Talk:Orla Watson

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Technology

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Orla Watson is considered the inventor of the modern shopping cart. Up until his invention, the typical shopping cart was a "folding chair" design on wheels which was patented by Sylvan Goldman where baskets were removed after use and the frame folded up and stacked together. Orla Watson took the concept to the next level by introducing a hinged back which allowed carts to be simply shoved together with the basket permanently attached. Please see http://amhistory.si.edu/archives/d8739.htm; for a brief summary of Orla Watson on the Smithsonian Institute Archives website. The concept proved to be very popular and very practical, and after a protracted legal battle where Orla Watson was ultimately granted the patent for the telescoping feature in 1949, Sylvan Goldman entered into a license agreement with Orla Watson and his company Telescope Carts, Inc. Goldman agreed to produce the carts, while Telescope Carts, Inc. received all royalties on each cart sold. This included all shopping carts made with the important telescoping (i.e., nesting) feature regardless of number of baskets.

Two specimens of Orla Watson's Telescope Cart invention are housed in the Smithsonian Institute. His invention is an important piece of history. It is for this reason that a page for Orla Watson is warranted. — Preceding Alanwilliams101 comment added by Alanwilliams101 (talk • contribs) 23:50, 7 April 2013 (UTC)[reply]