Patent specification. Mechanical motion. Sheep shears. No. 15,624, 1909. D. Unaipon, SA

Patent specification for mechanical sheep sheers developed by David Unaipon.

David Unaipon was born at Raukkan (Point McLeay) Mission in 1872. Educated at the mission school and in Adelaide, Unaipon was particularly interested in scientific studies and began to study mechanics and conduct experiments in perpetual motion and polarised light. Many of Unaipon’s ideas were ahead of his time and he was referred to as ‘Australia’s Leonardo’. In 1909, he developed and patented a modified handpiece for shearing and in following decades submitted patent applications for nine other inventions, including a centrifugal motor. He predicted the invention of the helicopter. Unaipon was also known as a writer, musician, preacher and a spokesman for his people. He retired to Raukkan Mission, where he worked on his inventions, particularly investigating perpetual motion. The Australian $50 note features Unaipon’s shearing handpiece and the church at Raukkan Mission.

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