Black A/C inventor goes unseen and unsung

IET, July 1, 2020; Crystal Quintero, CC Liu, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit

If it's Barbie you want, and I want your attention, what else could I do but conform?

Celebrating Black History Month (all year long)

February is Black History Month. And there are many greats we have not heard of, due to some implicit bias in American history circles. Who invented electrified guitar rock 'n roll? Sister Rosetta Thorpe (the Godmother of Rock 'n Roll), later improved by Jimi Hendrix and a lot of Black-artist-and-Blues-loving British rockers.

Lewis Howard Latimer Life Story: Inventor and Innovator

(IET) Mr. Lewis Howard Latimer was one of the first major African-American inventors, responsible for items such as the forerunner to the air conditioner in 1886 as well as the first water closet (toilet) for railroad cars in 1874.

Lewis Howard Latimer

He is most noted for his work with Thomas Edison -- making electric light, through the incandescent light bulb, available to the world.

Lewis Howard Latimer, the man who played an important role in Edison and Bell’s historic work and whose inventions have touched our lives in more ways than we know, is an unsung Black hero.

This is his life story: Black inventor and innovator Latimer was born on Sept. 4, 1848, in Chelsea, Massachusetts, USA, as the youngest of four children born to George and Rebecca Latimer.

Six years prior to Latimer’s birth, his parents had been chattel slaves in the state of Virginia. They managed to escape and sought freedom in Boston, Massachusetts, but shortly after arriving in Boston, father George Latimer was recognized as a fugitive and jailed.

There was a trial, and the attempts to recapture George and return him to Virginia caused considerable agitation in Boston. When the trial judge ruled that Latimer still belonged to his Virginia owner, an African-American minister paid $400 for his release.

Edison: He was a great help to me.

With this very humble background, Lewis Latimer’s family could only afford a few years of grammar school for him and his siblings. He developed a keen interest in the arts but especially in drawing, a skill that would benefit him hugely throughout his life.

By the time of his adolescence, the Civil War had engulfed America, and in 1864, at the age of 16, he enlisted in the Union Navy.

At the close of the war, Latimer was honorably discharged and secured employment as an office boy with the patent law firm called Crosby and Gould.

Keen to advance himself and utilizing his interest in drawing, Latimer taught himself mechanical drawing. His perseverance and passion paid off, and he eventually managed to become chief draftsman at the firm during his 11 years.

He met and married Mary Wilson, with whom he would go on to father two daughters.

Latimer and Bell

The first phone transmitting device (Bell actor)

Lewis Latimer secured his first patent in 1874 for the Water Closet, an improved toilet system for railroad cars and, in 1876, he was hired by Alexander Graham Bell.

Bell: We're making history, boys.

Bell was working on his telephone invention and was in a race to get a patented design before anyone else registered a similar device.

Latimer’s expertise in drafting meant that on Feb. 14 (Valentine's Day?), 1876, Bell’s telephone patent was filed just a few hours earlier than Bell’s rival inventor, Elisha Gray.

If it had not been for Latimer’s expertise and knowledge, Bell would not have the fame for telephony he still holds in the world today.

Light bulb invention

In 1880, Latimer began to work as a mechanical draftsman for Hiram Maxim, founder of the U.S. Electric Lighting Company and a fierce competitor to Thomas Edison.

Here, Latimer learned so much about lightbulbs that by 1881, along with Joseph Nichols, he registered a patent for a light bulb with a carbon filament.

Shortly afterwards, he received another patent for "the process of manufacturing carbons," which was an improvement on the method for the production of carbon filaments used inside light bulbs.

Latimer and Edison

Electric Lighting, 1890 (Latimer)

With his knowledge and expertise in the field, he was eventually hired by The Edison Electric Light Company in 1884. Here he worked closely with Edison and become his patent investigator and expert witness, protecting Edison’s patent and inventions of imitators.

Impressed by Latimer’s technical knowledge, Edison encouraged Latimer to write his first book Incandescent Electric Lighting: A Practical Description of the Edison System.

Latimer would also go on to become one of the charter members of the Edison’s Pioneers, where he was the only African-American member of the highly prestigious group.

Air conditioning

What is the secret to making ice? - High five?

Latimer’s inventing talents were not limited to light bulbs. In January 1886, he invented an "early air conditioning unit" seen as the grandfather of the modern air conditioning unit.

Latimer stayed with Edison’s company throughout the years as it merged with other companies to form General Electric, the same American company that is active today.

Lewis Howard Latimer came from so little and at a time in history where he was a second-class Black citizen in a very racist, white supremacist society that his accomplishments are astonishing.

But through hard work and determination, he managed to rise up and make important advancements in many practical scientific technologies that we use today.

Although "Latimer" is not a household name like his contemporaries and colleagues, he truly deserves a place alongside them.

Lewis Latimer inventions:

• Light Bulb Invention
• Air Conditioning Inventor
• Helped Alexander Graham Bell who invented the telephone (patent provider)
• Water Closet for Railroad Cars
• Locking rack for hats, coats, and umbrellas

If he's so famous, why doesn't he have a Wikipedia entry?

I thought I was the only Black American to be shafted and outshone by a famous white colleague

He does! Lewis Howard Latimer (Sept. 4, 1848–Dec. 11, 1928) was a scientist, American inventor, and patent draftsman.

The Dems let us down worse than racist Trump

His inventions included an evaporative air conditioner, an improved process for manufacturing carbon filaments for light bulbs, and an improved toilet system for railroad cars.

In 1884, he joined the Edison Electric Light Company where he worked as a draftsman. Latimer's innovations in the design of carbon filaments, which were used in incandescent light bulbs, significantly improved the bulb's efficiency and made it more practical for everyday use. [Wait, that wasn't Edison himself making these improvements?]

Latimer's contributions to the lighting industry helped make electric lighting more accessible and affordable for all Americans [1].

While Thomas Edison is often credited with inventing the practical incandescent light bulb, it was actually Latimer's contribution to its development that were invaluable. Latimer played a crucial role in advancing the technology.

The Lewis H. Latimer House, his landmarked former residence, is located near the Latimer Projects at 34-41 137th Street in Flushing, Queens, New York City. More