meta dict | text listlengths 124 216 |
|---|---|
{
"things": [
"Office Chairs",
"Vinobrew",
"Reconditioned Sander Drums",
"Lithographs"
]
} | [
"thomas jefferson, one of america's founding fathers, came up with the first swiveling mechanism for office chairs.",
"Decades later, charles darwin added small wheels, called casters, to his chair to roll it around the study as he worked on the theory of evolution.",
"Today, office chairs still swivel and roll... |
{
"things": [
"Giant Valves",
"Sardines",
"Barographs",
"Disposable Diapers"
]
} | [
"Valves control the flow of liquids and gases through pipes and tubes.",
"They're so much part of our lives, we hardly think twice about them.",
"But a faulty valve in an airplane or chemical plant could be catastrophic.",
"Valves must be precision-made and trouble-free, whether it's small enough to fit insid... |
{
"things": [
"Sawhorses & Toolboxes",
"Sorbet Pops",
"School Buses"
]
} | [
"When it comes to construction, renovation, or simply repairs, whether you're a seasoned pro or a do-it-yourselfer, having the right tools makes the job easier.",
"Sawhorses support the piece of wood you're cutting, and a toolbox keeps your implements organized and portable.",
"Sawhorses are always sold in pair... |
{
"things": [
"Compact Discs",
"Mozzarella Cheese",
"Pantyhose",
"Fluorescent Tubes"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Compact discs...",
"Mozzarella cheese...",
"Pantyhose...",
"And fluorescent tubes.",
"Today there's virtually no limit to the information we can store on compact discs.",
"Millions of bits of data representing words, numbers, music, graphics, or even video can be stored... |
{
"things": [
"Air Boats",
"Onions",
"3D Metal Printing",
"Curved Cabinet Doors"
]
} | [
"An airboat is a flat-bottomed vessel with a huge propeller at the back.",
"All of the boat's mechanics are above the water line, and just a bit of the hull rests below.",
"This makes the airboat the preferred mode of transport through shallow water, particularly marshes and swamps.",
"to steer an airboat, la... |
{
"things": [
"Plastic Cups and Cutlery",
"Special Effects Makeup",
"Gold",
"Harps"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Plastic cups and cutlery...",
"Special-effects makeup...",
"Gold...",
"And harps.",
"The industry calls it single-usage plasticware, but that's just a fancy way to say throwaway plastic dishes.",
"Plastic plates, bowls, drinkware, and cutlery come in many styles and col... |
{
"things": [
"Horse"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Horse-drawn carriages...",
"Artificial eyes...",
"Dog and cat food...",
"And mirrors.",
"Nothing takes you back to the past quite like a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, a timeless vehicle in both appearance and construction.",
"Building one today still requires the expe... |
{
"things": [
"Induction Cooktops",
"Truck Scales",
"Tetra Pak Containers",
"Harmonicas"
]
} | [
"Mankind has always cooked food, using everything from campfires and barbecues to gas and electric stove tops.",
"Now he can use an induction cooktop.",
"It doesn't need a fire, a flame, or a red-hot burner.",
"It uses innovative cooking technology our ancestors never dreamt possible and would swear was pure ... |
{
"things": [
"Bronze Bells",
"Wooden Airplane Propellers",
"Charcoal Briquettes",
"Gas Log Fireplaces"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Bronze bells...",
"Wooden airplane propellers...",
"Charcoal briquettes...",
"And gas-log fireplaces.",
"Throughout history, bells have played both practical and ceremonial roles.",
"Village bells would ring to mark time and to warn of danger.",
"Church bells would to... |
{
"things": [
"1000th Item"
]
} | [
"Cycling shoes have cleats for bolting the foot to the pedal.",
"The cyclist is connected to the bicycle, body and soul.",
"Bike shoes with clip-in cleats are a fairly recent innovation.",
"The first versions appeared in france in the 1980s and were modeled after alpine ski bindings.",
"Avid cyclists are ve... |
{
"things": [
"Worcestershire Sauce",
"Lawn Bowls",
"Radio"
]
} | [
"Its name can be a bit of a tongue-twister-- \"wuss-te-shire\" sauce, \"woos-ter-sheer\" sauce, \"wuss-te-sure\" sauce.",
"All those pronunciations are acceptable, as are the endless ways to use this condiment, from flavoring beef recipes and salad dressings to joining tomato juice and vodka in a bloody mary.",
... |
{
"things": [
"Umbrellas",
"Outboard Motors",
"Silver Cutlery",
"Tape Measures"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Umbrellas...",
"Outboard motors...",
"Silver cutlery...",
"And tape measures.",
"It provides shelter from the rain, protection from the sun, and it's a chic fashion accessory.",
"The umbrella originated in ancient china some 1,700 years ago.",
"Since then, it's evolve... |
{
"things": [
"Copper Pipe Fittings",
"Cylinder Music Boxes",
"Pepper Mills",
"Hot Rod Steering Columns"
]
} | [
"In the world of plumbing, it's all about connections.",
