October 29, 1929:
The New York Stock Exchange has crashed. Rapid inflation has led to even steeper deflation and in turn, people are losing money faster than they can even begin to realize. The Great Depression is coming: a time when unemployment hits rock bottom, a time when all the world suffers and begins to lose hope in the truly failing economy. Â It is the US that is the first to be hit, however other countries such as Canada, dependent on the US for trade, suffer almost as much.
We mustn’t forget this terrible time. We mustn’t forget the losses, the suffering, and the lessons we have learned since.
However, we mustn’t blind ourselves by growing to associate this time with only the bad. Humanity has always had a knack for taking times of suffering and turning them into times of opportunity, and the Great Depression has been no exception. In school, we focus on the causes, the impacts, the losses, and the lessons learned from the Great Depression. This is all important, however, I wanted to bring light to another aspect of the Depression: the innovation that took place despite the difficulties.
Ideas. Inventions. Improvements of the old, and a vision of the new.
There had definitely been a lot happening in terms of innovation before the Depression- after all, the period before wasn’t called the ‘roaring twenties’ for nothing. This was a time when all sorts of gadgets and gizmos, ads for films and pop culture, and anything else in between had been largely produced and advertised everywhere in the US and Canada. This was the period after WWI when people were tired of war and misery and found their comfort by coming home to the large array of companies that sold all sorts of things in order to make people’s lives easier. Thus, it is only natural that so many innovations occurred in this time where there were high demands and no war to get in the way.
In many ways, the roaring twenties ended when the stock market, suffering from inflation caused by people spending money they didn’t actually have, inevitably crashed. The days of cheap everything and decent employment had ended, and the Depression had begun. Even so, inventive minds weren’t stopped, and developments and innovations continued to be made.
Firstly- Communications Technologies
Numerous improvements in telecommunications were made right in the thick of the Depression. Indeed, the Trans-Canada Telephone System was started in 1931, only a couple years after the start of the Depression, and this was a large group of telephone companies that would lay down the foundations for a national telephone network. Around this time, there was also a lot of improvements in communications technologies, and Canadians went from having to dial Europe via the US to being able to directly connect, thus making the nation more independent and improving its communications with the world. With better communications technologies comes better opportunity for Canada to spread and gain knowledge from the world, and the fact that these innovations took place during the Great Depression stands as tribute to the fact that no matter what difficulties arise, people will always pursue innovation and opportunity nevertheless.
Household Tech: A Family Favourite
Not only was there a massive advancement in household technologies during the ‘roaring twenties,’ but this also carried forward into the Great Depression. During this time, numerous improvements were made, including the production of automatic washing machines, a trend started by John Chamberlain who made people’s lives easier by making it so that clothes are not only washed, but also dried in one cycle of his washing machine. This wasn’t it though- there were many more improvements in household technologies during the Great Depression, almost relentlessly despite the poverty. Interesting then, that despite the difficulties of the time, people still enjoyed these sorts of improvements that made their lives easier, and continued to move forward in developing the technologies needed to do so.
Now, what else does a household need to function? Well, people used to be quite fond of those ancient devices that you could only use to watch video… ah yes, television.
Reginald Fessenden was another pursuer of innovation, but his specialty was in TV technology. This Quebec-born inventor was well-known for his many improvements in television and transmissions, many of these being made in the midst of the Depression, around the 1930s. Though he died in 1932, his inventions are still seen today and though they came out during a time of difficulty, it is nice to think that they were appreciated during that time as well.
For Your Convenience: The Snowblower
Funny that when we imagine the Great Depression, we often envision a time when all were struggling in poverty and could hardly afford any necessities, never mind luxuries. This isn’t wrong, however we must not totally neglect the fact that though many were experiencing difficulties, people were still inventing some luxuries or little knick-knacks that make life easier.
Such can be seen with the example of the snowblower! Invented by Arthur Sicard in Saint-Therese, Quebec, these were commonly used by 1927 to remove snow off of roads. Not only was it far more efficient than the humble shovel, but this innovation allowed for the further development of his company, which also continued to grow and provide more significant innovations later on. During this time of Depression, it is inspiring to see someone invent something to make all our lives easier, and especially considering the time, one can imagine anything of the sort was extremely helpful or at least a welcome distraction.
And to finish it off — Table Hockey!
In such times of difficulty, people also have a knack for getting really creative. Rather than depending on stores, they make some of their own things, including gifts, which are cheaper and often more personal. Such was the case with Donald H. Munro, a Torontonian who, lacking money for Christmas presents, and instead invented table hockey in 1932. Not only did this provide enjoyment then, but table hockey is still widely played now, including by Canadians like myself who find their ability in the actual sport of hockey to be somewhat lacking.
In the end, we can see the Great Depression was not just a time of great misery — rather, people showed some of their best in the innovations they made.
It’s encouraging to realize that despite so many difficulties, humans are still capable of finding a way to get around to inventing things, whether they be little bits of entertainment or pursuing the greater development of technology. In times of misery and poverty, we are still capable of doing little things or making innovations that will help our species move forward. To realize this, and to think about how our species never will stop progressing, even if it’s only by a little, no matter the difficulties of the present day — it’s kind of inspiring.
