11 everyday items that were invented or developed by Black people
A world without traffic lights would be chaos. A universe in which people couldn't lock their front doors would be anarchy.
Yet these everyday items may not have existed without the ingenuity and creativeness of some of the people highlighted below - all of whom happen to be Black.
And, as Black History Month (BHM) continues in the UK, Mirror celebrates these inventors and the other outstanding achievements and contributions Black Britons have made to this country. Some of the items below were created as early as the 19th century, and remain important in homes, the NHS and workplaces today.
Charles Richard Drew invented mobile blood banks (Getty Images)Blood banks
Pioneering work by Charles Richard Drew, an African American surgeon and medical researcher, led to the creation of blood banks in the early 20th century.
At the beginning of World War II he was the brains behind large scale blood banks that saved the lives of thousands of soldiers. He used mobile trucks with refrigerators to transport blood where it was needed.
Les Ferdinand links with former head teacher to promote Black History in schools
The researcher also made sure all blood plasma was tested before it was shipped out and only skilled people could carry out transfusions to avoid cross contamination.
Refrigerated trucks
Thermo King was co-founded by Frederick McKinley Jones, an award-winning African American inventor and entrepreneur. He was credited for his innovations in refrigeration.
The entrepreneur designed a portable air-cooling unit for trucks carrying perishable food in 1938 and patented it two years later. He is self-taught in mechanical and electrical engineering.
Mr Jones received more than 60 patents for refrigeration technologies and other advances including X-ray machines, engines and sound equipment during his career.
Madam CJ Walker is widely considered the first female, self-made millionaire in the United States (Michael Ochs Archives)Ice cream scoop
In 1896, businessman Alfred L. Cralle applied for a patent on his invention, a built-in lever-action ice cream scoop scraper that allowed ice cream to be scooped with one hand. It later became his invention - the ice cream scoop.
His creation was originally called the Ice Cream Mold and Disher and was designed to keep ice cream and other foods from sticking. But Mr Cralle noticed ice cream servers were struggling to put large chunks on to a cone and came up with the new idea, it is understood.
Rolling pin
A staple in most kitchens and a must have for pastry chefs, the rolling pin was invented in the mid 19th century by John W Reed, an African-American Inventor.
He patented the rolling pin, as we know it today, which has two handles connected to a centre rod, a design similar to what bakers still use today. Mr Reed realised by designing it this way it meant pastry could be successfully rolled out without cooks putting their hands on the rolling surface. Mr Reed also adapted more updated versions of a dough kneader.
Fire sprinkler system
The fire extinguisher sprinkler system used in large buildings and businesses to effectively put out fires was created by Thomas J Marshall. In 1872, he patented his idea which enables water to be pumped through pipes throughout the building. Mr Marshall improved the design of the fire sprinkler system.
It came into use in the US two years later. Since 2007, new buildings constructed in England taller than 30 metres must have a sprinkler system fitted.
'Going to prison reignited my passion to become a Black fine dining chef'
Garrett Morgan patented the three-position traffic light system (Getty Images)
Garrett A Morgan is credited with devising the traffic light (Getty Images)Traffic lights
In 1923, African American Garrett Morgan patented the three-position traffic light system and, 100 years on, it is still being used today.
Mr Morgan, the son of two slaves, noticed the traffic signals being used at the time had red for stop and green for go with no interval in between. He noticed an accident at a problematic intersection, it is thought, and created the three-signal system, which includes an amber light.
The inventor later sold the rights to his invention to General Electric for $40,000.
Lemon squeezer
Prior to John Thomas White's work, squeezing lemons was quite a task. It was made hugely simpler by the inventor, though, as, in 1896, he received a patent for an improved lemon squeezer.
Still used today, the device allows us to obtain the citrus juice while keeping our hands clean. It is still a mainstay in hotels, restaurants and homes across the world.
Gas mask
Garrett Morgan, who invented traffic lights, is also the brains behind a smoke hood which later became a gas mask.
The hood he patented in 1912 was a clear airtight bag placed over the head which has an air filter held in the mouth which the wearer used to breathe.
His invention was used in a tunnel construction disaster rescue in Cleveland which took place in 1916. The smoke hood became the prototype and precursor for the gas masks used during World War I.
Osbourn Dorsey patented the modern day door knob (Getty Images)Door knob
It's difficult to think of a world without a door knob but before Osbourn Dorsey patented the creation we use today people used a different method.
Only the wealthy were able to lock their doors, and until the African American inventor thought up the idea used today most had a latch-string device to keep their doors closed.
He also created the doorstop and applied for a patent for both inventions in December 1878. He was just 16 when his idea literally changed the world.
Wringing mop
Thomas W. Stewart patented a new type of mop in 1893 that made cleaning floors much easier.
His clamping device could wring water out of a mop by using a lever. He first designed a mop head that could be removed by unscrewing it from the base of the handle and replacing it with a new one.
Then he created a lever attached to the mop head which would wring water from the head without the user getting their hands wet.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