"And we're talking about elbows, t's, and other fittings.",
"Fittings hold everything together.",
"They're also used to reroute pipes and control the flow of liquids.",
"Without them, things just wouldn't flow as they should.",
"With so many shapes ... |
{
"things": [
"Race Car Oil Tanks",
"Plaster Mouldings",
"Lemongrass Oil",
"Fly Tying Vises"
]
} | [
"In racecar engines, excess lubricating oil is stored in tanks rather than oil pans.",
"This prevents the oil from sloshing around during the race and causing drag on the crankshaft.",
"With less drag, performance is increased.",
"So these oil tanks are part of a winning strategy.",
"Racecar oil tanks come ... |
{
"things": [
"Personal Watercraft",
"Wine",
"Office Furniture",
"Ice Skates"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Personal watercraft...",
"Wine...",
"Particleboard office furniture...",
"And ice skates.",
"They're to water what snowmobiles are to snow, what motorcycles are to road.",
"The proper term for these adrenaline-pumping, wind-in-your-face vehicles is personal watercraft, ... |
{
"things": [
"Laptops",
"Panettone",
"Saxophones"
]
} | [
"The first computers used to be the size of an entire room.",
"Then they were built to fit on your desk.",
"The newest design is a portable device that sits on your lap, and today's laptops are made even smaller and more powerful than ever.",
"With its lightning-fast processor and impressive graphics, this la... |
{
"things": [
"Technical Glass",
"Washing Machines",
"Playing Cards",
"Crossbows"
]
} | [
"A traffic intersection, a hollywood movie set, the outside of an airplane-- it's hard to imagine any common ground among them until you flip a switch, a light switch.",
"Traffic lights, movie lights, and aircraft lights are all made of the same type of special glass.",
"It's called technical glass.",
"Borosi... |
{
"things": [
"Steel Bistro Sets",
"Letterpress Printing",
"Bamboo Ceramic Lights",
"Asphalt Compactors"
]
} | [
"The metal bistro set is a fixture in european-style cafés and small restaurants.",
"The set consists of a small dining table and two chairs.",
"A bistro set is also popular in homes with limited outdoor space as there's usually enough room for one on a balcony or small patio.",
"The small restaurant bar know... |
{
"things": [
"Fresh Cut Flowers",
"Adhesive Tape",
"Tofu",
"Lottery Tickets"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Fresh cut flowers...",
"Adhesive tape...",
"Tofu...",
"Tofu...",
"And lottery tickets.",
"And lottery tickets.",
"To wish condolences, congratulations, or for romance, there's no shortage of occasions for sending flowers.",
"Whether made up in a splendid arrangement... |
{
"things": [
"Screwdrivers",
"Compact Track Loaders",
"Physician Scales",
"Carbon Fibre Bats"
]
} | [
"Bit by bit, the screwdriver makes the life of a handyman a whole lot easier.",
"The screwdriver first showed up in the early part of the 19th century.",
"It evolved from a flat-bladed bit used in a carpenter's brace, and its invention was a definite turning point.",
"These trusty tools come with different bi... |
{
"things": [
"Carbon"
]
} | [
"Today, on \"how it's made\"...",
"Carbon-fiber masts...",
"Fortune cookies...",
"Imax projectors...",
"And roller chains.",
"In the world of sailing, lightweight ideas are the best kind.",
"This carbon-fiber mast is a good example.",
"At the half the weight of aluminum or wood, it allows the boat to ... |
{
"things": [
"Downhill Ski Bindings",
"Immersion Parts Washers",
"Mining Ventilation",
"Pencil Sharpeners"
]
} | [
"The binding is the most important component of a downhill ski.",
"It attaches the ski boot to the ski.",
"It prevents injury by releasing the boot if the skier falls.",
"Also, an integrated brake engages upon release, stopping the ski from sliding down the hill.",
"Every downhill ski binding has a toe and ... |
{
"things": [
"Petanque Balls",
"Biologic Medicines",
"Asphalt Pavers",
"Basque Espadrilles"
]
} | [
"today on \"how it's made\"-- pétanque balls...",
"Biologic medicines...",
"Asphalt pavers...",
"And basque espadrilles.",
"the french game of pétanque is somewhat similar to the italian game of bocce and the british game of lawn bowling.",
"It's played with hollow steel balls called boules on a dirt or g... |
{
"things": [
"Motorcycle Goggles",
"Handbuilt Jukeboxes",
"Vacuum Excavators",
"Pewter Shaving Sets"
]
} | [
"The inuit and yupik native alaskan tribes invented specialized goggles to prevent snow blindness.",
"In the early 20th century, a new kind of eyewear was created for airline pilots in order to protect their faces from wind.",
"Soon, motorcyclists started wearing the eyewear for the same purpose.",
"This manu... |
{
"things": [
"Traditional Bows",
"Coffee Machines",
"Mascots",
"Hammocks"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Traditional bows...",
"Coffee machines...",
"Mascots...",
"And hammocks.",
"When some innovative caveman invented the bow and arrow, it was a huge breakthrough.",
"The discovery turned the homo sapien into an efficient hunter-gatherer.",
