- from infoplease.com via Mr Google -
"The brilliant Leonardo da Vinci was first to develop an
early model for ball bearings in the 16th century. Ball
bearings, or antifriction bearings as they are sometimes
called, are one type of rolling bearing that is used to
help reduce friction between two moving parts like wheels
on an axle.
But it wasn't until 1791 that English inventor Philip
Vaughn obtained the first patent for today's ball bearings
while working on carriage axles."
Actually he spelled axles 'axels' so I don't know whether
to believe him or not!
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