1892

Sir James Dewar

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"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." Albert Einstein

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50 year old Dewar made a howler of a mistake, he forgot to patent his greatest invention - the vacuum flask. He was beaten by a German firm called "Thermos", they realised its commercial value and made a fortune. Angry - Dewar sued Thermos. Sadly, he lost the case because of his failure to patent his idea, but was recognised as the inventor. The next time you enjoy a drink from a flask of hot tea, spare a thought for its unsung inventor.

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"Minds are like parachutes. They only function when open."  Sir James Dewar