"These days, archery has made ... |
{
"things": [
"Electric Baseboard Heaters",
"Moulded Pulp Containers",
"Chicken",
"Video Games"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Electric baseboard heaters...",
"Molded pulp containers...",
"Prepared chicken...",
"And video games.",
"Electric baseboard heaters are inexpensive, easy to install, and practically maintenance-free.",
"Unlike radiators, they're inconspicuous and they take up very littl... |
{
"things": [
"Flying Water Bikes",
"Throttle Position Sensors",
"Cinnamon Cordial",
"Handmade Rasps"
]
} | [
"Looking to get high on a new water sport?",
"Well, you literally can riding a flying water bike.",
"It attaches with a long hose to the back of a jet ski, elevating you up to almost 40 feet above the water where you can perform aerial flips and spins.",
"The jet ski's water thrust feeds three jet nozzles on ... |
{
"things": [
"Seatbelts",
"Windows",
"Wax Figurines",
"Hot Air Balloons"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made,\" seatbelts...",
"Windows...",
"Wax figurines...",
"And hot air balloons.",
"It's an indisputable fact that seatbelts save lives.",
"When a car comes to a sudden stop, the seatbelt prevents you from hurling forward.",
"It spreads the stopping force across the sturdier parts of... |
{
"things": [
"Composite Propane Cylinders",
"Salsa",
"Water"
]
} | [
"A composite propane cylinder is an alternative you'll appreciate if you've ever lugged a steel propane cylinder for your gas barbecue or if you've ever run out of gas in mid-grill because you couldn't tell how much propane was left in the tank.",
"Composite material is 30% lighter than steel and see-through.",
... |
{
"things": [
"Aluminum Canoes",
"Wooden Stave Bowls",
"Wheelchair Accessible Vans",
"Marimbas"
]
} | [
"When world war ii ended, an american manufacturer of fighter jets needed to land new business.",
"The factory employed the same stretched-aluminum process used for shaping aircraft wings and came up with an aluminum canoe.",
"No fighting machine, the aluminum canoe is designed for a peaceful day at the lake.",... |
{
"things": [
"Glass Bottles",
"Hacksaws",
"Goalie Masks"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Glass bottles...",
"Hacksaws...",
"And goalie masks.",
"Whether they're colored or clear, glass bottles and jars are green.",
"No trees died to make this eco-friendly packaging.",
"Glass is made of natural ingredients that are abundant.",
"You can recycle glass endles... |
{
"things": [
"Socket Sets",
"Leather Shoes",
"Aluminum Water Bottles",
"Bike Chains"
]
} | [
"The invention of the socket wrench in 1864 put a whole new twist on fastening things.",
"With the socket wrench's ratchet mechanism, the user could tighten bolts in a continuous motion without breaking to refit the wrench to the fastener.",
"It was a real time-saver.",
"Modern socket wrenches come with a ran... |
{
"things": [
"Cookware",
"Inlaid Boxes",
"High"
]
} | [
"A quality pot and pan has the ability to heat uniformly throughout so that food cooks evenly.",
"Copper is by far the best heat conductor, but copper cookware is very expensive.",
"Aluminum conducts heat well but isn't durable.",
"So many cooks use stainless-steel cookware that contains aluminum.",
"This h... |
{
"things": [
"Thinning Shears",
"Wagon Wheels",
"Toaster Pastries",
"Violin Bows"
]
} | [
"Thinning shears are scissors with at least one comb-like blade.",
"When the blades come together, some hair falls between the teeth of the comb, and that hair is cut while other strands are left intact.",
"A few quick snips, and this handy tool can do a lot for your style.",
"It's often necessary to go many ... |
{
"things": [
"Architectural Moldings",
"Pulleys",
"Industrial Rubber Hose",
"Sheet Vinyl Flooring"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Decorative moldings.",
"Commercial pulleys.",
"Industrial rubber hose.",
"And sheet vinyl flooring.",
"When you consider the high cost of renovations, architectural moldings are an easy way to get a lot of decorative bang for your buck.",
"By adding a crown molding alon... |
{
"things": [
"Hand Forged Hammers",
"Gummy Vitamins",
"Boat Trailers",
"Tea Lights & Jar Candles"
]
} | [
"A hammer is an all-purpose tool most commonly used to strike nails.",
"Some hammers are designed for a specific purpose such as woodworking, metalworking, and masonry.",
"Professional craftspeople often forego mass-produced tools and invest in high-quality hand-forged hammers.",
"The steel head of this hamme... |
{
"things": [
"Indy Car Seats",
"Paper Flowers",
"Stand"
]
} | [
"Indycars are open-cockpit race cars that compete in the annual indianapolis 500 race in the u.s. the cars are entirely custom-built.",
"Even the driver's seat is specially contoured to the driver's body shape and position in which he or she sits most comfortably in the car.",
"The custom-made driver's seat in ... |
{
"things": [
"Wooden Barrels",
"Fire Hydrants",
"Automotive Seats",
