BLACK INVENTORS AND INVENTIONS
c
- 0,
p
he folio ing is a list of c ual inv ntions and paten numbers recorded in the
United States Patent Office in Washington, D.C. by African-Americans.
D
L. U
ul B. Downln
J.L. La e
K. head
J. Ri
, W.B. Purtu
C.D. BaJll1i
MA Cheny
T. Grant
W.H. Rich son
H. u.lkner
Edm d Berger
Show John
W.O. 0 vi
L.C.DaUy
, Benjamin Bannekar
Lawrence P. Ray
T.J. Marshall
T.Elk1n
J.W. SmJth
Walter B. Puruls
DA Fl her
Jam Robln80n
John W. Reed
er
"My husband' fireman," he
. d, "so I was impre d by th
mas bac there." Ms. Thorn
wa on the w y to wor t USAir
when she heard on the radio that
the museum needed volunteer for
"The Real McCoy." She said she
did not I am about the e inventors
when he was growing up. "I said,
'I need to do that' - so here I am."
One inventor, Norbert Rillieux
Fountain Pen
Shampoo H dr t
1T1cycle
GolfT
B byBuggy
Ventll ted Shoe
Spar Plug
Llnlment
Riding Saddle
Hand Bandage
Ahnan
DutPan
F1re ExtJngul her
Chamber Commode
Lawn Sprinkler
Hand Stamper
Jolner' Clamp
Lunch Pall
Rolllng Pen
Tool Sharpener
Ironing Board
Multi-Barrel Machine Gun
Folding Chair
Folding Chair
Insect Destroyer Gun
Automatic Gear Sh1ft
Ftle Holder
Tra1ftc Ught
DoorStop
Gas Mask
Curtain Rod Supporter
Lubrtcatlng Cap
Lawn Mower
Curtain
Electrtc Lamp Attachment
Blood Plasma Bag
'Biscuit Cutter
Egg Beater
Lemon Squeezer
Mop
Telephone Transmitter
n.&JlAJal!.t.uA W one of the few
free Blac to receive p tent
before the Civil W r. e grew
wealthy from hi invention but
received limited recognition b -
cause of r cia! ttitud .
B 0 I invention came
along, a locomotive could run only
o far b fore the train had to stop
and men, including McCoy, had to
jump out and oil th engine to
prevent overheatin , said Linda
Evans, the museum's publicity and
pedal-events coordinator.
McCoy developed a better system
with which the train no longer had
to stop for oiling. Railroads and
shipping lines quickly adopted his
automatic lubricator. Though rival
lubricators appeared, McCoy's was
considered the best.
The legend goes that an inspec­
tor would see the engine running
smoothly and say, "You must have
the real McCoy," Ms. Evans said.
Or railroad employees, not wanting
imitations, asked for "the real
McCoy."
"The Real McCoy' became a
byword among railway men for
first- rate equipment," an exhibit
plaque says. The automatic
lubri cator was the most famou of
50 inventions that McCoy
patented. .
The invention of another Black
man revolutionized the. whaling in­
, dustry: the toggle harpoon. Its in-
12/10/1872
10/27/18 1
11/6/1
1886
1/7/1890
10/11/1898
5/8/1888
12/12/18
6/18/1
4/29/1890
2/2/1839
10/1800
10/6/1896
9/25/1883
113.832
462.093
5 .11
568.916
338.781
19.065
612.008
382.351
638.920
405.599
426.495
437.728
468.939
285.545
Sarah Buone
Richard B. Spike.
Boody & Surgwar
N thanlel Alexander
A.C. Richard
Richard B. Spike
T.B. PInn
Garrett Morgan
O. Dorsey
G.O. Morgan
Wm. S. Grant
EllJah McCoy
JA BUIT
S.R. Scratton
T. Latimer
Charle Drew
A.P. Ashboume
WUlle Johnson
J. Thomas White
Thomas W. Stewart
Grandvtlle B. Woods
1897
10/26/1872
1/9/1812
3/4/1897
2/27/1883
4/20/1875
1887
1884
10/1896
12/30/1887
1840
6/11/1889
7/4/1911
2/28/1899
2/6/1932
11/17/1880
Early 1900'
12/10/1878
210.764
587.607
125.063
122.518
581.785
273.149
162.281
356.852
305.474
507.337
469.395
424.228
007.108
620.362
1.889.614
231.355
1896
1890
5/19/1889
11/30/1889
3/21/1882
565.075
614.307
624.749
481.720
255.21-2
1875
1884
170.416
292.821
572.849
499.402
308.876
6/1 /1893
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RERIII
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