Multi-Purpose

One thing I have always found delight in is when things are invented with two purposes in mind. I recall how I thought it was a great idea when I saw a Castro Convertible commercial when I was a kid. Here was a couch that converted to a bed.

I remember how cool it was when a guy in my home town had an amphibious car. I never saw him drive it into the water, but the potential struck me as being very cool.

I remember getting my first reversible coat. It was blue on one side and red on the other and I did reverse it every once in a while, though I liked the blue side better. I also remember getting a reversible belt. It was brown on one side and black on the other.

I know that inventers keep trying to come up with multi-function devices, but most just don’t cut it. I can’t imaging ever buying a spork which is a spoon/fork combo. I have no need for a pen that has a built-in flashlight. Swiss Army Knives can be somewhat good, but I probably wouldn’t use more two or three attachments.

My mother had a Mix Master that had a meat grinder attachment and a juicer attachment. We never used the grinder, but I do remember her juicing oranges for me when I was a kid.

My passion for dual purpose tools runs deep. I love those screw drivers with interchangeable bits. I have an Estwing hatchet with a hammer head on the back side. Everyone knows that I covet the best ever multi function tool, a back hoe.

The only really cool multi function tool I can think of that has come down the pike in recent memory is the hand held phone with apps where you can call people, email them and browse the internet. They can also play movies, music and act as a GPS unit. That’s almost as cool as a back hoe.