"Elijah McCoy, son of former slaves who had escaped to Canada, studied mechanical engineering
in Scotland. After the Civil War, he moved to the United States and worked for the Michigan
Central Railroad. Because the railroad company could not imagine an African American engineer,
he was hired to run the boiler and lubricate moving parts of the train.
In 1872 Elijah patented his first invention, a self-regulating lubricator.
His device was so successful that buyers of steam engines would ask if the lubrication systems were the "Real McCoy"."
... hence the phrase.
in Scotland. After the Civil War, he moved to the United States and worked for the Michigan
Central Railroad. Because the railroad company could not imagine an African American engineer,
he was hired to run the boiler and lubricate moving parts of the train.
In 1872 Elijah patented his first invention, a self-regulating lubricator.
His device was so successful that buyers of steam engines would ask if the lubrication systems were the "Real McCoy"."
... hence the phrase.
Alane Jordan Starko
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