The invention of the printed circuit has affected all our lives. What elect
ronic item these days does not depend on that technique? To the stress and
lyst using bonded resistance foil strain gages, the printed circuit inventi
on was a fundamental development. And yet, its invention was an accident no
t recognised by its two American inventors. Their patent ran out before the
true significance of their invention was realised. However, it did invalid
ate the patent of the third inventor in England, who knew exactly what he h
ad discovered. What is most interesting is that all of these events occurre
d in the same year, 1936, almost simultaneously. Here is a brief history of
the four individuals involved in the precursor of the bonded resistance fo
il strain gage and in its invention.