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 10. Elijah McCoy, BEng


Have you ever used the phrase "the real McCoy?" (Is that still a thing people say?) If so, you're referencing Elijah McCoy, engineer and inventor. 

Mr. McCoy was born in Ontario to formerly enslaved parents who escaped via the Underground Railroad. He majored in mechanical engineering at the University of Edinburgh. He's best known for inventing the "oil-drip cup", an automatic lubrication device for locomotive steam engines. That may not sound like much, but the prior lubrication solution was stopping the train every so often, allowing the engine to cool down, and then applying a lubricant.

Mr. McCoy eventually was awarded 57 patents, largely for lubrication.

 

Date: 2025-02-10 07:00 pm (UTC)
angelofthenorth: Two puffins in love (Default)
From: [personal profile] angelofthenorth
Wow. I've heard various origin stories for the Real McCoy, but not that one.

Really learning stuff from your posts, so thank you

Date: 2025-02-10 07:02 pm (UTC)
profiterole_reads: (Star Trek - Kirk and Spock)
From: [personal profile] profiterole_reads
<3

The real McCoy, as opposed to Dr McCoy from Star Trek or Dr McCoy from X-Men?

Date: 2025-02-10 10:38 pm (UTC)
fbhjr: (Default)
From: [personal profile] fbhjr
He’s a hero in at least one engineering school I know…

Date: 2025-02-21 04:10 pm (UTC)
pianogurl330: Swift playing piano with her cat walking across it./Never be so clever, you forget to be kind (Books 🕮  Cat in the stacks)
From: [personal profile] pianogurl330
Thank you for sharing! I had no idea!

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