Neil Tillotson
Encyclopedia
Neil Tillotson was the inventor of the modern latex
balloon
and latex gloves and founder of Tillotson Rubber Company. Later, as a resident of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire
, he was the first voter in every American presidential primary
and presidential election
from the time he took residence there to his death in 2001.
Working at Hood Rubber in the 1920s as a researcher, Tillotson lost his job as a result of the Great Depression
. Out of desperation and boredom, Tillotson discovered a way to make latex balloons economically. He founded the Tillotson Rubber Company in 1931 to produce them. His first product was hand-painted balloons in the shape of a cat's head, but he soon branched out into other offerings. In 1931, despite the Depression, Tillotson Rubber made USD
$85,000 in sales (equivalent to $1.2 million in 2009).
Tillotson's company invented the high-speed latex dipping machinery that made possible his later invention, latex examination gloves the fit either hand in the 1960s.
After retiring with a fortune, Tillotson moved to Dixville Notch, New Hampshire
where he was the first voter in every American presidential primary and presidential election for 40 years, until his death. He often garnered lavish press for doing so.
Latex
Latex is the stable dispersion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium. Latexes may be natural or synthetic.Latex as found in nature is a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants . It is a complex emulsion consisting of proteins, alkaloids, starches, sugars, oils, tannins, resins,...
balloon
Balloon
A balloon is an inflatable flexible bag filled with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, or air. Modern balloons can be made from materials such as rubber, latex, polychloroprene, or a nylon fabric, while some early balloons were made of dried animal bladders, such as the pig...
and latex gloves and founder of Tillotson Rubber Company. Later, as a resident of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire
Dixville Notch, New Hampshire
Dixville Notch is an unincorporated village, with a population of approximately 75, in the Dixville township of Coos County, New Hampshire, USA. The town is known for being one of the first places to declare its results during United States presidential elections and the New Hampshire primary...
, he was the first voter in every American presidential primary
United States presidential primary
The series of presidential primary elections and caucuses is one of the first steps in the process of electing the President of the United States of America. The primary elections are run by state and local governments, while caucuses are private events run by the political parties...
and presidential election
United States presidential election
Elections for President and Vice President of the United States are indirect elections in which voters cast ballots for a slate of electors of the U.S. Electoral College, who in turn directly elect the President and Vice President...
from the time he took residence there to his death in 2001.
Working at Hood Rubber in the 1920s as a researcher, Tillotson lost his job as a result of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. Out of desperation and boredom, Tillotson discovered a way to make latex balloons economically. He founded the Tillotson Rubber Company in 1931 to produce them. His first product was hand-painted balloons in the shape of a cat's head, but he soon branched out into other offerings. In 1931, despite the Depression, Tillotson Rubber made USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
$85,000 in sales (equivalent to $1.2 million in 2009).
Tillotson's company invented the high-speed latex dipping machinery that made possible his later invention, latex examination gloves the fit either hand in the 1960s.
After retiring with a fortune, Tillotson moved to Dixville Notch, New Hampshire
Dixville Notch, New Hampshire
Dixville Notch is an unincorporated village, with a population of approximately 75, in the Dixville township of Coos County, New Hampshire, USA. The town is known for being one of the first places to declare its results during United States presidential elections and the New Hampshire primary...
where he was the first voter in every American presidential primary and presidential election for 40 years, until his death. He often garnered lavish press for doing so.