17 Awesome All-American Inventions for DIYers

WD-40: 39 FAILURES, ONE BIG SUCCESS

In 1953, the Rocket Chemical Company of San Diego set out to create a product that could prevent rust on equipment in the aerospace industry. On the 40th try, it came up with WD-40 (Water Displacement, 40th attempt). It was first used by Convair to protect the outer skin of Atlas Missiles from rust and corrosion.

In 1958, company founder Norm Larsen saw an opportunity to sell to the general public and introduced a retail version of WD-40 in aerosol cans. The public loved the product and still does. WD-40 can be found in four out of five homes in America, and the company currently manufactures more than 1 million cans of WD-40 per week.