Forbes Magazine has come up with a list of the 20 most important tools ever invented. The list is heavily pre-industrial and decidedly non-electronic and could be considered a compendium of the coolest gadgets of the 18th century. Forbes selected the knife as the top tool, citing the it’s ability to cut, slash, spear, prick and to rent molecular bonds in general, as justification.
1. Knife
2. Abacus 3. Compass 4. Pencil 5. Harness
6. Scythe 7. Rifle 8. Sword 9. Eyeglasses 10. Saw
11. Watch 12. Lathe 13. Needle 14. Candle 15. Scales
16. Pot 17. Telescope 18. Level 19. Fish Hook 20. Chisel
In a humorous sidebar, they identify duct tape as the “other greatest tool“, remarking on it’s usefulness in joining things together…thus making it a kind of ‘anti-knife’, if you will.
The 20 Most Important Tools Ever – Forbes, 03.15.06
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
But without these tools there would be no electronics in the first place! By the way, isn’t the wheel considered a tool? Where’s the wheel?!
The wheel is usually classified as a “simple machine.” That might be a different designation from a tool.
Interesting that watches make the list while clocks or sundials don’t.