R.I.P. Artur Fischer, real-life hero with more patents than Thomas Edison

By: H&I Staff     Posted: February 9, 2016, 11:15AM    Tags: News, Real Life Hero

Chances are, you've probably used one of Artur Fischer's inventions within the last year. The German inventor who holds more patents than Thomas Edison died Janurary 27 at the age of 96. In total, he is responsible for more than 1,100 patents over the last 70 years. 

Fischer created his first patent in 1947 after wanting to take photographs of his newborn daughter. To take photos indoors back then, the photography had to use a powder flash and ignite a cord. The process was dangerous, so Fischer started to create the camera flash we know today.

In 1958, Fischer created the plastic wall anchor. The invention drastically improved home construction projects by allowing screws to securely stay in place on drywall or plaster. Since then, homeowners everywhere can easily hang heavy objects without ruining their walls. 

The master tinkerer was born in Germany in 1919. Early on, his family supported his exceptional technical skills by buying him a workbench and other constructions toys. During WWII, Fischer joined the army, was captured in Italy, and spent the remaining years in a prisoner of war camp in Great Britain. 

After the war ended, and one year after his first patent, Fischer founded the Fischer Group. Today, the company employs over 4,000 people and sells products in over 100 countries. 

In a 2015 profile, the German magazine Der Spiegel wrote, "What Bill Gates was to the personal computer, Artur Fischer is to do-it-yourself home repair."

So here's to real-life hero Artur Fischer, whose inventions have made our lives much easier.