Another point to note is the development of inventions. Many of the current inventions available to us have been developed over a period of time (often over the last few centuries) thanks to advances in technology. However, some inventions originated in ancient human societies and it is practically impossible to determine the exact date of their emergence the glasses or paper, for example, are of those important inventions that date back to a large part of the life history of human societies. Scissors can also be considered another of these old and valuable inventions!
Scissors are one of the most useful tools in everyday use of homes, company or even public places. Today, scissors are used for many purposes, from kitchen scissors and hairdressing scissors to large industrial scissors and even children's scissors, which are mostly used for cutting paper and making handicrafts. But do you know when scissors were invented and who was the original inventor?
In many historical sources, the invention of scissors is attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, the great Italian genius. But more detailed studies show that the ancient Egyptians also used some kind of metal scissors around 1500 BC. These primary scissors were made of one piece of bronze, the two blades of which were connected and controlled by a metal strip. By pressing the two blades together, it was possible to use scissors. Further on, due to travels that traders and travelers had between cities, countries, and continents, these scissors were transferred to other parts of the world. This led to changes even in the ways they made them. The turning point in these changes was the invention of the ancient Roman scissors, based on the Egyptian model, which is the first scissors with cross blades (similar to modern scissors today). The main problem with these scissors, which were made of bronze and iron, was the constant slowing down of the blades, which needed to be sharpened again each time.
The idea of using cross blades is the basis for the production of scissors in different countries, and even today the same principle is used to produce different types of scissors. The history of the development and evolution of scissors shows that until the middle of the seventeenth century, innovation in the design and manufacture of scissors was limited to the use of iron rods.
One of the most famous companies active in this field was William Whiteley & Sons (Sheffield) Ltd, which in 1760 started producing scissors and offering them to the market. Although this business can be considered much older due to the demand for different types of scissors at different times, the modern activities of this company have made an interesting distinction. The receipt of the trademark in 1791, for distinguishing the product in the market, made this factory further demonstrated this distinction.
It this worth noting that the company is still active and is known as the oldest Western company in the field of production and supply of scissors.
Although it is very difficult to identify the true inventor of modern scissors, Robert Hinchliffe's great work in the mass production of scissors earned him the title of father of modern scissors to this great inventor and entrepreneur. He was the first to use steel for mass production of scissors in 1761 (more than two hundred years after Da Vinci's death). More importantly, he transformed an industry that had been run by hand for years into a modern industry. Hinchliffe's main challenge was to form the scissor retaining ring. He used casting and perforating steel plates to make these rings so that the dimensions would be large enough to fit the user's fingers. This stage was a bit difficult, but Hinchliffe was able to improve it to increase production. He erected a sign in one of Sheffield's main squares and introduced himself as a "maker of good scissors." Hinchliffe's scissors were well-received and soon sold well in London and other cities.
With the increasing use of modern scissors, the creative minds of inventors also shifted to changing existing models and launching new products. One of these interesting ideas is the scissors with serrated blades known today as "Pinking Shears". Many inventors have contributed to the development and completion of this idea, but the turning point of these innovations is the Louise Austin toothed scissors, which was registered in the United States in January 1893. The result was US Patent and Trademark Certificate No. 489406, issued to him by the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Another interesting innovation is the making of scissors that are suitable for working with both left and right hands at the same time. Most scissors are suitable for right-hand use. But special scissors have also been designed and marketed for the leftist’s people. This big difference led to the idea of making twin scissors along with the design of right and left scissors. In these scissors, the handles are perfectly symmetrical and there is no distinction between the knobs of the thumb and the other fingers. The axis of these scissors is designed in such a way that the blades are easily rotated and no lateral pressure is applied to the user's hand. The blades also have two edges to solve the problem of user visibility towards the cutting line. These unique scissors were patented in 1974 by John W. Mayer and patented under US Patent No. 3978584 by the US Patent and Trademark Office.