While the name Elijah McCoy may not be well-known, most have heard the popular American phrase, "Is it the real McCoy?" However, few people realize that the phrase first referred to an automatic lubricating device invented by Elijah McCoy. After McCoy's invention, people inspecting machinery would often ask this question, which became known as meaning perfection, high quality, or authentic.
Elijah McCoy’s Early Years
Elijah McCoy was born on May 2, 1844 in Colchester, Ontario in Canada. His parents were fugitive Kentucky slaves who escaped slave owners through the Underground Railroad. His family later moved back to the United States and settled west of Ypsilanti, Michigan. As a youth, McCoy had an interest in machinery and other mechanical things. Thus, after attending grammar school he left for Edinburgh, Scotland for an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering.After completing his apprenticeship, McCoy returned to the United States with training as a mechanical engineer. He searched for a job as an engineer, but encountered racial prejudice. Unable to obtain an engineering job, he instead settled on a job as a fireman for the Michigan Central Railroad, where he oiled the engines.
McCoy’s First Invention
While this was not a job as a mechanical engineer, it did inspire his first invention. McCoy became interested in the process of the lubrication of machines. He observed that in order to oil the train engines, the trains were stopped and an oilman oiled the moving parts. Because lubrication was essential and time consuming, McCoy began to explore ways to make the process of oiling more efficient.After tinkering around in his machine shop, McCoy created a device called the "lubricating cup." On July 12, 1872, McCoy patented his first invention, an automatic lubricator. This device allowed machines to continue to operate as oil continuously flowed to the gears and the moving parts. McCoy's invention revolutionized the machine industry.