"Cathode Ray Tubes"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Wooden barrels...",
"Fire hydrants...",
"Automotive seats...",
"And cathode-ray tubes.",
"In the old days, wooden barrels stored all kinds of goods, simply because they were easy to move.",
"If you couldn't lift them, you could roll them.",
"Today modern machinery has... |
{
"things": [
"Jaws of Life",
"Artificial Christmas Trees",
"Soda Crackers",
"Ratchets"
]
} | [
"The jaws of life were first used in 1963 to free racecar drivers from car crashes.",
"It was so big, it had to be suspended from the back of a pickup truck.",
"Today it weighs as little as 33 pounds and is small enough for one person to operate.",
"It can free an accident victim from a car in minutes.",
"I... |
{
"things": [
"Powder Horns",
"Handcrafted Molds",
"Pierogi",
"Inner Tubes"
]
} | [
"On the battlegrounds of american history, powder horns were everywhere.",
"These modified cow horns served as carrying cases for gunpowder in 18th century colonial battles and the american revolution.",
"For soldiers engaged in heated battle, the containers were a good way to keep their powder dry.",
"With t... |
{
"things": [
"Conga Drums",
"Metal Plating",
"Buttons"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Conga drums...",
".metal plating...",
"And buttons.",
"The conga drum may be a staple of latin-american music, but it was developed from an ancient african drum made from an animal skin stretched over a hollow tree trunk.",
"Today, they stretch the hide over a wood or fib... |
{
"things": [
"U"
]
} | [
"The best way to protect your bicycle against theft is a heavy-duty lock.",
"A u-lock is the most secure option.",
"Unlike a cable or chain lock, you can't quickly sever a u-lock with a pair of bolt cutters.",
"It takes large conspicuous tools-- not something a thief can likely get away with unobserved.",
"... |
{
"things": [
"Mountain Bike Suspensions",
"Surgical Sutures",
"Grain Dryers",
"Frying Pans"
]
} | [
"Mountain bike suspension forks were developed in the early 1990s.",
"Like shock absorbers on a car, these forks expand and contract, absorbing the impact of rough terrain.",
"They also provide traction, which adds both comfort and control to an offroad ride.",
"There are plenty of jumps and bumps on an offro... |
{
"things": [
"Crayons",
"Wooden Kayaks",
"Lawnmowers",
"Gold Chains"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Crayons...",
"Wooden kayaks...",
"Lawn mowers...",
"And gold chains.",
"Crayons are a popular drawing tool for today's young artists.",
"The average north american kid uses 730 of them by the age of 10.",
"An american chemical company invented crayons in 1903.",
"It... |
{
"things": [
"Wood Burning Stoves",
"Orthoses",
"Ballet Slippers",
"Buses"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Wood-burning stoves...",
"Orthoses...",
"Ballet slippers...",
"And buses.",
"Wood-burning stoves do more than create a cozy ambience.",
"They're also powerful enough to heat an entire house.",
"More and more people are installing a woodstove as an additional heat sour... |
{
"things": [
"Basque Pelota Balls",
"Pallet Trucks",
"Dumplings",
"Brass Faucets"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Pelota is a ball game that originated in the basque region of france and spain.",
"Most versions are played against a wall, in which the player throws the ball either by hand, racket, bat, or basket.",
"Occasionally the game is played in teams, where players are separated by ... |
{
"things": [
"Surgical Instruments",
"Ketchup",
"Double"
]
} | [
"Surgical instruments have evolved with the science of medicine.",
"They actually date back thousands of years, when primitive man used crude implements to cut holes in skulls to release evil spirits.",
"Medical science has come a long way since then, and today's surgical tools are among its advancements.",
"... |
{
"things": [
"Skeletal Replicas",
"Ice Buckets & Servers",
"Dining Chairs",
"Inground Pools"
]
} | [
"Skeletal replicas are excellent educational tools.",
"While real bones are fragile, these reproductions are made of a synthetic resin, which is very tough.",
"These models are scientifically accurate and can withstand repeated handling in classrooms or museums.",
"This facility is dedicated to producing skel... |
{
"things": [
"Plant Oil Extractors",
"Custom"
]
} | [
"In glass extractors, solvents capture liquids from solid or semisolid materials.",
"For example, oils can be extracted from plants to obtain the essence of their fragrance and flavor.",
"The plant oil can then be bottled for use or incorporated into products.",
"Inside this glass apparatus, extraction happen... |
{
"things": [
"Technological Corks",
"Zinc Gutters",
"Traditional Basque Ham",
"Chisteras"
]
} | [
"Many wine makers these days are opting to seal their bottles with technological corks.",
"These are stoppers made of molded particles of natural cork which have undergone a purification treatment to remove the t.c.a. molecule and other contaminants, which can give wine a musty odor.",
