Make: Inventions Archives

Exploring the History of Great Ideas with Make: Inventions

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. His free weekly-ish maker tips newsletter can be found at garstipsandtools.com.

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@garethb2

February 28th, 2016

We revisit the wonderful Make: Inventions video series with Steve Hoefer

Make: Inventions “Pin Tumbler Lock”

By Steve Hoefer

Steve Hoefer

Steve Hoefer is a creative swashbuckler, freelance writer and inventor. He regularly contributes projects to the pages of MAKE and his inventions have appeared internationally on TV, radio, and print. He lives on his family farm in Iowa.

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@Grathio

October 10th, 2013February 27th, 2016

In this episode, we look at the pin tumbler lock, the most popular, enduring lock design of the last 150 years

Make: Inventions “The Safety Elevator”

By Steve Hoefer

Steve Hoefer

Steve Hoefer is a creative swashbuckler, freelance writer and inventor. He regularly contributes projects to the pages of MAKE and his inventions have appeared internationally on TV, radio, and print. He lives on his family farm in Iowa.

View more articles by Steve Hoefer

@Grathio

September 12th, 2013February 28th, 2016 1

In this Make: Inventions, Steve builds an elevator and reenacts the death-defying stunt that Elisha Otis performed at the 1854 World’s Fair.

Make: Inventions “Building Morse’s First Telegraph”

By Steve Hoefer

Steve Hoefer

Steve Hoefer is a creative swashbuckler, freelance writer and inventor. He regularly contributes projects to the pages of MAKE and his inventions have appeared internationally on TV, radio, and print. He lives on his family farm in Iowa.

View more articles by Steve Hoefer

@Grathio

August 8th, 2013February 28th, 2016

In this episode of Make: Inventions, Steve builds Morse’s original automated transmitter as well as a gravity-driven receiver that records Morse coded message to paper

Make: Inventions “The Airbag”

By Stett Holbrook

Stett Holbrook

Stett Holbrook is editor of the Bohemian, an alternative weekly in Santa Rosa, California. He is a former senior editor at Maker Media.

He is also the co-creator of Food Forward, a documentary TV series for PBS about the innovators and pioneers changing our food system.

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July 11th, 2013February 27th, 2016

In this episode of Make: Inventions, Steve makes an airbag system that can detect a crash and deploy safely in 1/20th of a second.

Make: Inventions | Can Openers

By Steve Hoefer

Steve Hoefer

Steve Hoefer is a creative swashbuckler, freelance writer and inventor. He regularly contributes projects to the pages of MAKE and his inventions have appeared internationally on TV, radio, and print. He lives on his family farm in Iowa.

View more articles by Steve Hoefer