| Virtually every modern household has a basic | | | | The invention of the wheelbarrow resulted from the |
| wheelbarrow stored away. The use of the | | | | simple rearrangement of already existing components. |
| wheelbarrow is ubiquitous in construction and basic | | | | The wheel existed. The barrow existed. The |
| home chores. The design, form and function of the | | | | principles of leverage were well known. Nevertheless, |
| wheelbarrow has not appreciable changed for 700 | | | | these elements were not co-mingled in one unit and |
| years. And yet, this simple tool is one of | | | | perfected to become the useful advance in labor |
| history’s great advances in creating labor | | | | saving and productivity that we use to this day until |
| productivity. | | | | someone creatively addressed this need. |
| No one knows who invented the wheelbarrow. The | | | | The 21st century presents the creative, |
| Chinese used crude, primitive sorts of wheeled carts, | | | | entrepreneurial class many opportunities to address |
| similar to the modern unit, as early as the 1st | | | | and solve real needs. There has never been a better |
| century. It wasn’t until the 13th century, | | | | time for the commercialization of new products and |
| however, that the type of wheelbarrow we now | | | | services. All over the world inventor, engineers and |
| recognize and utilize was known to be in common | | | | companies are striving to discover answers and |
| use. | | | | solutions to health, energy, resource, agriculture and |
| The forward and centered placement of the wheel | | | | material needs. The rate of innovation accelerates |
| made the modern unit more practical to use. One | | | | each decade. The world is a better place for this |
| man could leverage and control much more weight | | | | bustling outpouring of energy, courage, investment |
| with the new version. Historically it took two or more | | | | and creativity. |
| men, using flat stretchers to move heavy material | | | | The simple wheelbarrow is a metaphor for |
| loads. This made construction very labor intensive and | | | | progress. This most basic of tools has performed |
| slow. | | | | yeoman work for centuries. This invention is a model |
| Use of the wheelbarrow was an efficient new | | | | for modern inventors. Identify and solve a basic need |
| method of speeding the construction of the great | | | | that is present in your personal, social or work |
| edifices constructed all over Europe in the Middle | | | | universe. Answering real needs with simple solutions |
| Ages. It is quite possible that many of the | | | | can provide the path to fame, fortune and personal |
| architectural wonders we enjoy to this day would | | | | satisfaction. |
| look very different, and have much smaller scale | | | | The consumer is the ultimate beneficiary. Life is |
| without the employment of the basic wheelbarrow. | | | | improved each time a new product is introduced that |
| Notre Dame, St. Pauls Cathedral, or Windsor Castle | | | | offers better features and benefits than are |
| would most assuredly not be the wondrous edifices | | | | currently available. A modern truism is this: “Never |
| that amaze and thrill us if not for the simple, but | | | | the greatest, only the latest”. Novelty and fresh |
| essential use of this mundane tool. | | | | takes on old products are always in demand. |