"Technological corks look... |
{
"things": [
"Diamond Cuttings",
"Wood Doors",
"Paintballs",
"Newspapers"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Diamond cutting...",
"Wood doors...",
"Paintballs...",
"And newspapers.",
"Diamonds are rare crystals composed mostly of carbon.",
"They're the hardest natural substance on earth.",
"A superb cut manipulates light to maximize a stone's brilliance.",
"That enhances t... |
{
"things": [
"Angle Grinders",
"Berry Baskets",
"Omnidirectional Speakers"
]
} | [
"The angle grinder created a major buzz in the workplace when it was developed in the middle of the 20th century.",
"This power tool could do it all-- cut, grind, and polish metal or stone.",
"Just change the disk or brush attachment to match the job, and work gets done automatically.",
"With numerous attachm... |
{
"things": [
"Microphones",
"Hot Tubs",
"Artificial Turf",
"Beer Steins"
]
} | [
"People have been doing mike checks since 1876, when the microphone was invented as part of the telephone.",
"Microphones convert sound to a signal that can be transmitted through televisions, radios, and many other things.",
"If you have something to say, you'll need a microphone to broadcast it.",
"From the... |
{
"things": [
"CO2 Cartridges",
"Pretzels",
"Scissor Lifts",
"Skating Rinks"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Co2 cartridges...",
"Pretzels...",
"Scissor lifts...",
"And skating rinks.",
"Sports like paintball are a pressure release in more ways than one.",
"Paintball guns contain pressurized co2 cartridges, and when the gas is released, the force propels the ammunition towards... |
{
"things": [
"Carbon Fibre",
"Antique Frame Restoration",
"Railcar Movers",
"Hood Ornaments"
]
} | [
"Carbon fiber is an engineer's dream-- lightweight yet incredibly strong.",
"It's a string with thousands of parallel filaments.",
"Multiple strings can be twisted into yarns, woven into fabrics, or molded with resin to produce materials called carbon-fiber composites.",
"Carbon fiber is five times stronger t... |
{
"things": [
"Plastic Bags",
"Solar Panels",
"Plastic Gasoline Containers",
"Hockey Sticks"
]
} | [
"Today, on \"how it's made\"...",
"Plastic bags-- it's trash and carry.",
"Solar panels-- reflecting on energy efficiency.",
"Plastic gas containers-- fuel to go.",
"And hockey sticks-- mind if we take a shot at this one?",
"You can use them for groceries, for shopping, for taking out the trash.",
"C... |
{
"things": [
"Boomerangs",
"Barbeques",
"Pinball Machines",
"Strobe Lights"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made,\" boomerangs...",
"Barbecues...",
"Pinball machines...",
"And strobe lights.",
"Boomerang is a throwback to primitive times.",
"Back then, people threw sticks to hunt and that's likely how they discovered that certain bent sticks would circle back.",
"Boomerangs have come a lo... |
{
"things": [
"Paving Asphalt",
"Marshmallow Cookies",
"Loudspeakers",
"Electronic Door Locks"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Paving asphalt...",
"Marshmallow cookies...",
"Loudspeakers...",
"And electronic door locks.",
"Asphalt is a black, liquid substance that's a by-product of processing crude petroleum.",
"Asphalt is a key component of waterproofing and insulation materials and roofing sh... |
{
"things": [
"Pressure Cookers",
"Mechanical Singing Birds",
"Oceanographic Buoys",
"Tank Trailers"
]
} | [
"When the pressure is on, the juices start flowing for quick results.",
"The pressure cooker traps steam inside to raise the cooking temperature and produce a meal in minutes.",
"The technology has been around for centuries but was only adapted for household use in the 1930s, when the concept really picked up s... |
{
"things": [
"All"
]
} | [
"For this invention, the path to success has been bumpy and rocky, and that's the whole idea.",
"The all-terrain vehicle was developed for off-road driving back in the 1970s.",
"The first machines were three-wheelers, and then the safer four-wheelers came along, improving on a concept that was truly trailblazin... |
{
"things": [
"Bowling Balls",
"Barber Poles",
"Felt",
"Radar Guns"
]
} | [
"The bowling bowl has undergone a lot of changes over several centuries to become such a striking success.",
"From a crude stone to carved wood to rubber to molded polyester, it's been reinvented numerous times.",
"But the latest version has turned out to be a real winner.",
"Technological advances have resha... |
{
"things": [
"Brushes and Push Brooms",
"Blackboards",
"Smoked Salmon",
"Zippers"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Brushes and push brooms...",
"Blackboards...",
"Smoked salmon...",
"And zippers.",
"Nothing scrubs or sweeps quite like a good, sturdy brush.",
"Cleaning brushes in north america date back to about the 1830s.",
"Their bristles were usually made of wire twisted into wo... |
{
"things": [
"Pressed Glass",
"Pickup Truck Caps",
"Alpaca Yarn",
"Utility Knives"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Pressed glass originated in 19th century america and england, and it revolutionized glassware.",
