Check out today's (5/2) Google homepage, it is displa a tribute to Elijah McCoy (May 2, 1844 [3] – October 10, 1929) was a Canadian-American engineer of African-American descent who invented lubrication systems for steam engines.
Good to see the acknowledgement
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My understanding that his appliance designs are the basis of the expression “now that’s the real MCoy”.
Maybe Lionel, Atlas O, or MTH can produce a tribute locomotive or boxcar for Elijah McCoy. I would buy one.
Thanks for informing us about the Google tribute. I will be sure to take a look.
(Auto)-Lubricator on the Pennsy M1a/b. Pennsylvania Railroad Museum, Strasburg, PA. My picture.
Yep, that is the origin story of the variations on "That's the real McCoy" or "Is that the real McCoy?" McCoy invented one of the first practical self oilers for steam engines and was considered the best. Given the lax conditions back then, a bunch of people were producing knock offs, most of which were basically junk. So when salesmen came around pitching a "McCoy oiler", the company would ask that question, if I recall correctly.
@Mike CT posted:(Auto)-Lubricator on the Pennsy M1a/b. Pennsylvania Railroad Museum, Strasburg, PA. My picture.
That is a Nathan Mechanical Lubricator, i.e. not an "Auto-Lubricator".
For those who missed the doodle the other day.
McCoy's story is inspirational. He became a certified mechanical engineer, a tremendous achievement, particularly given his background. Obviously a brilliant person. These self-lubricating systems he developed made a revolutionary change in what was then the primary means of transportion in this country, making it vastly more efficient, an innovation that literally changed the country in many ways. He also invented such disparate things as sprinkler systems and folding ironing boards. His achievements are all the more remarkable given certain attitudes that existed in this country during his lifetime.
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