Carrol Sanford invented the metal truss plate with teeth called the Gri-P-Late. Modern day trusses came to fruition in the 1950’s, with the invention of the metal truss plate and concept of using it to connect pieces of lumber. This truss differed from the Howe with diagonal webs of iron (for tension) and verticals made of wood. Caleb Pratt patented another combination wood and iron bridge truss. 1840: The Howe truss won a United States patent, and following Palladio’s work, became the earliest form of a simple truss created for long-span bridge construction.These forms are believed to be the earliest examples of trusses used scientifically. 1560-1580: Italian architect Ande Palladio developed three forms of the basic truss element-the rigid triangle.What makes structural building components the best way to frame is the fact that, conceptually, they have been around for over 450 years.