"It offered the look of crystal on a budget, adding elegance to a humble meal.",
"It became known as \"poor man's crystal\".",
"Today, this affordable glass still has class.",
... |
{
"things": [
"Deep Cycle Batteries",
"Tins",
"Optical Lenses"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Deep-cycle batteries...",
"Tins...",
"And optical lenses.",
"A deep-cycle battery is what you find in such vehicles as trains, boats, r.v.s, and forklift trucks.",
"Whereas a car battery provides a quick surge of current to start the engine, a deep-cycle battery provides ... |
{
"things": [
"Precast Concrete Walls",
"3D Printers",
"Telescopic Cranes",
"Kerosene Lamp Burners"
]
} | [
"Precast concrete walls are made in a controlled plant environment, where weather can't interfere with the curing process.",
"They're cast with insulation before they arrive at the construction site.",
"All that's needed is a crane to do the heavy lifting.",
"Precast concrete walls have a tough exterior that ... |
{
"things": [
"Magnets",
"Cooked Ham",
"Silver Teapots",
"Crash Test Dummies"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Magnets...",
"Cooked ham.",
"Silver-plated teapots.",
"And crash-test dummies.",
"You can't see or feel the force causing this globe to levitate, but it's not magic, it's magnetic.",
"An essential part of our daily lives, magnets are used for a lot more than just sticki... |
{
"things": [
"Steel Wool",
"Ranges",
"Carved Candles",
"Slot Machines"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Steel wool...",
"Ranges...",
"Carved candles...",
"And slot machines.",
"With so many rough edges, steel wool is very abrasive.",
"That's what makes it so useful for heavy-duty cleaning and other chores.",
"Mechanics were the first to use steel shavings for cleaning a... |
{
"things": [
"Endoscopes",
"Megaphones",
"Uranium"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Endoscopes...",
"Megaphones...",
"And uranium.",
"An endoscope is a tube with optical glass fibers and lenses inside attached to a video camera.",
"Doctors feed the endoscope through the patient's mouth or other opening or insert it through a tiny incision then watch what... |
{
"things": [
"Alligator Bags",
"Lockers",
"Bench Planes",
"Deployable Flight Recorders"
]
} | [
"Alligator bags enjoyed their first wave of popularity at the end of the 19th century.",
"The material was chosen for its exotic look, rich texture, high pliability, and durability.",
"Since then, many legendary designer handbags have been made with alligator skin.",
"For some women, a handbag is more than a ... |
{
"things": [
"Cement",
"Caskets",
"Soft Drinks",
"Glider Rockers"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Cement...",
"Caskets...",
"Soft drinks...",
"And glider rockers.",
"Many people confuse the terms \"cement\" and \"concrete\".",
"Cement is a fine, gray powder that's used to make concrete.",
"It's also an ingredient in the mortar that masons use to lay brick and ston... |
{
"things": [
"Combination Wrenches",
"Deli Meats",
"Golf Carts",
"Airships"
]
} | [
"Whether tightening the wheels on your bike or working on your car, a combination wrench can make the toughest jobs safe and easy.",
"The best combination wrench gives you reach and strength and won't bust your knuckles when you're working in those hard-to-reach places.",
"A high-quality combination wrench can ... |
{
"things": [
"Combination Locks",
"Pottery",
"Recreational Vehicles",
"Erasers"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
".combination locks...",
"Pottery...",
"Recreational vehicles...",
"And erasers.",
"Combination padlocks are what students depend on to protect their lockers from thieves and pranksters.",
"Combo locks are functional yet fashionable.",
"Like everything else marketed to... |
{
"things": [
"Steel Shipping Drums",
"Police Whistles",
"Miniature Train Wagons",
"Glass Blocks"
]
} | [
"Today, on \"how it's made\"...",
"Steel shipping drums...",
"Police whistles...",
"Miniature-train cars...",
"And glass blocks.",
"The steel shipping drum was invented in the late 19th century for the oil industry, which needed an alternative to leaky wooden barrels.",
"But those first steel drums also... |
{
"things": [
"Mosquito Coils",
"Solar"
]
} | [
"being eaten alive by mosquitos is no picnic...",
"Well, except to the mosquitos.",
"Not only are the bugs annoying, but just one bite from an infected mosquito can transmit potentially debilitating or fatal diseases such as the west nile virus, malaria, and dengue fever.",
"One way to ward off mosquitos is t... |
{
"things": [
"Plastic Bottles and Jars",
"Mail",
"Eggs",
"Handcrafted Wooden Pens"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Plastic bottles and jars...",
"Mail...",
"Eggs...",
"And handcrafted wooden pens.",
"Whether you're buying apple juice or peanut butter, you've probably noticed that fewer products come in glass containers these days.",
"Plastic packaging is becoming more common.",
"P... |
