Born in Columbus, Ohio, in April 23, 1856, Granville T. Woods dedicated his life to developing a variety of inventions relating to the railroad industry.
The Black Edison
To some he was known as the “Black Edison, both great inventors of their time. Granville T. Woods invented more than a dozen devices to improve electric railway cars and many more for controlling the flow of electricity. His most noted invention was a system for letting the engineer of a train know how close his train was to others. This device helped cut down accidents and collisions between trains.
Granville T Woods – Self-Education
Granville T Woods literally learned his skills on the job. Attending school in Columbus until age 10, he served an apprenticeship in a machine shop and learned the trades of machinist and blacksmith. s. This device helped cut down accidents and collisions between trains. During his youth he also went to night school and took private lessons. Although he had to leave formal school at age ten, Granville T Woods realized that learning and education were essential to developing critical skills that would allow him to express his creativity with machinery. In 1872, Granville T Woods obtained a job as a fireman on the Danville and Southern railroad in Missouri, eventually becoming an engineer. He invested his spare time in studying electronics. In 1874, he moved to Springfield, Illinois, and worked in a rolling mill. In 1878, he took a job aboard the Ironsides, a British steamer, and, within two years, became Chief Engineer of the steamer. Finally, his travels and experiences led him to settle in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he became a person dedicated to modernizing the railroad.
Granville T Woods – Love of the Railroad
In 1888, Granville T Woods developed a system for overhead electric conducting lines for railroads, which aided in the development of the overhead railroad system found in cities such as Chicago, St. Louis, and New York City. In his early thirties, he became interested in thermal power and steam-driven engines. In 1889, he filed his first patent for an improved steam-boiler furnace. In 1892, a complete Electric Railway System was operated at Coney Island, NY. In 1887, he patented the Synchronous Multiplex Railway Telegraph, which allowed communications between train stations from moving trains. Granville T Woods’ invention made it possible for trains to communicate with the station and with other trains so they knew exactly where they were at all times. Alexander Graham Bell’s company purchased the rights to Granville T Woods’ telegraphony patent enabling him to become a full-time inventor. Among his other top inventions were a steam boiler furnace and an automatic air brake used to slow or stop trains. Wood’s electric car was powered by overhead wires. It was the third rail system to keep cars running on the right track.
At Odds With Thomas Edison
Success led to law suits filed by Thomas Edison who sued Woods claiming that he was the first inventor of the multiplex telegraph. Woods eventually won, but Edison didn’t give up easily when he wanted something. Trying to win Granville Woods over, and his inventions, Edison offered Woods a prominent position in the engineering department of Edison Electric Light Company in New York. Woods declined preferring his independence.
Patents of Granville T. Woods
Steam Boiler Furnace Comment: First
Patent.
Telephone Transmitter
Apparatus for Transmission of
Messages by Electricity
Relay Instrument
Polarized Relay
Electro Mechanical Brake
Telephone System and Apparatus
Electro Mechanical Brake Apparatus
Railway Telegraphy
Induction Telegraph System
Overhead Conducting System for
Electric Railway
Electro-Motive Railway System
Tunnel Construction for Electric
Railway
Galvanic Battery
Railway Telegraphy
Automatic Safety Cut-Out for
Electric Circuits
Automatic Safety Cut-Out for
Electric Circuits.
Electric Railway System
Electric-Railway Supply System.
Electric Railway Conduit
System of Electrical Distribution
System of Electrical Distribution.
Amusement Apparatus
Incubator.
Automatic Circuit-Breaking
Apparatus.
Electric Railway
Electric Railway System
Regulating and Controlling
Electrical Translating Devices
Electric Railway
Controlling Electric Motors or
Other Electrical Translating Devices.
Controlling Electric Motors or
Other Electrical Translating Devices.
Controlling Electric Motors or
Other Electrical Translating Devices.
Controlling Electric Motors or
Other Electrical Translating Devices.
Electric Railway.
System of Electrical Control.
Motor Controlling Apparatus.
Automatic Air Brake
Electric Railway System
Electric Railway
Railway-Brake Apparatus.
Electric-Railway Apparatus.
Railway-Brake Apparatus.
Safety Apparatus for Railways.
Safety Apparatus for Railways.
Vehicle-Controlling Apparatus.
*The above information was copied and pasted from inventor information websites. Thomas Edison tried to steal a Telegraph patent from Granville T. Woods. Woods must have been living righteously because Yah did not take this patent away from him. Ain’t that interesting? And speaking of Thomas Edison, below is another Israylite who dealt with Thomas Edison.
A photo of Lewis Latimer as a young man.
Until Lewis Latimer created a way of heat-treating carbon filaments, Thomas Edison’s light bulbs burnt out after about 1200 hours.
The history of illumination would be a little dimmer were it not for Latimer. Latimer worked for Hiram Maxim, an inventor and man dedicated to the art of illumination, and the pioneer of the maxim gun, which was a portable gun rolled into position on wheels. He also created the mouse trap and was accused of being a quack after inventing an inhaler called the ‘Pipe of Peace,’ which he said could cure bronchitis and asthma, amongst other ailments. Maxim also became embroiled in patent lawsuits with Thomas Edison over the invention of the incandescent light bulb. Clearly, Latimer worked for a character.
And in Maxim’s U.S. Electric Company’s laboratory, Latimer pioneered a method of heat-treating carbon filaments that had been coated in hydrocarbons. Latimer received the patent in 1881, and it was called “Process of Manufacturing Carbons.” Heat-treating the filaments made them more robust and allowed manufacturers to bend them into shapes, such as Maxim’s M-shaped filament. Latimer’s improvements on filaments created a longer-lasting light bulb, thus bringing America into a 20th century full of illumination.
Before working for Maxim, Latimer worked at a patent office in Boston, helping Alexander Graham Bell with the first drafts of his telephone. In 1884, Latimer became a draftsman for Edison Electric Company, testifying in trials over the incandescent bulb patent rights.
Latimer was also an author of a book called “”Incandescent Electric Lighting: A Practical Description of the Edison System,” as well as a published poet and musician.
Not too bad for the son of an escaped slave who had to go underground to protect himself and his family.
*A Hebrew Israylite created the most effective light bulb of that time and not Thomas Edison. Latimer used a carbon filament in the middle of the light bulb whereas Edison used a paper filament.
Patents of Lewis Latimer
Water closets for railway cars
Electric lamp (with Joseph V. Nichols)
Process of manufacturing carbons
Glob supporter for electric lamps (with John Tregning)
Apparatus for cooling and disinfecting
Locking rack for hats, coats and umbrellas
Lamp fixtures (with Charles W. Brown)
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