1921 Hits

Things turning 100 in 2021


One hundred years is a long time, but considering that we still reap the benefits of some of the things that were created back in 1921, this trip back in time is totally worth it. Did you know, for instance, that some of the most groundbreaking discoveries in medicine were made in 1921? Or that one of the world's most popular fragrances was launched precisely 100 years ago?

Tuberculosis vaccine (BCG)

After 13 years of research, French bacteriologists Albert Calmette and Camille Guérin created the vaccine against tuberculosis. The Bacille Calmette-Guérin, better known as BCG, saved millions of lives throughout the years.

Insulin

In 1921, Frederick Banting and Charles Best managed to take insulin from a dog's pancreas. Shortly after, the first human trial took place. The trial was a success and it changed the life of people with Type 1 diabetes forever. The researchers won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for the discovery.



Lie detector

The polygraph machine was invented by police officer John Augustus Larson in Berkeley, California. Though its credibility has been disputed ever since, the polygraph is still used to this day as an interrogation tool.



Rorschach inkblot test

Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach is responsible for creating the inkblot test. The test consists of 10 inkblots cards. Five of the cards have color, and the other five are black and white. It is used to examine an individual's personality characteristics and emotional functioning.

Chanel No. 5

The iconic scent was invented by Coco Chanel in 1921. It remains very popular to this day.
The distinctive-looking perfume bottle contained a fragrance with notes of vanilla, sandalwood, jasmine, and rose.



”The Kid”

Charlie Chaplin wrote, produced, and starred in this classic silent film. The child was played by Jackie Coogan, who years later played Uncle Fester on the sitcom 'The Addams Family' (1964-1966).



The vibraphone

It's not every day that new musical instruments are invented, but in 1921 it was the vibraphone's turn. Invented in the US by Hermann Winterhoff of the Leedy Manufacturing Co., the vibraphone is similar to a xylophone but uses metal bars and tubes to create the sounds.

Braun

The famous brand was created in 1921 by mechanical engineer Max Braun. It had a wide range of electrical appliances, but became better known for its electric shavers.
For many years the brand was owned by The Gillette Company, but it's now part of the giant Procter & Gamble.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The memorial is located in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. It marks the resting place of an unknown soldier from World War I. Throughout the years, other unknown servicemen were laid to rest in the sarcophagus. The inscription reads “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.”



”Three Musicians”

Pablo Picasso's famous paintings are prime examples of the Synthetic Cubist style.
One version can be seen in New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), while the other version can be found in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.



The term "robot"

The term, which was used to refer to an artificial person, originally comes from a play called 'R.U.R.,' which stands for Rossum's Universal Robots. The term was based on the Czech word robota, which means "forced/compulsory labor." Playwright Karel Capek is credited with inventing it.

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