Elijah McCoy made an impact in the world of science with his numerous inventions. Also, his inventions were well-known for their quality and standard. He was born in Colchester, Ontario, Canada on May 2, 1844 and was a husband to Mary Eleanor Delaney. His parents were George and Emilia McCoy, former slaves from Kentucky who escaped through the Underground Railroad. McCoy held over 57 patents and was best known for his “Improvement in Lubricators for Steam-Engines” patented in 1872.
McCoy showed interest in mechanical things at an early age. He usually dismantled and assembles items. Realising his gift, George and Emila saved money to take Elijah to Edinburgh, Scotland where he studied mechanical engineering. After graduating, he returned to the United States when the Civil War was coming to an end.
Elijah travelled to Ypsilanti, Michigan in search of a job, but couldn’t find one as an engineer. Therefore, he was compelled to take a job as a fireman and an oilman at the Michigan Central Railroad. McCoy duty as a fireman was to pack coal into fires which were used to produce steam that powered locomotive engines. He was also expected as an oilman to lubricate the train in other ways to reduce friction.
In a measure to increase efficiency and discontinue the frequent lubricating trains, McCoy devised a means of automating the task. He invented a lubricating cup that automatically drips oil without the train coming to a halt. In addition, he was given a patent for his device that year. His invention was very useful in the construction as it was very efficient. Some inventors made a move to make their own version of the device, but companies would rather buy the McCoy model.
The African Giant McCoy continued to perfect his invention. Furthermore, in order to get funds to build his own workshop, he sold a percentage of his patent right. In the year 1916, McCoy built a Graphite lubricator that could perform better on superheated trains and other machines that need oil. In addition, he established his company in the year 1920, where he modified the graphics lubricator and a different invention for sale.
His inventions included ironing board for his wife in an effort to address his wife’s complaint about an easier way to iron and a sprinkler that could water his garden and patent it. Throughout much of his professional life, McCoy was faced with significant financial constraints that impeded his ability to engage in large-scale production of his revolutionary lubricators. As a result, he often had to register his inventions under his employer’s name or sell the patent rights to interested investors.
Despite the fact that many of his patents did not bear his name, McCoy’s contributions to the field of engineering and inventorship have left an enduring impact on the world. In recognition of his relentless dedication and ingenuity, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2001, has a historical marker in Ypsilanti to commemorate his achievements, and has even had a patent office in Detroit named after him.
