Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris Could something 'escalate' before the escalator? INVENTIONS
Feb 4, 2026
They trace words for wheels, mills and ploughs back to ancient roots. They wonder whether sliced bread arrived before the bread-slicer and tell the real story of the ballpoint pen. They unpack trademarked names like zipper, Band-Aid and Xerox and explain how escalate came from escalator. They dig into odd patents, ancient automata and surprising origins of elevator and invention.
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Compasses Began In China As South‑Pointing Fish
- Early Chinese compasses used lodestone fish-shaped floats and pointed south for land navigation.
- The English word compass originally referred to a mathematical measuring tool before the navigational instrument borrowed the name.
Gutenberg's Press Multiplied Books
- Johannes Gutenberg's movable type press revolutionized European printing by enabling mass production of books.
- His press used the same screw press concept as wine and olive oil presses, hence the name "printing press."
Ancient Automation Predates Modern Tech
- Ancient engineers like Heron of Alexandria built coin‑operated vending devices, automatic doors and alarm clocks centuries ago.
- Early technologies often combined simple mechanics, water, steam and weights to automate tasks we view as modern.
