Tabitha Babbitt facts for kids

Sarah "Tabitha" Babbitt was an American inventor and toolmaker. She was born on December 9, 1779, in Hardwick, Massachusetts. Tabitha was a member of the Shakers, a religious group. She joined the Harvard Shaker community in 1793. People credit her with inventing the circular saw, a better spinning wheel head, and false teeth. She died on August 12, 1853, in Harvard, Massachusetts.

Tabitha Babbitt's Early Life

Tabitha Babbitt was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts. Her parents were Seth and Elizabeth Babbitt. When she was 13 years old, on August 12, 1793, she joined the Shakers. She became part of the Harvard Shaker community in Massachusetts. She lived there until her death in December 1853.

Her Work as an Inventor

The Circular Saw Invention

Tabitha Babbitt is often said to have invented the first circular saw. This happened around 1813. She designed it for use in a sawmill. A sawmill is a place where logs are cut into lumber.

The story goes that Tabitha saw men using a difficult two-man saw. This saw was called a whipsaw. She noticed that half of their effort was wasted. So, she thought of a round blade. This round blade would make cutting wood much easier.

Her circular saw was connected to a water-powered machine. This machine helped to cut wood with less effort. The first circular saw she supposedly made is now in Albany, New York.

Was She the First Inventor?

There is some debate about whether Tabitha Babbitt was truly the first to invent the circular saw. The Shakers did not patent their inventions. This means there are no official records of her patenting the saw. The information about her invention comes from Shaker stories and writings.

Some people believe that two French men patented the circular saw later. They might have learned about Babbitt's saw from Shaker papers. Other historians suggest the circular saw was invented by someone else. They think it might have been invented by Amos Bishop or Benjamin Bruce in 1793. These men were also Shakers.

Other Inventions

Besides the circular saw, Tabitha Babbitt is also credited with other inventions. She is said to have created a new way to make false teeth. She also improved the spinning wheel head. A spinning wheel is a machine used to make thread.

She may have also invented a type of cut nail. However, the Shakers also credit this invention to Eli Whitney, who was not a Shaker. Because she was a Shaker, Tabitha Babbitt never patented any of her inventions. Shakers believed that inventions should benefit everyone, not just one person.

Her Legacy and Impact

Tabitha Babbitt is an important figure in American invention. However, she is not in the National Inventors Hall of Fame. This is because the Hall of Fame usually requires proof of a patent. Since Tabitha Babbitt, like Benjamin Franklin, did not file patents, they are not included. Her story shows that many important inventions were made by people who did not seek patents.

See also

• Isaac Babbitt, inventor of a special metal alloy
• Shaker furniture

In Spanish: Tabitha Babbitt para niños