BLACK HISTORY MONTH: INVENTORS

The next time you at a picnic or event, think of:

Nathaniel Alexander of Lynchburg, Virginia on On July 7, 1911 patented the ideal for a folding chair. According to his patent, Nathaniel Alexander designed his chair to be used in schools, churches, and other auditoriums. His design included a book rest that was usable for the person sitting in the seat behind and was ideal for church or choir use.

The next you eating a perfect shape biscuit, think of:

Alexander P. Ashbourne in 1875, was issued for a a U.S. patent for a “Biscuit Cutter.” The device consisted of a number of metal cutters, which could have various plain or fancy shapes, mounted on a hinged plate attached to a molding board on which dough for cake or biscuits would be rolled out. The plate was then closed over the dough, allowing the cutters to cut through the dough, forming many shapes simultaneously. When the hinged plate was lifted, to simplify removal of the cut shapes, each cutter contained a spring-loaded plate of similar shape to eject the cut dough. Provision was made to store the rolling pin in a concave cross-bar along the back of the hinges.

The next time you in the shop getting your hair done, think of:

Charles Orren Bailiff in 1898, he invented the Shampoo Headrest. I wonder if he knew Madam C.J. Walker? And did he sell her any of his Shampoo Headrest? She made her fortune by developing and marketing a hugely successful line of beauty and hair products for black women, under the company she founded, Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company. The Guinness Book of Records cites Walker as the first female who became a millionaire by her own achievements.

The next time you donate blood, think of:

Charles Richard Drew, he conducted pioneering work in blood storage and transfusion techniques. Drew showed that blood plasma lasts longer than whole blood, a medical breakthrough that enabled the creation of the modern Blood Bank. In 1939, Dr. Drew used his new understanding of blood storage and transfusion to help establish the first Blood Banks to serve the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II. He went on to become the first director of the American Red Cross Blood Bank.

The next time you mail a letter, think of:

William Barry invented the postmarking and canceling machine. Its reduced the manual labor required to postmark and cancel mail pieces. Prior to this machine everything was done by hand.