MM: 19th Century-the umbrella (brolly)

EDIT: I know many people are looking for the mono Monday results. Please bear with me. I’m adding this note on Friday, 5:45 PT and have just arrived home from a week in the mountains. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to pick up a lick of internet. I promise to finish getting through them ASAP!

The umbrella (aka brolly) was invented thousands of years ago. The earliest umbrellas were used to shade the user from the sun (an umbrella used for shade is called a parasol). The earliest of these were used about 4,000 years ago in China, Greece, Egypt and Assyria. They were delicate, frequently made of feathers. The Chinese were probably the first to use wax and lacquer to waterproof them for use in the rain.

Samuel Fox, an English inventor and manufacturer, invented the steel ribbed umbrella in 1852. Prior to that wood or whalebone was used.
The umbrella, and its original version, the parasol, have complicated histories. From 4,000 years ago to the 20th century, it has evolved. But just as many inventions began in a rough form, it was Fox who had the foresight to make the ribs steel. The current design is still based on that invention.