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Inventors
Elijah McCoy
1844–1929
Invented the automatic lubricator for steam engines — origin of 'the real McCoy.'
📖Biography
Elijah McCoy was a Canadian-born African American inventor and engineer who held 57 patents. His most famous invention was an automatic lubricating cup that allowed steam engines to be lubricated while running. His devices were so superior that buyers would ask for 'the real McCoy.'
Key Achievements
1
Held 57 patents over his lifetime
2
Invented the automatic lubricating cup in 1872
3
Coined the phrase 'the real McCoy'
4
Inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
Inventions
Automatic lubricating cupFolding ironing board improvementsLawn sprinkler
Legacy & Impact
McCoy's automatic lubrication system transformed industrial machinery, reducing downtime and increasing efficiency across the railroad and manufacturing industries.