An infographic showing all of the things that were possibly invented in Oakland

14 Comments

  1. melanie on June 8, 2010 at 10:48 am

    awesome awesome awesome

  2. Martin Truman on June 8, 2010 at 3:32 pm

    Jeez, you guys sure have pretty graphics. But since you’re a journalism school, shouldn’t you spend more time fact-checking? I know it’s a small point, and who really cares (perhaps another question the dean ought to ask as he squanders other people’s money on journalism of this nature), but take the time to google epperson + popsicle.

    • Jim on July 25, 2011 at 12:19 am

      I am not sure of the point that you are trying to make about checking the internet. I know that some sites claim that Epperson invented the popsicle while living in San Francisco. I looked into this. Frank Epperson definitely lived in Oakland when he applied for his patent for the process of making popsicles. I contacted the Good Humor company and they sent me a copy of his patent application. I also read an interesting article which discussed the weather for the year that Epperson accidentally first made a popsicle by leaving some flavored water with a stirring stick out in the cold where it froze overnight. Apparently the temperature never dropped below freezing in San Francisco that year, but it did get that cold in Oakland on a few dates. It looks like the case for Oakland being the home of the popsicle is pretty ironclad no matter whether you consider the invention date to be the time of the first unintentional frozen ice or the time that the actual process for creating the product was developed.

  3. john deckard on June 8, 2010 at 5:01 pm

    wow, martin, angry much? i’m a frequent reader of this site and find they produce many forms of journalism.

    anyway, looks great guys, thank you!

  4. […] here to see the full-page version of Invented in Oakland. Filed Under: Culture This entry was written by Allison Davis, posted on at 10:25 pm, filed […]

  5. Joanne on September 27, 2011 at 10:30 am

    Guys, I think there is fortune cookie folding machine operating in Oakland, contrary to what is stated in this fun article. I bought some fortune cookies at a factory on 9th or 8th a block and a half from Jackson, and they offer flat round (unfolded) cookies, or folded ones with a fortune inside, this summer 2011. Unless they are folding thousands of cookies by hand… Thanks for the article!

  6. […] And finally, it wouldn’t be a historical celebration without mentioning some of the great — and absurd — inventions that have been attributed to Oaklanders. See our project that sorts the factual from the fictious with Invented in Oakland. […]

  7. Russell Yee on January 24, 2013 at 8:21 pm

    Yes, fortune cookie machines chugging away at Tom’s Bakery, 9th x Harrison, was just there yest (Jan 2013).

    Also, to be regrettably specific: the Ettore squeegee folks are indeed near OAK but actually in the Alameda side of Bay Farm Island

  8. Paul Bostwick on January 24, 2013 at 8:27 pm

    Super list! Well presented too. I’m an inventor living in Oakland. Maybe that dotted line will head my way some day soon.

  9. jean on August 12, 2013 at 1:02 am

    Very interesting topic , appreciate it for posting . “Ok. Sex is fine. Sex is good. Sex is GREAT Okay, okay, we need men for sex… Do we need so many” by Sybil Adelman.

  10. yotini on August 12, 2013 at 1:28 am

    But wanna comment that you have a very decent website , I enjoy the layout it really stands out. yotini http://ameblo.jp/vilraoblazdis/entry-11589438046.html

  11. Elizabeth on December 11, 2013 at 2:10 am

    Exemplary job with this specific write-up! I enjoy the way you will shown your data in addition to the procedure a person caused it to be essential alongside clear to determine. %KW%
    Elizabeth http://www.icthp.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=6490

  12. […] folding machine was invented in Oakland. Yes, the city across the Bay is actually known for several inventions, including the fortune cookie machine, rocky road ice cream, and mai tais. All great reasons to pay […]

  13. EsoLir on March 17, 2022 at 10:52 am

    To invest money you need to have a great knowledge of finance industry

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.