. In 1867, as
he was installing one of his printing presses, Bullock's leg was caught
in the device. Shortly after this incident, the leg developed gangrene,
and Bullock later died on an operating table.
Otto Lilienthal, 1848-1896.
Otto Lilienthal became so influential in the
world of aviation that historians refer to him as the "Glider King."
Lilienthal spent years creating his winged contraptions, which looked
more like bird wings than the gliders we know today. Lilienthal also
personally tested his gliders. This proved to be his downfall when one
of his inventions failed, causing him to fall 50 feet and fracture his
neck.
Aurel Vlaicu, 1882-1913.
Aurel Vlaicu was one of the first airplane
constructors in the 1900s. The Romanian engineer created smaller winged
crafts until the completion of his largest creation, the Vlaicu II.
During an attempt to fly the craft across the Carpathian Mountains, the
aging Vlaicu II failed and crashed, taking its namesake with it. The
exact circumstances of the plane's failure are still unknown.
Jimi Heselden, 1948-2010.
Jimi Heselden is often mistaken as the
inventor the Segway. He was actually just a lifelong entrepreneur who
bought the company that made the less-than-popular vehicles. Shortly
after his purchase, Heselden accidentally rode a Segway off a cliff in
Thorp Arch, West Yorkshire, England. Investigators discovered that
Heselden attempted to reverse the vehicle near the cliff's edge, but was
unable to do so, causing him to fall 80 feet to an untimely end.
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