{
"things": [
"Vibrating Mining Screens",
"Whoopie Pies",
"Wood Utility Poles",
"Roller Conveyors"
]
} | [
"Mines and quarries use crushers to break down raw material.",
"Those raw materials go through a vibrating screen to separate the particles by size.",
"The vibrations cause the smaller pieces to fall through the screen while the larger pieces remain on top.",
"This limestone quarry uses a vibrating screen wit... |
{
"things": [
"Metal Detectors",
"Rum",
"Tiffany Reproductions",
"Aircraft Engines"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Metal detectors...",
"Rum...",
"Tiffany reproductions...",
"And aircraft engines.",
"Airports use handheld metal detectors to safeguard flights.",
"Treasure hunters use hobby metal detectors to find buried loot.",
"Vastly different purposes.",
"Yet the technology be... |
{
"things": [
"Horse Bits",
"Oat Cereal",
"Turquoise Jewellery",
"Electric Scooters"
]
} | [
"For thousands of years, riders have communicated with horses by inserting a bit in the sensitive area of the animal's mouth and manipulating it to steer him in the desired direction.",
"The first bits were made of rope, wood, and even bone.",
"Over time, bits have become far more elaborate.",
"With silver an... |
{
"things": [
"Photographs",
"Fur Tanning",
"Welding Electrodes",
"Electric Violins"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Photographs...",
"Fur tanning...",
"Welding electrodes...",
"And electric violins.",
"In the 1830s, the first photographers used light-sensitive chemicals to capture images on paper.",
"Today, machines do much the same but with amazing speed, accuracy, and versatility."... |
{
"things": [
"Electric Stand"
]
} | [
"In the 21st century, there's more than one way to chase down a perpetrator.",
"The electric stand-up vehicle goes where traditional police and security cars can't-- sidewalks, parks, shopping malls, even airports.",
"The officer stands for better visibility.",
"For a suspect, there may be nowhere to run.",
... |
{
"things": [
"Cars",
"Grocery Carts",
"Rapid Tooling and Prototyping",
"Collectible Coins"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Cars...",
"Grocery carts...",
"Rapid tooling and prototyping...",
"And collectible coins.",
"The automotive industry has seen a lot of changes in recent years.",
"More and more robots are replacing workers on the assembly line, and it isn't just cars and trucks coming o... |
{
"things": [
"Bicycle Helmets",
"Aluminum",
"Car Brakes",
"Lithium Batteries"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Bicycle helmets-- letting safety go to your head...",
"Aluminum-- probably the most versatile metal around...",
"Car brakes-- we bring you breaking news about how they're manufactured...",
"And lithium batteries-- you'll get a charge out of this one.",
"If you're serious... |
{
"things": [
"Rawhide Lampshades",
"Chocolate Chip Cookies",
"MRI Scanners"
]
} | [
"You doesn't need to have antlers over the fireplace to bring a touch of wildlife to your decor.",
"A more subtle approach can be a lamp with a shade made of rawhide.",
"Rawhide is untanned animal skin.",
"The hide typically comes from livestock, so you get the decorative \"bang\" without firing a shot.",
"... |
{
"things": [
"Windshields",
"English Saddles",
"Butter",
"Post Clocks"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Fiberglass insulation...",
"Wooden ducks...",
"Gumball machines...",
"And exhaust systems.",
"It's pink and fluffy, and it keeps us warm.",
"Fiberglass insulation is a great way to prevent heat loss from our buildings.",
"It has a woolly texture, but it is, as the nam... |
{
"things": [
"Wood Toys",
"Retro Toasters",
"Laboratory Furnaces",
"Aerogel"
]
} | [
"a rubber tree's life-span for natural rubber production is limited to about 25 years.",
"But making toys out of their wood gives unproductive trees a second life.",
"This idea comes from southeastern asia, home to most of the rubber and latex production worldwide.",
"This company, based in thailand, manufact... |
{
"things": [
"Prepared Mustard",
"Violins",
"Nuts and Bolts",
"Toilet Paper"
]
} | [
"Today, on \"how it's made\"...",
"Prepared mustard...",
"Violins...",
"Nuts and bolts...",
"And toilet paper.",
"We eat it on hot dogs and hamburgers, on sausages and sandwiches.",
"No condiment cuts the mustard quite like mustard.",
"The ancient romans took the mustard seed to what is now france, an... |
{
"things": [
"Heated Skate Blades",
"Gliders",
"Hand Bells",
"Fire Hoses"
]
} | [
"Hockey skates are not all created equal.",
"That's why professional hockey players are always looking for ways to get that cutting edge.",
"They know championships are won or lost in fractions of a second, and that's when heated skate blades can make all the difference.",
"With a simple touch, heated skate b... |
{
"things": [
"3"
]
} | [
"In 1895, ogden bolton jr.",
"Registered one of the first patents for an electric bicycle in the u.s. a century later, they've become one of the most popular electric vehicles in the world.",
