BLACK INVENTORS YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF! TIMELESS BLACK EXCELLENCE

BLACK INVENTIONS

In this segment we are giving credit where credit is due to several black inventors

This is only a shirt list of inventions

I hand picked a few inventions I thought were the most significant.

As I am reading this list, keep in mind how different the world would be without these inventions.

The Touch Tone Phone, Caller ID, Fiber Optic Cable Shirley Jackson 1968, 1973
• Enabled others to invent the portable fax, touch tone telephone, solar cells, fiber optic cables, and the technology behind caller ID and call waiting.
• Dr. Jackson conducted breakthrough basic scientific research at MIT, where she was the first African-American woman to earn a doctorate.
• DOES ANYONE REMEMBER A TIME WHERE YOU ANSWERED THE PHONE NOT KNOWING WHO WAS CALLING. OR SLOW DIAL UP INTERNET BEFORE STREAMING? NIETHER DO I, THANKS TO DR SHIRLY JACKSON


Home security system Marie V. B. Brown 1966
• Brown’s security system was the basis for the two-way communication and surveillance features of modern security. Her original invention was comprised of peepholes, a camera, monitors, and a two-way microphone. The final element was an alarm button that could be pressed to contact the police immediately.
• Brown’s invention laid the foundation for later security systems that make use of its features such as video monitoring, remote-controlled door locks, push-button alarm triggers, instant messaging to security providers and police, as well as two-way voice communication.


Spark plug Edmond berger 1839
• historians have reported that Edmond Berger invented an early spark plug on February 2, 1839. However, Edmond Berger did not patent his invention.

Elevator Alex Miles 1867
• Alexander Miles was
• best known for being awarded a patent for an automatically opening and closing elevator door design in 1887.
• Contrary to many sources, Miles was not the original inventor of this device.
• At one time it was believed he was the wealthiest black person in the Pacific Northwest,



Lantern Michael c. Harvey
• inventing the lantern. The original lantern is now on display at the Black History Museum.
• He received patent No. 303844 on August 19, 1884 in St. Louis, Missouri for the invention of an improvement in wick-raisers

Electric light bulb lewis latimer 1882
• History has credited Thomas Edison with the invention of the light bulb, but fewer people know about Lewis Latimer's innovations toward its development. Until Latimer's process for making carbon filament, Edison's light bulbs would only burn for a few minutes. Latimer's filament burned for several hours.

Air conditioning unit Fredrick m. jones 1949
• Around 1938, Jones designed a portable air-cooling unit for trucks carrying perishable food. Portable cooling units designed by Jones were especially important during World War II, preserving blood, medicine, and food for use at army hospitals and on open battlefields.

Eye protector powell Johnson 1880




Guitar Robert f. fleming jr. 1886
• Flemming invented a guitar he called the "Euphonica" that he believed would produce a louder and more resonant sound than a traditional guitar.
• Flemming finished his service for the navy on the June 1865 and returned to Massachusetts, where he went into business as a guitar manufacturer and music teacher.


Baby buggy William H. Richardson 1889

Fountain pen walter b. Purvis 1890
• Purvis said, “the object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable, and inexpensive construction of a fountain pen adapted to general use and which may be carried in the pocket.”
• Between 1884 and 1897 he patented bag machines, a bag fastener, a hand stamp, an electric railway device, an electric railway switch and a magnetic car balancing device.
• He also is believed to have invented , yet not patented several other devices such as the edge cutter found on aluminum foil, cling wrap and wax paper boxes.
•

Mail box phillip l downing 1891
• he patented on October 27, 1891. He called his device a street letter box and it is the predecessor of today's mailbox.
• Downing would receive another patent for an envelope moistener and a desktop notepad.
• Downing also patented an electrical switch for railroads which allowed railroad workers to supply or shut off power to trains at appropriate times.
• Based on this design, innovators would later create electrical switches such as light switches used in the home.

SOURCES:
-thoughtco.com

-on this day in black history.com

-my black history.net

_PREZI.COM

-answers.com

-revolvy.com

-black inventor.com

-black past.org