Portrait of Elijah McCoy, circa 1895

Summary

Elijah McCoy was born in Canada and trained as a mechanical engineer in Scotland. McCoy settled in Michigan after the Civil War and became a locomotive fireman on the Michigan Central Railroad. The steam locomotive's constant need for oil inspired McCoy to invent an automatic lubricator. McCoy first patented his device in 1872 and made several later refinements.

Elijah McCoy was born in Canada and trained as a mechanical engineer in Scotland. McCoy settled in Michigan after the Civil War and became a locomotive fireman on the Michigan Central Railroad. The steam locomotive's constant need for oil inspired McCoy to invent an automatic lubricator. McCoy first patented his device in 1872 and made several later refinements.

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

circa 1895

Creators

Unknown

 On Exhibit

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

96.0.32.48

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 10 in

Width: 8 in

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