National Black Forest Cake Day

Today’s Food History

on this day in…

1797 The first U.S. patent for a ‘washing machine’ was issued (possibly to Nathaniel Briggs).  It was called a scrub board or wash board.

1819 Sir Joseph William Bazalgette was born.  A British civil engineer, he designed the main sewer system for London.

1897 Victor Mills was born.  He was a chemical engineer who worked for Proctor & Gamble.  He improved Duncan Hines cake mixes, improved Jif peanut butter, and invented Pampers disposable diapers.

1948 John Evans of the music group ‘Jethro Tull‘ was born.

1968 ‘Whiskey On A Sunday’ was recorded by the Irish Rovers.

1996 John Leonard submitted an order form along with ‘Pepsi Points’ and a check to Pepsi for a Harrier Jump Jet.  The Harrier had been featured in a Pepsi commercial as one of the items that could be redeemed for ‘points,’ or a combination of cash and points.  (the Harrier was listed for 7 million points).  Pepsi subsequently refused to send Leonard the Harrier Jump Jet (actual cost: $23 million).  Leonard then sued, and finally a judge ruled that the Harrier Jump Jet had obviously been mentioned in the promotion as a joke.