Museum Spotlights History of Davis Industry

The  is opening its fall exhibition season Saturday with a celebration of inventions.

Davis has a long tradition of nurturing innovators, people who saw a way to enrich themselves, or just make a living by making their unique dreams a reality. Last spring, the "Phase I" Davis industry exhibit featured a "cocoonery," where silkworms were encouraged to grow by the thousands in a mulberry orchard.

Since 1985, when Tyler Schilling, Davis native and expert scuba diver, opened Schilling Robotics, the still Davis-based company has occasionally popped up in the headlines. A Schilling-designed remote controlled robotic arm was used during Robert Ballard's successful exploration of the Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean. More recently, an unmanned Schilling submersible robot mapped the Lake Tahoe floor.

Another Davis innovator is Cathy Forkas, owner-operator of the Davis Cabinet Company. It's entirely solar-powered and the vastly experienced DCC cabinetmakers creatively recycle all wood by-products of their fine craftsmanship.

Planning for the exhibit also includes Davis inventor Peter Wagner's locally-known "Whymcycles," glorified kick scooters the rider propels by bouncing up and down on a platform connected to the vehicle's off-center rear wheel. Seeing a fleet of Whymcycles interspersed with Wagner's patented ten-foot tall unicycles is always a memorable highlight of downtown Davis's annual 4th of July Criterium Bicycle Race.

Wagner, it is said, doesn't appreciate comparisons with Paul Moller, Davis's other vehicular inventor. Wagner has pointed out that while his inventions are actually ridden for all to see in downtown Davis' streets, Moller's flying car has yet to get off the ground. Experimentation continues at Moller International lab in south Davis.

All the Davis industry "Phase II" exhibits will feature photos, product examples, souvenirs and more. The opening reception begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, with a short dedication ceremony including company representatives in the rose garden next to the museum. Refreshments including coffee and pastries will be served.