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EARLY AMERICAN INVENTIONS
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YE OLDE PROTOTYPES

Celebrating early America's inventive spirit

COMBINED ROCKING CHAIR AND FAN
Patented Aug. 7, 1847 by Charles Horst

Mr. Horst's invention was one of many such attempts to create a cooling effect with as little exertion as possible. Although little is known about this New Orleans resident or his machine, similar contraptions were quite common, especially in the South where keeping cool during summer was always a daunting challenge.