Ever heard of the phrase – “the real McCoy”? Many believe it sprang from Elijah McCoy’s oil cup invention – an automatic lubricating cup that dripped oil on train machinery whenever necessary. Train engineers in the latter 1800’s preferred Elijah McCoy’s oil cup to any other and often asked for “the real McCoy.”
Born in Canada to former slaves, Elijah McCoy grew up on 160 acres of farm land that his father earned fighting for the Canadian Army during the Rebel War of 1837. Educating their children was a top priority for Elijah’s parents, so Elijah had a solid foundation when he attended engineering school in Edinburgh, Scotland. However, after earning a degree as a mechanical engineer, he found it difficult to find work due to discrimination. He moved to Ypsilanti, Michigan, to work as both a fireman and oilman for the Michigan Central Railway. Soon he put his talents to use by inventing something that made his job easier. The oil cup was the first of many inventions by this creative entrepreneur. Find out more by reading THE REAL MCCOY: THE LIFE OF AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN INVENTOR by Wendy Towle. The lush warmth of Wil Clay’s paintings recreate the energy and spark of this great American story.