1897 - Technology

Technology

French chemist-physicist Georges Claude, 27, shows that acetylene can be transported safely if dissolved in acetone, thus giving impetus to use of acetylene gas torches for cutting metal (see 1895; 1903).

The first U.S. commercial high-carbon ferrochrome for plating steel is produced by acetylene promoter James T. Morehead with help from French-born U.S. metallurgist Guillaume de Chalmot (see 1892).

The New Lowe Coke Oven invented by Thaddeus S. C. Lowe improves manufacture of high-grade coke for steel making (see 1873).

The Swiss Army Knife patented June 12 is an officer's knife with a red fiber case that encloses blades of various sizes and a corkscrew. Swiss inventor Karl Elsener discovered 6 years ago that the knives supplied to Swiss Army recruits were imported from Germany, so he devised a wood-handled pocketknife containing a screwdriver, can opener, and punch in addition to its blade and sold it to the army for use by enlisted men. His red-handled knife is a refined version.