Undervalued Innovations: The Legacy of Hiram Maxim

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Hiram Maxim was an inventor whose importance is neglected. Maxim was born on February 5, 1840 in Sangersville, Maine. He grew up in a poor family with his brother Hudson Maxim. He was apprenticed to a carriage maker at age 14. This was his turning point into inventing. During his free time he made an automatic mouse trap. This device reset itself after it was sprung, and rided all rodents from the local mills. Later in his career, he made a machine that would curl hair. This device was later called a curling iron. He later patented it, making his first patented invention of two hundred seventy-one. Another invention he created was the indoor sprinkling system. This would not only put out fires, but also warn the fire department. Even with

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