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19th Century African American Inventors-Part 1

© Maisah B. Robinson, Ph.D.

In the 19th century, African Americas were active inventors and innovators. The following inventions are a sampling of the many useful and innovative products patented by African Americans, many of which are still used today. Part 2 will contain profiles of prominent African American inventors.

Around 1800, Ebar, a slave in Massachusetts, invented a technique for making brooms from broom corn.

Eli Whitney’s idea for the cotton gin and Cyrus McCormick’s harvester were believed to have been inspired by slaves. In the book, The Real McCoy, author Portia James stated:

Cyrus McCormick’s harvester was primarily inspired by his slave assistant, Joe Anderson. While Anderson himself is not recorded as claiming sufficient role in the conceptualization of the reaper, he worked closely with McCormick during its construction. Anderson does say that he served as ‘blower and striker’ for the blacksmith who made the harvester… Eli Whitney has been charged with borrowing the idea for the cotton gin from a simple comb-like device that slaves used to clean the cotton. Whitney is said to have merely enlarged upon the idea of the comb to create the cotton gin, which works very much like an oversized comb culling the seeds and debris from the cotton.

David A. Fisher, Jr. invented a furniture caster (march 14, 1876, patent#174, 794). Refrigerators, pianos and other large items can be moved easily today with the aid of casters.

William B. Purvis patented a hand stamp (February 27, 1883, patent #273,149). He also developed a fountain pen (January 7, 1890, patent #419,065).

J.L. Love invented a pencil sharpener (November 23, 1897, patent #594, 114).

W. Johnson invented an eggbeater (February 5, 1884, patent #292, 821).

J. Lee invented a bread-kneading machine (August 7, 1894, patent #524, 042).

Sarah Boone invented an ironing board for fitted clothing (April 26, 1892, patent #473, 653).

Sarah Goode invented a folding cabinet bed (1885, patent #322, 177).

Julia Hammonds developed a yarn hold (1886, patent #572, 985).

George Grant invented a golf tee (December 12, 1899, patent #638, 920).

Thomas W. Steward invented a mop (June 13, 1893, patent #499, 402).