Black History Day 19

Hey, even the one posting can learn something. I got these facts for today from a young lady on my ALUMNI listserv. So just that no one will say that I don’t give credit, I am saying up front that this is NOT from my research. All of this was just STRAIGHT UP handed to me.

1. Alexander Miles patented the electric elevator [and without it, one finds difficulty reaching higher level floors].
2. Richard Spikes crafted an improved automatic gearshift.
3. Garrett A. Morgan invented the automated traffic signals that is used to control traffic today. Think about that next time you drive.
4. Elbert R. Robinson invented the electric railway trolley.
5. John Love invented the portable pencil sharpener while William Purvis invented an improvement to the fountain pen. Think about that the next time all of y’all be writing up y’alls work reports.
6. Lee Burridge fashioned a number of typewriter improvements.
7. William Barry invented a postmarking and canceling machine while Philip Downing invented a particular kind of letter drop mailbox.
8. Joseph Smith patented the swiveling lawn sprinkler (for all of you homeowners) while John Burr devised an improved rotary blade mower. So thank black men for your well-cared for lawns.
9. Frederick Jones designed the portable air conditioner unit while Alice Parker secured a patent on the furnace [so that we would all stay warm and cool during the appropriate seasons].
10. Lewis Lattimer invented a method of making carbon filaments for the Maxim electric incandescent lamp while Granville T. Woods invented an automatic cut off switch for electric circuits.