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Period: to
African American Inventors
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Elijah McCoy invents oil dripping cups for trains
Elijah McCoy (1843–1929) invented an oil-dripping cup for trains. Other inventors tried to copy McCoy's oil-dripping cup. But none of the other cups worked as well as his, so customers started asking for "the real McCoy." That's where the expression comes from! Elijah McCoy's contributions to the success of steam engines, the main power source of transportation and manufacturing during the 1850 to 1930 era, are little known today, but were very important during their era. -
Lewis Latimer invents carbon filament part for light bulb
Lewis Latimer (1848–1928) invented an important part of the light bulb — the carbon filament. In 1880 he worked with Thomas Alva Edison to develop the component of the light bulb that we know as a fluorescent light. Latimer worked in the laboratories of both Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell. -
George Washington Carver invents over 75 uses for peanuts
George Washington Carver was the son of two slaves. He was a sickly child and was not suited for work in the fields. He was very interested in plants. His master sent him to Missouri to receive an education. He was accepted and rewarded a scholarship out of High School but when the college president saw that he was black he withdrew his application. In 1887 he attended Simpson College and then moved on fromt here to Iowa State university. He did a great deal of work in the University’s Agricultu -
1923 - Garett Morgan invents traffic light
Garrett Morgan wanted to do something to help firefighters. In his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, there were many cases of firefighters being overcome by smoke when trying to put out fires. In 1914, Morgan invented a special hood so firefighters would not breathe in smoke. In 1914, Morgan obtained a patent for his safety hood — a breathing device made of a canvas hood placed over the head. A double tube extended from the hood and came out the back. The open end held a sponge soaked with water -
Patricia Bath invents the lasarphacl probe to remove cataracts
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1989 - Lonnie Johnson invents super soaker
In 1989, Johnson granted his own engineering firm and invented the Super Soaker. Two years later it become the number one selling toy in America. Over the years Super Soakers sales have totaled almost up to one billion dollars. One of Johnsons companies is currently working on introducing a new generation of rechargable battery technology.