African-American History Month

Part 1

African- American History Month –Inventors

Here is a list of African-American Inventors who have patented useful inventions that have contributed to making America the greatest place to live. They are still making a difference in this truly unique country that will continue to lead the rest of the world for decades to come. This is only a partial list:

In the Railroad Industry, Granville T. Woods - Overhead conducting system

for electric railways (1888) and Automatic Air Brakes (1902).  Elbert R. Robinson - Electric railway trolley (1893) and Richard Spikes - Continuous Contact Trolley System (1919). Prior to the inventions of Elijah McCoy, the train had to stop after several miles to be oiled by the engineers. McCoy invented the Automatic oil cup for railway car (1872), Lubricator (1882), and the Steam Dome for locomotives (1885).

The Automobile Industry was truly enriched by African- American Inventors. Edmond Berger, the Spark Plugs (1839), and Richard Spikes of San Francisco, CA, gave us the Automobile Safety Break (1962) – Automatic Gear Shift (1932,              Automobile Directional Signals (1913), and the Automobile Car Washer (1913). Samuel Moore patented the Self-directing headlight (1926) and the Vehicle-headlight mechanism (1928). Traffic is sometimes a mess but it would be really difficult without the invention by Garret A. Morgan, Automatic Traffic Signal (1923). With so many cars on the road today, the air would be unbearable but for the invention by Rufus Stokes, Exhaust purifier (1968) and the Air pollution control device (1970).

Part 2

African-American History Month – Inventors

Our Homes and Offices have been greatly assisted by the following inventions: Marie Van Brittan Brown’s First Video Home Security System (1969), Thomas L. Jennings, Dry Cleaning (1821), John Lee Love - Pencil Sharper (1897) and William Purvis’s Fountain Pen (1884). Also, there was the John Albert Burr Lawn Mower (1899) and the Michael C. Harney Lantern or Lamp (1884). Later on we were able to play music on the Robert F. Flemings Jr.’s Guitar (1886) and weigh ourselves on the John W. Hunter Portable weighing scale (1896). We can now stay warm in our homes with the Alice H. Parker Heating Furnace (1919) and when it’s time to travel to the airport again our luggage will be a lot easier to carry with Debrilla M. Ratchford’s Suitcase with wheels and Transporting hook (1978). We don’t have to worry about the phone being answered while we are away with Benjamin Thornton’s Apparatus for automatically recording telephonic messages (1931).

In the Healthcare Industry we use George Alcorn’s X-Ray Machine (1984) and Bessie Blunt’s Tube Feeder used in hospitals (1951). What would we do without the Phil Brook’s Disposal Syringes (1974) and Dr. Charles Drew’s Blood Plasma invention (1941)? We cannot think of having surgery without Dr. Daniel Hale William’s Antiseptic –Sterilization for open heart surgery and internal surgery (1893). When you hear about cataract surgery easily done today it was because of Patricia Bath’s Laser apparatus for surgery of catartactous lenses (1988). Also, we are thankful for Dewy S. C Sanderson’s Urinalysis machine (1970).

In the Manufacturing/Technology there too many to name them all but we can start with Thomas Elkins for Refrigeration (1879) and George Washington Carver for Cosmetic & Plant Products (Peanut Butter), Paints & Stains (1925) and thousands of other inventions. We thank Samuel J. Hines for his Life Preserver (1915) and Lonnie G. Johnson for her Automatic sprinkler control (1981) and over 45 other inventions for the digital Age. When we go to the movies, Arthur L. MacBeth will be remembered for his Picture Projection Theater invention (1922). The next pair of shoes I buy the name Jan Ernst Matzeliger will come to mind for his Automatic method for lasting shoes, (1890), Nailing machine (1890), Tack separating and distributing mechanism (1890) and his Lasting Machine (1899). Lastly, Ralph W. Sanderson for his Hydraulic shock absorbers (1968) for smooth rides on buses and large trucks.

Part 3

African- American History Month – Inventors

In Aviation we have Hermon I. Grime Airplane invention (1938) AND Jay H. Montgomery’s Aero plane aerofoil wing (1930). This winter when you hear reports about airplanes having to de-ice, think of Richard E S Tommey the inventor of the Airplane appliance to prevent ice formation (co-inventor James C. Evans) (1930).

In Nuclear Power there are two African-American inventors, Frank Edward LeVert, Threshold self-powered gamma detector for use as a monitor of power in a nuclear reactor (1978) and Edwin R. Russell for The separation of plutonium from uranium and fission products (1958).

In the Computer and Internet Industry we start with Philip Emeawali, the inventor of the Supercomputer (1989) and John Henry Thompson for his Lingo Programmer for Macromedia- Shockwave- Movies on our computers (1987-2001).  Jesse Eugene Russell gave us the Broadband data reception system for Worldwide Net Access (1999) and the Network server platform for Internet, Java server and video application server (2000). Lastly, Lanny S Smoot’s Teleconferencing facility with high resolution video display (1989) and his Teleconferencing terminal with camera behind display screen (1990) has helped reduce a lot of air travel for businessmen and women.

In the American Space Program the African-American Inventor has significantly helped advance the program. Henry Sampson, Bindle System for Rocket Motors (1964), William D. Harwell – Apparatus and method of capturing an orbiting spacecraft (1987), Wilson E. Hull –Mass release mechanism for satellites(1966) and Adolphus Samms’ Rocket engine pump feed system (1961), Multiple stage rocket (1965), Emergency release for extraction chute (1966) and his Rocket motor fuel deed (1967). We can’t forget Jerry Shelby for his Engine protection system for the recoverable rocket booster (1994).

In the Military Arms Industry, African-American Inventors have been quite active. Edward R. Lewis’s Spring Gun (1887) and Richard Spikes, yes, the same San Franciscan mentioned above invented a Multi-barrel Machine Gun (1940) while Henrietta Bradberry invented the Underwater Cannon (Torpedo Discharge) in (1945).  Clarence Gregg gave us the Machine gun (1918) while Garret A. Morgan invented the Gas Mask (1914) just in time for World War I. Eugene Burkins gave us the Breech Loading Cannon (1900) and Donald E. Jefferson’s Triggered exploding wire device (1966).