Ernest Godward

1882 Shand Mason and Co fire engine

Ernest Godward was born in Marylebone, London on 7 April 1869. He was the son of Henry Robert Godward, a fireman, and his wife, Sarah Ann Pattison. He lived in England, New Zealand and the United States. He created the spiral hairpin and a type of carburettor called a petrol economiser, which boosted engine performance and reduced fuel consumption. He also invented the Non-slip Egg Beater , a new post-hole borer, a new type of hair curler, a burglar-proof window and a hedge trimmer made from bicycle parts.