"Using electricity to enhance performance, the e-bike is definitely in the current.",
"These electric three-wheel trik... |
{
"things": [
"Carbon Fibre Car Parts",
"Hand Dryers",
"Recycled Polyester Yarn",
"Fleece"
]
} | [
"Carbon-fiber car parts, such as bumpers and spoilers, are nearly as strong as steel ones, and yet they're 1/5 the weight.",
"Of course, a car that weighs less accelerates more quickly and burns less gas, so carbon fiber offers style that actually does go that extra mile.",
"Custom spoilers, bumpers, and other ... |
{
"things": [
"Scuba Diving Lights",
"Interchangeable Sandals",
"Race Car Simulators",
"Fibreglass Doors"
]
} | [
"A dive light is essential when scuba diving at night, but can also be used for daytime dives to explore underwater caves and shipwrecks.",
"The deeper you dive, the more water absorbs certain colors in the light spectrum.",
"When you use an artificial light, you can see the underwater world in true color.",
... |
{
"things": [
"Glass Faucets",
"Fire Truck Ladders",
"Antique Clock Restoration",
"Barbecue Utensils"
]
} | [
"Glass faucets elevate indoor plumbing to an art form.",
"The glass is hand-crafted in a range of shapes and patterns for visual effect.",
"Metal components are fused into the glass to deliver one of the necessities of modern life, running water.",
"Glass faucets are about both form and function.",
"Glass f... |
{
"things": [
"Accordions",
"Pineapples",
"Artificial Joints"
]
} | [
"The distinctive sound of the accordion appears in almost every kind of music.",
"The piano-style keyboard on the right-hand side produces the melody, while the buttons on the left produce the chord accompaniment.",
"In between are bellows that force air through reeds, producing that unmistakable accordion soun... |
{
"things": [
"Pipe Cleaners",
"Blue Stilton Cheese",
"Smart Electric Meters",
"Telescopes"
]
} | [
"The pipe cleaner was invented early in the 20th century.",
"A wire core with tufts of yarn, it could be bent and twisted in any tight space, making it useful for cleaning a lot of things besides pipes.",
"Its flexibility also offers a creative opportunity for those with a crafty bent.",
"Today many pipe clea... |
{
"things": [
"Yogurt",
"Candles",
"Neon Signs",
"Bookbindings"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Yogurt...",
"Candles...",
"Neon signs...",
"And book bindings.",
"Your mother probably told you not to put anything with germs in your mouth.",
"Well, it turns out she was wrong.",
"Yogurt is one of the healthiest foods you can eat, yet it's chock-full of germs-- bac... |
{
"things": [
"Aluminum Boats",
"Alpine Horns",
"Luxury Watches"
]
} | [
"The first aluminum boat was launched as a simple skiff in the middle of the last century.",
"Fishermen loved the lightweight hull because it could be pulled in and out of the water more easily than the wooden boats of the day.",
"Decades later, aluminum boats have gone high-end, but they still have that lightw... |
{
"things": [
"Cast Iron Cookware",
"Biodiesel",
"Clothes Hangers",
"Stone Wool Insulation"
]
} | [
"Cast-iron cookware is renowned for its superior ability to retain heat and diffuse it evenly.",
"Bare cast iron, however, requires regular oiling to ward off rust-- not so with enameled cast iron.",
"A glass-enamel coating encases the iron, making the cookware entirely maintenance-free, forever.",
"Since 192... |
{
"things": [
"Alkaline Batteries",
"Wheelchairs",
"Flutes",
"Cowboy Boots"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Alkaline batteries.",
"Wheelchairs.",
"Flutes.",
"And cowboy boots.",
"A battery produces an electric current when its positive end, called the cathode, and its negative end, called the anode, connect via a conductive pathway in the battery-operated device.",
"This path... |
{
"things": [
"Automatic Transmissions",
"Silver Miniatures",
"Hot Air Balloon Baskets",
"Darts"
]
} | [
"Today on how it's made...",
"Automatic transmissions...",
"Silver miniatures...",
"Hot-air-balloon baskets...",
"And darts.",
"Your car's all-important transmission is a system of gears and levers that transfers power from the engine to the wheels.",
"With a manual transmission, you have to shift the g... |
{
"things": [
"Filigree Glass",
"Fish Food",
"Motor Homes"
]
} | [
"Filigree glass is a highly advanced form of glassmaking.",
"The artists first produce threads of colored glass, then weave these threads together in intricate patterns, encasing them within clear crystal.",
"Then they use complex glassmaking techniques to shape these patterned rods into breathtaking works of a... |
{
"things": [
"Grinding Wheels",
"Compost",
"Window Blinds",
"Milk"
]
} | [
"Today on \"how it's made\"...",
"Grinding wheels...",
".compost...",
"Window blinds...",
"And milk.",
"A grinding wheel is a tool used to grind down, polish, or cut materials such as metal or glass.",
"Like a sander, it uses abrasive grains to wear away the surface in minute particles.",
"Grinding ac... |
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