Hanway's Famous Invention: The Umbrella

The weather map's been mighty colorful this weekend:

And this morning, as the Remlers made their way to church, then to breakfast, then to the grocery store in the middle of a thunderstorm, I began to ponder then handy device that is the umbrella. 

"It's hard to improve upon the umbrella," I observed on the way home from the Publix. "Think about it. It's been around for centuries, and it hasn't changed very much."

"Really?" Stephen asked. "It's been around for centuries? When was it invented?"

"I don't know," I replied, "But I know people used them in the 1800's. That's centuries ago. Someone out there decided to carry around a little roof over his head to keep himself dry, and we still do it today." 

Then I started to think about all the other technological discoveries that have been improved upon. Take the button, for instance. According to James Burke's book Connections, the button was invented in the fourteenth century (as was knitting): "Both buttons and knitting contributed to closer-fitting clothes that were better at retaining heat. The effect on mortality can be seen in contemporary changes to what was said in wills:  children were expected to survive, and provision was made for them" (161). Hence, because of the button, we all live longer. But over time, we've developed ways to improve upon the button. We now have the snap, the buckle, the zipper, even velcro, all inventions to make fastening more secure and easy. 

Then, of course, there's the fireplace. It's been around almost as long as the fire, but the invention of the chimney changed life as we know it. Before the chimney, "there had been but one central hearth, in the hall during the winter, and outside in summer. The smoke from the central fire simply went up and out through a hole in the roof" (Burke 157). However, once the chimney was discovered, "the center of the room was no longer the only safe place for the fire" (159). People could heat individual rooms, and thus they began to add to their houses. What's more, they began to separate the social classes. But that's just how indoor heating has affected civilization. Just think about how we've improved upon the fireplace over time. True, I still have one in my living room, as many people do, but I don't depend on it for heat. I have my HVAC for that. Instead of depending on wood or coal, many contemporary households use gas-powered ersatz logs, what Davis at five years old termed "the plastic fire." Even chimneys aren't necessary as ventless fireplaces now allow homeowners to enjoy a romantic flame without the inconvenience of that bothersome smoke.  

These days fires are more recreational than essential.

But the umbrella, on the other hand, hasn't changed much since its invention. The materials are different, but the concept is generally the same. Unfortunately, James Burke did not expand upon the umbrella in his captivating book. So I did some online research to find out what I could about this handy invention. I expected to discover that it was at first invented by the Chinese and then Europeans borrowed the idea and called it their own. Actually, I was not far off the mark. 

Thank goodness for William Sangster, who wrote Umbrellas and their History (available in electronic form under Project Gutenberg)! According to Sangster, "The origin of the Parasol is wrapped in considerable obscurity. Some profound investigators have supposed that large leaves tied to the branching extremities of a bough suggested the first idea of the invention. Others assert that the idea was probably derived from the tent, which remains in form unaltered to the present day." But the umbrella itself can be traced back to the ancient Middle East:  "In the Ninevite sculptures the Umbrella or Parasol appears frequently."  Its primary use, however, was to provide shade, not shelter from rain. It was a sign of prestige, even royalty, and continued to signify such as its use spread across Europe. 

However, the umbrella as we know it, the rain guard, is credited to an Englishman named "Jonas Hanway, the founder of the Magdalen Hospital," a philanthropist who dared to carry one in public. Apparently, before Hanway broke the humiliation barrier, folks were embarrassed to be seen walking in the rain under their own personal roofs. However, Hanway, who was known for his advocacy of chimney sweeps and prostitutes, was pale complected and in ill health. Hence, the umbrella not only kept him from the sun's dangerous ultraviolet rays but also kept him dry. 

When it was invented, the umbrella weighed more than ten pounds, probably another reason people were reluctant to carry it around. It was made of whale bone and wood, and often men used them as walking staffs as well as portable roofs. Over time, modifications have improved upon the umbrella. In the late nineteenth century we saw the invention of the self-opening umbrella. Later came the development of the pocket umbrella. 

And as plastics eventually dominated the manufacturing industry, the dome-shaped transparent umbrella served to keep ladies dry while also allowing them to see where they were going: 

 

I always thought such models required windshield wipers.

 

But the essential concept remains the same:  holding a little roof over one's head. So here's to Jonas Hanway and, if not his invention, at least his remarkable bravery to weather (no pun intended) the hoots and jeers of his soaked contemporaries as he remained dry under his portable shelter. I'm especially thankful for him today.