Ernest Godward
Encyclopedia
Ernest Godward was born in Marylebone
, London
on April 7, 1869. His working life began as an apprentice in London for a firm of hydraulic engineers and fire engine
manufacturers. Here he trained as a mechanic
.
In 1886 he arrived at Port Chalmers
, New Zealand
, aboard the Nelson. He settled in Dunedin
for a time before shifting to Invercargill
in 1893. He became a partner in the Southland Cycle Works.
In 1896 he married Marguerita Florence Celena Treweek and the couple had 10 children. The Southland Cycle Works was not stimulating enough for Godward's energetic mind so he began inventing by looking at everyday objects and thinking of ways to improve them.
By 1900 he had invented and patented an egg-beater that could prepare eggs for a sponge cake
in three and a half minutes, previously it took 15. He also invented a new post-hole borer, a new type of hair curler, a burglar-proof window and a hedge trimmer made from bicycle
parts.
Major success came in 1901 with the invention of the spiral hairpin
. This was a predecessor of the hair clip. He left the bicycle business and established various invention and trading companies. The American
rights to the spiral hairpin were sold for 20,000 pounds, a fortune in 1901.
From 1903-1906 Godward served on the Invercargill Borough Council, built an impressive new house, painted portrait
s and landscapes, played a variety of musical instrument
s and sang in local musical productions.
In 1908 he started a motorcycle
business in Invercargill
and fitted the imported bikes with his own invention – a petrol economiser. His economisers worked as well in cars as they did in motorcycles. He invented 72 models of the economiser and by the 1930s was recognised as the world’s leading authority on the internal combustion engine
.
For much of this time he was based in New York
. Marguerita continued to live in Invercargill.
In 1929 the city of Philadelphia, one of the largest public transport operators in the United States, adopted the invention. Some 580 buses and 3000 taxis were fitted with the vaporiser.
Godward died in 1936 on board the SS Mongolia returning home to Invercargill.
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on April 7, 1869. His working life began as an apprentice in London for a firm of hydraulic engineers and fire engine
Fire apparatus
A fire apparatus, fire engine, fire truck, or fire appliance is a vehicle designed to assist in fighting fires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment...
manufacturers. Here he trained as a mechanic
Mechanic
A mechanic is a craftsman or technician who uses tools to build or repair machinery.Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, general mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics , air conditioning and...
.
In 1886 he arrived at Port Chalmers
Port Chalmers
Port Chalmers is a suburb and the main port of the city of Dunedin, New Zealand, with a population of 3,000. Port Chalmers lies ten kilometres inside Otago Harbour, some 15 kilometres northeast from Dunedin's city centre....
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, aboard the Nelson. He settled in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
for a time before shifting to Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
in 1893. He became a partner in the Southland Cycle Works.
In 1896 he married Marguerita Florence Celena Treweek and the couple had 10 children. The Southland Cycle Works was not stimulating enough for Godward's energetic mind so he began inventing by looking at everyday objects and thinking of ways to improve them.
By 1900 he had invented and patented an egg-beater that could prepare eggs for a sponge cake
Sponge cake
Sponge cake is a cake based on flour , sugar, and eggs, sometimes leavened with baking powder which has a firm, yet well aerated structure, similar to a sea sponge. A sponge cake may be produced by either the batter method, or the foam method. Typicially the batter method in the U.S. is known as a...
in three and a half minutes, previously it took 15. He also invented a new post-hole borer, a new type of hair curler, a burglar-proof window and a hedge trimmer made from bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
parts.
Major success came in 1901 with the invention of the spiral hairpin
Hairpin
A hair pin or hairpin is a long device used to hold a person's hair in place.Hairpins made of metal, ivory, bronze, carved wood, etc. were used in ancient Assyria and Egypt for securing decorated hairstyles. Such hairpins suggest, as graves show, that many were luxury objects among the Egyptians...
. This was a predecessor of the hair clip. He left the bicycle business and established various invention and trading companies. The American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rights to the spiral hairpin were sold for 20,000 pounds, a fortune in 1901.
From 1903-1906 Godward served on the Invercargill Borough Council, built an impressive new house, painted portrait
Portrait
thumb|250px|right|Portrait of [[Thomas Jefferson]] by [[Rembrandt Peale]], 1805. [[New-York Historical Society]].A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness,...
s and landscapes, played a variety of musical instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
s and sang in local musical productions.
In 1908 he started a motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
business in Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
and fitted the imported bikes with his own invention – a petrol economiser. His economisers worked as well in cars as they did in motorcycles. He invented 72 models of the economiser and by the 1930s was recognised as the world’s leading authority on the internal combustion engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
.
For much of this time he was based in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Marguerita continued to live in Invercargill.
In 1929 the city of Philadelphia, one of the largest public transport operators in the United States, adopted the invention. Some 580 buses and 3000 taxis were fitted with the vaporiser.
Godward died in 1936 on board the SS Mongolia returning home to Invercargill.