Inventions

• The pacemaker was invented in 1957 by Medtronic founder Earl Bakken in his garage. It became the first self-contained, transistorized device that could be taped to a patient’s chest and needed no cords.
• The “Black Box” – the flight recorder found in every commercial airliner today – was developed by Minnesota based General Mills in conjunction with the University of Minnesota in 1953.
• The oxygen mask was invented by three Mayo Clinic physicians in 1935 for Northwest Airlines.
• Wet/Dry Sandpaper, Masking Tape, Post-it Notes and Scotch tape were created by Minnesota based 3M.
• Wheaties cereal, Bisquick, HMOs, the bundt pan, Aveda beauty products, and Green Giant vegetables.
• The stapler was invented in Spring Valley, MN (under review – reported on in the Spring Valley Tribune).
• The first practical water skis were invented in 1922 by Ralph W. Samuelson, who steam-bent 2 eight-foot-long pine boards into skies. He took his first ride behind a motorboat on a lake in Lake City.
• The first Automatic Pop-up toaster was marketed in June 1926 by McGraw Electric Co. in Minneapolis under the name Toastmaster. The retail price was $13.50.
• Rollerblades were the first commercially successful in-line Roller Skates. Minnesota students Scott and Brennan Olson invented them in 1980, when they were looking for a way to practice Hockey during the off-season. Their design was an ice hockey boot with 3 inline wheels instead of a blade.
• Tonka Trucks were invented and developed in Minnetonka (hence the name “Tonka”). They continue to be manufactured there.
• Polaris Industries of Roseau manufactured the first practical snowmobile in 1956.
• The first snowblower designed for home use, was created by Bloomington, MN based Toro in 1951.
• The automatic retractable seat belt (for automobiles) was first patented in 1963 by University of Minnesota Professor James J. Ryan.
• Zubaz, the loud, loose trousers made specifically for bodybuilders, were invented by Minneapolis gym owners
  Dan Stock and Bob Truax in 1991.