One of the greatest inventions of all time and one we take for granted is the umbrella. What's most amazing about the umbrella is that it hasn't changed that much in 4,000 years. It was originally invented by the Chinese (wasn't everything?) for protection from the sun, in short a parasol. But eventually those inventive Chinese waterproofed it and used it to keep dry in the rain. In 1852 an Englishman named Samuel Fox was the first to use metal ribs. Still he didn't change it that much, nor did anyone else other than making it portable and collapsible and, in some cases, much, much bigger. So whether you call it an umbrella, a brolly, or a bumbershoot, give some thought to what a fabulous invention this is in an age where everything else seems to change overnight.
Note: The scene above is from Alfred Hitchock's brilliant 1940 film
Foreign Correspondent. And if you haven't seen it, why not?
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