Thermos flask - The new insulator
Keeps it cold, keeps it hot – without fire and without ice. Praise be the thermos flask! This advertising slogan, which glass engineer Reinhold Burger came up with himself, succinctly described the dual benefits of his invention. For years, he studied the insulating effect of double-walled glass containers, and in 1903 was able to put his knowledge to good use: ice machine maker Carl von Linde needed insulating containers in which to store liquefied air. Burger then improved the design of the vessels and made sure that the layer of silver used to reflect the heat radiation would not flake off. To protect the glass, he covered the flask in a lightweight metal casing. The screw-on cup and its low weight, durability and attractive shape made the thermos flask ideal for everyday use. In 1909, Burger sold his patent to the company Charlottenburger Thermos AG, becoming a wealthy man in the process.
Significance: in 1920, the thermos flask went into series production. The new product proved a bestseller worldwide – and this is still the case today, despite the fact that the design has remained virtually unchanged.
Invented by: Reinhold Burger
In: 1903
Thermos flask
