Last Updated: Thursday, October 23, 2008 9:18 AM CDT
Marquardt takes invention to TV
Rhinelander inventor to be featured on PBS reality series
By Michael Skubal
DAILY NEWS STAFF
A local inventor has been selected from thousands to appear on the PBS television show “Everyday Edisons,” a nationally televised reality series that educates viewers about what it takes to transform an idea into a product sold on store shelves.
Steve Marquardt of Rhinelander was selected by the “Everyday Edisons” product development experts in a 2008 nationwide casting call. Viewers will see how his invention, the Advanced Tool System, will make it to market. His invention was one of 10 ideas selected to be developed by the show.
From installing a dishwasher to working on cars, half the job is trying to figure out a way to get the work done in small, confined, hard-to-reach areas.
Marquardt says the Advanced Tool System (ATS) ends these frustrations by providing a direct torque transfer from one end of the tool to the other. In tight spaces and around corners or objects, with the ATS you can reach any fastener and drill any hole quickly, easily and efficiently.
“I have three patents on this,” said Marquardt. “The U.S. Patent Office releases new patents. The people from “Everyday Edisons” read the release and sent me a letter. They pre-selected me in a way. I went to Chicago for the casting call. There were 2,000 people at the call. I was the last one in line at 9 o’clock at night.”
Marquardt did not have much time to make an impression during the casting call.
“You have two minutes to give your spiel to the judging panel and industry marketing people from places like Bed, Bath and Beyond and Home Depot. They’re always looking for new products. If you’re lucky you make it to the next level, the final panel. I told them I make the world’s most efficient tools. I got a standing ovation,” he said.
Marquardt has worked on the ATS for the past eight years. He did his own drawings and text. The technical term for his tool is torque transfer device. It means with a rotary motion you can transfer torque from one end of the tool to the other, inside the tool. Therefore you can reach into tight areas, confined spaces, to remove bolts or drill holes. You can work around corners.
“They outperform all other systems in access, speed, versatility, ergonomics and safety,” said Marquardt. “Because it’s compatible, it makes tools you already have more versatile.”
“Inventing is solving problems,” he added.
According to a press release from the show, “Marquardt recently visited the Everyday Edisons ‘idea factory’ in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Oct. 2 and 3 to meet the development team and begin work on his invention. Marquardt will be involved in essential milestones of the product development process including: a final prototype and design presentation, the branding and packaging for his product, and the happy ending reveal where the Everyday Edisons team will surprise Marquardt with the retail availability of his invention. Every step of development will be filmed and documented for the show and take place in months to come.”
The show covers all costs associated with bringing Marquardt’s product to market and will document the eight other Everyday Edisons as their inventions are taken from ideas to finished products ready for the store shelves. The Emmy and Telly award-winning first season of Everyday Edisons premiered on PBS affiliates in the Spring of 2007. The second season premiered during the Summer of 2008 and the current season, which includes Marquardt, will air in the Fall of 2009
The series invests hundreds of thousands of dollars into each chosen product at no cost to the inventor and seeks to bring each product to market once it’s fully developed. The name Everyday Edisons honors Thomas Edison, the famed American Inventor who, with virtually no formal education, had more than 1,000 patents to his credit. The name implies that everyday people like Edison can have great ideas.
Move over Thomas Edison, here comes Steve Marquardt.
| Tell us what you think... |
| Comments » |
The
comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News. |
|
| Post a comment
(150 word limit) » |
| We will not post reader comments containing
racial, religious or personal attacks, slander,
profanity, e-mail addresses, mailing addresses,
phone numbers or Web site addresses that are
for personal or promotional gain. |
|
|
| Thank you for your comments! Once your comments
are approved, they will appear on the site. |
|
|
|
|
feed
Comments
a hodag2 wrote on Oct 23, 2008 6:17 PM:
way of doing things to make things easier!
remember work smarter,not harder
(sure wish i'd coined that)
keep up the good job steve "