History of flavor in general

The tradition that ranks the sense of taste as among the lowlier attributes of human beings has roots that run long and deep into the history of philosophy Plato and Aristotle not only laid down some of the major alternatives for philosophical thinking but helped to determine the grounds on which an issue should be considered worthy of philosophical consideration at all.

Flavor has long been an enigma to scientists: Aristotle described two categories of taste, sweet and bitter.

The ancient Indian, Chinese, and Greek civilizations considered the palate to be one of the oldest and most intimate ways that men came into contact with nature.

The application of all products from the flavour and fragrance industry is solely aimed at enhancing the human striving for increased pleasure and sensual enjoyment.

According to Theophrastus, who compiled his predecessors’ theories on the subject, men had been trying to explain the phenomenon of taste since the 6thcentury BC, when Alcmaeon of Croton proposed that the tongue, being naturally warm and soft, dissolved flavors with its heat and absorbent texture, much like a sponge.

In De rerum natura(c. 54 BC) his famous poetic exposition of Democritean physics, the Epicurean poet Lucretius described how these variously shaped atoms then seeped into the networks of pores upon the sponge-like, “loose-textured” tongue. Some of these atoms merely tickled it.

The roots of flavor industry date back to early Egyptian history, as this extraordinarily advanced civilization was already thoroughly aware of and acquainted with perfumery and the embalming characteristics of certain spices and resins. Simple methods for the distillation and extraction of essential oils and resins were already known in pre-Christian times and subsequently elaborated by the Arabs.

In the mid-nineteenth century, flavor additives —volatile organic chemicals with desirable aromatic qualities —began to be used to flavor sugary confections, carbonated beverages, and other mass-marketed delights.

By the mid-twentieth century, added flavors had become ubiquitous in processed, packaged foods; a sophisticated, techno-scientific, and globe-spanning industry had emerged that specialized in their production.

History of flavor in general

Bleriot, Louis (1872-1936) – French Aviator

Bleriot, Louis was a French aviator who made a small fortune manufacturing headlights and other accessories for early automobiles.

He was declared a French hero in 1909 when he made the first journey by aero-plane across the English Channel. He was made a Commander de la Legion d’honneur in recognition of this achievement.

The son of manufacturer, Bleriot took a degree in engineering prior to his military service. In the early 1900s he attempts to build aircraft, later founding the French aircraft factory in 1906.

On 17 September 1907, he flew 186 meters in one of his own monoplanes. In subsequent flights he covered up to his 42 km overland.

On 25 July 1909, just weeks before Wilbur Wright flew around Manhattan, Bleriot took off from Les Barques, Calais, at 4.41 am and landed near Dover Castle 36 minutes later after flight of some 38 km.

His aircraft the Bleriot XI, which was constructed sratiung in 1908, was powered by a 25-HP (19-kW) engine. Bleriot was awarded the 1000 pounds prize of London newspaper had offered to anyone who accomplished the crossing.

His company also received hundreds of orders from the Bleriot XI monoplane. He became one of the leading aircraft designers and manufacturers.

In 1911, a Bleriot plane was the first to be used for military purposes (for reconnaissance by Italians against the Turks) and his plane were used by the French army during World War I.

All the Allied Nations used his famous SPAD fighter biplane in the early part of the war. After other more advanced airplanes replaced the SPAD in combat, Bleriot’s airplane became a training craft.
Bleriot, Louis (1872-1936) – Famous French Aviator

History of wire rope

The wire rope can be seen as one of the oldest mechanical components.

Wire rope production beginning with its invention by Wilhelm August Julius Albert in 1834 and the production was developed rapidly during the industrial expansion. Albert cables were the first to gain rapidly direct common usage.

Wire was first made 3000 years ago, and the earliest known wire rope dates from about 700 BC. This rope was made of gold and silver and was used for ornamental purposes.

In the ruins of Pompeii, a piece of bronze wire rope was found.

3000 years ago, metal filaments and wires were made without exception by hammering. Probably a metal sheet was hammered out first, then cut up into this strip and finally these strips were hammered out to increasing length and filed to make them circular in section.

Miners were the first to use wire rope or wire cable systematically. But Leonardo da Vinci had already visualized cables for the movements of loads. He made sketches of cables made from brass wire.

In 1780 the French engineer Riegnier applied iron cables for lightning conductors.
History of wire rope