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IMM Artists and Inventors Database

An interactive catalogue of African American inventions, 1865–1939, from which IMM artists select an invention to research and reinterpret.

An interactive catalogue of African American inventions, 1865–1939, from which IMM artists select an invention to research and reinterpret.

IMM Artists and Inventors Database

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Animal Traps by Henry Lee, U.S. Patent 61,941, granted 1867-02-12.

Henry Lee

Improve-ment in Animal Traps

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Evaporators for Sorghum and other Syrups by Solomon McWorter, U.S. Patent 70,451, granted 1867-11-05.

Solomon McWorter

Improve-ment in Evaporators for Sorghum and other Syrups

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improved Awning by Henry A. Bowman, U.S. Patent 89,462, granted 1869-04-27.

Henry A. Bowman

Improved Awning

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Wagons by John W. West, U.S. Patent 108,419, granted 1870-10-18.

John W. West

Improve-ment in Wagons

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improvement in Saw Teeth by Turner Byrd, Jr., U.S. Patent 110,430, granted 1870-12-27.

Turner Byrd, Jr.

Improvement in Saw Teeth

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Smoke Stacks for Locomotives by Landrow Bell, U.S. Patent 115,153, granted 1871-05-23.

Landrow Bell

Improve-ment in Smoke Stacks for Locomotives

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for improvement in holders for reins for harness by Turner Byrd, Jr., U.S. Patent 123,328, granted 1872-02-06.

Turner Byrd, Jr.

improvement in holders for reins for harness

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Fire Extingishers by Thomas J. Martin, U.S. Patent 125,063, granted 1872-03-26.

Thomas J. Martin

Improve-ment in Fire Extingishers

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Lubricators for Steam Engine Extinguisher by Elijah McCoy, U.S. Patent 129,843, granted 1872-07-23.

Elijah McCoy

Improve-ment in Lubricators for Steam Engine Extinguisher

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Dough Kneaders by Landrow Bell, U.S. Patent 133,823, granted 1872-12-10.

Landrow Bell

Improve-ment in Dough Kneaders

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Steam Lubricators by Elijah McCoy, U.S. Patent 146,697, granted 1874-01-20.

Elijah McCoy

Steam Lubricators

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Clasps for Fastening Shoes by Thomas P. West, U.S. Patent 148,864, granted 1874-03-24.

Thomas P. West

Improve-ment in Clasps for Fastening Shoes

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Shoe Upper by William A. Deitz, U.S. Patent 64,205, granted 1867-04-30.

William A. Deitz

Shoe Upper

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improved Mirror by Samuel R. Scottron, U.S. Patent 76,253, granted 1868-03-31.

Samuel R. Scottron

Improved Mirror

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improved Dining and Ironing Table and Quilting Frame by Thomas Elkins, U.S. Patent 100,020, granted 1870-02-22.

Thomas Elkins

Improved Dining and Ironing Table and Quilting Frame

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improvement in Vises by Turner Byrd, Jr., U.S. Patent 110,198, granted 1870-12-20.

Turner Byrd, Jr.

Improvement in Vises

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Portable Shields for Infantry and Artillery by Harde Spears, U.S. Patent 110,599, granted 1870-12-27.

Harde Spears

Portable Shields for Infantry and Artillery

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Chamber Commodes by Thomas Elkins, U.S. Patent 122,518, granted 1872-01-09.

Thomas Elkins

Improve-ment in Chamber Commodes

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improvement in Apparatus for Detaching Horses from Carriages by Turner Byrd, Jr., U.S. Patent 124,790, granted 1872-03-19.

Turner Byrd, Jr.

Improvement in Apparatus for Detaching Horses from Carriages

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Neck Yokes for Wagons by Turner Byrd, Jr., U.S. Patent 126,181, granted 1872-04-30.

Turner Byrd, Jr.

Improve-ment in Neck Yokes for Wagons

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Lubricators for Steam Engine by Elijah McCoy, U.S. Patent 130,305, granted 1872-08-06.

Elijah McCoy

Improve-ment in Lubricators for Steam Engine

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Lubricator by Elijah McCoy, U.S. Patent 139,407, granted 1873-05-27.

Elijah McCoy

Lubricator

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment Water Closets for Railroad Cars by Charles W. Brown; Lewis Howard Latimer, U.S. Patent 147,363, granted 1874-02-10.

Charles W. Brown; Lewis Howard Latimer

Improve-ment Water Closets for Railroad Cars

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Cotton Cultivators by Edward H. Sutton, U.S. Patent 149,543, granted 1874-04-07.

Edward H. Sutton

Improve-ment in Cotton Cultivators

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

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