Monday 13 April 2015

Kipper Koolstone . . . . The A to Z of Slightly Strange Unknown Victorian Inventors and Explorers



Kipper Koolstone

Life was not easy for Kipper Koolstone, because life as a black Irish American in New York meant he was always fighting the system and prejudice in order to be accepted.  And gentle Victorian Middle Class Society was all very prim and proper (or so it seemed) and something of a closed group so the arrival of a highly intelligent Black Irish American amongst them was more than some could cope with.  He was a brilliant if little known inventor and his Koolstone Grapple Gate is used to this day in the Llama farms of Chile where Mr Koolstone’s name is highly regarded. And a large (naked, for reasons explained later) statue of Kipper Koolstone still stands in the main square in Santiago, hand raised holding a large Armadillo.  Interestingly it is thought to be one of the world’s most photographed statues.

When Kipper Koolstone announced that he had finally invented a perpetual motion machine which he called the Koolstone Kinetic Keeper he was surprised and down heartened that there was very little interest shown. The problem being that the science world was jealous, and as a black Irish American few were going to acknowledge his great achievement. In the end pure frustration led to him being photographed naked with his invention, as he hoped that folk would finally sit up and take notice, particularly the press.  Well it certainly worked and the world of science finally admitted that it was one of the biggest things they had seen in years, all those parts rotating and swinging about as they did.


However the world is a fickle place and Kipper Koolstone found that he had become an overnight photographic sensation and he was in constant demand as a photographic model across the world. This meant he had little time for inventing and his Koolstone Kinetic Keeper is now in the depths of the Science Museum in London (dusty), but is said to be still operating. As for Kipper Koolstone himself, he retired to a small South Pacific island keeping a few llamas and making the odd guest appearance in What the Butler Saw Machines for old time’s sake. 

6 comments:

  1. I wonder if any of this is true. I suspect if I google his name or invention it will bring me back to this post
    zannierose A-Z

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    1. Well it is not entirely true But if you do Google Kipper Koolstone you will find that he is acknowledged by one very eminent blog on the internet as the inventor of the Koolstone Grapple Gate.

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  2. I was wondering when I would see that picture again Mr Z. It doesn't seem as provocative as the first time I saw it though.

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    1. The world is changing Miss Lily only a few years ago an exposed ankle would be frowned upon and now you see folk exposing entire legs. I suspect we are only a short step away from an internet full of unspeakable acts where everyone is completely naked. . . . I will keep my eyes closed and just hope that knowledge, science and a good yarn win the day. . . . . . . . .

      AH DAMN

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  3. I personally prefer alpacas. It is my understanding that they are more snuggly than llamas, which is the main trait that I look for in my South American beasts of burden. That reminds me that I have only been east of the Andes, neVer west while in South America. I should go to Chile sometime and take advantage of the its-winter-here-and-summer-there phenomenon.

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    1. I think you should make that trip Mr ESB and hunt that winter sun. We have Llamas in Britain although not wild ones. There is a small flock of them a couple of miles from us here, in fact I passed them yesterday while I was disposing of dead computers.

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