9th form Famous Inventions

1. When Joseph Merlin ____ roller skates in 1760, he decided to demonstrate them at a large party.

2. Half way through the party, he appeared in the ballroom wearing his skates and playing violin. Unfortunately, he didn't know how to turn or stop, and he ____ into a large mirror at the end of the room.

3. He ____ the mirror and his violin and ended up in hospital.

4. A customer in an expensive New York restaurant _____ to head waiter George Grum that he didn't like his chips because they were too thick.

5. Grum was very ____.

6. He came into the kitchen, a potato into very thin slices and _____ the slices into a par of hot oil.

7. Then he ____ them back to the customer, who (to Grum's surprise) said that they tasted delicious.

8. They ____ the world's first potato crisps.

9. In 1868, the City Council _____ up the world's first traffic light outside the Houses of Parliament in London.

10. The traffic light didn't use electricity - instead it ____ gas lamps behind red and green glasses.

11. It wasn't a great success: after a few days it _____ and killed a policeman.

12. It was almost 50 years before they ____ another traffic light.