Gail Borden and his Inventions


Gail Borden - A biography published in 1866 from A History of American Manufactures from 1608 to 1860...

Borden's meat biscuit was his first invention, which preserved meat extracts and drew much praise in several articles in the Scientific American periodical.

Borden's meat biscuit patent was titled "Preparation of Portable Soup-Bread," issued as U.S. Patent No. 7,066 on 5 Feb 1850.

Military use of the meat biscuit was also recognized as highly suitable for meal rations, and was favorably compared in the Scientific American periodical against the difficulties experienced by other countries having to preserve meats for their military needs.

Awards were presented for Borden's meat biscuit at exhibitions both home and abroad. In England, at the London Great Exhibition, first class medals recognized Borden's invention, in the company of other American winners such as C.H. McCormick for his "Virginia Reaper,” and Charles Goodyear for his “India Rubber Fabrics.”

Borden's condensed milk was his next great invention, which launched his very successful diary company supplying his Eagle brand milk to cities distant from farm supply, and was also recorded in several Scientific American articles.

The condensed milk patent gives Borden's description of his method in U.S. Patent No. 15,553 issued 19 Aug 1856 - the first effective commercial process in the U.S. for condensing and preserving milk.

Borden's fruit juice concentrating patent shows his continuing interest in preserving more types of food detailed in U.S. Patent 35,919, issued 22 July 1862, titled "Improvement in Concentrating and Preserving For Use Cider and Other Juices of Fruits."

Competitors joined the market as shown in this Manufacturer and Builder article from 1878.
 
A quotation - the epitaph from Gail Borden's gravestone.

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