top of page

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 Ironing Tables by Elijah McCoy, U.S. Patent 150,876, granted 1874-05-12.

Elijah McCoy

Improve-ment in Ironing Tables

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Car Couplings by Turner Byrd, Jr., U.S. Patent 157,370, granted 1874-12-01.

Turner Byrd, Jr.

Car Couplings

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Joiners' Clamps by David A. Fisher Jr., U.S. Patent 162,281, granted 1875-04-20.

David A. Fisher Jr.

Improve-ment in Joiners' Clamps

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Biscuit Cutters by Alexander P. Ashbourne, U.S. Patent 170,460, granted 1875-11-30.

Alexander P. Ashbourne

Improve-ment in Biscuit Cutters

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Furniture Caster by David A. Fisher Jr., U.S. Patent 174,794, granted 1876-03-14.

David A. Fisher Jr.

Improve-ment in Furniture Caster

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ments in Ranges by Thomas A. Carrington, U.S. Patent 180,323, granted 1876-07-25.

Thomas A. Carrington

Improve-ments in Ranges

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Ice Creepers by Robert P. Scott, U.S. Patent 192,057, granted 1877-06-19.

Robert P. Scott

Improve-ment in Ice Creepers

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Sewing Machine Presser Foot by Thomas P. West, U.S. Patent 202,771, granted 1878-04-23.

Thomas P. West

Sewing Machine Presser Foot

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Fire Escape Ladder by Joseph R. Winters, U.S. Patent 203,517, granted 1878-05-07.

Joseph R. Winters

Fire Escape Ladder

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Library Table by William R. Davis, Jr., U.S. Patent 208,378, granted 1878-09-24.

William R. Davis, Jr.

Improve-ment in Library Table

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Screw Press by Peter R. Campbell, U.S. Patent 213,871, granted 1879-04-01.

Peter R. Campbell

Screw Press

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment Street Sprinkling Apparatus by M. William Binga, U.S. Patent 217,843, granted 1879-07-22.

M. William Binga

Improve-ment Street Sprinkling Apparatus

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Scaffolds by Henry Pickett, U.S. Patent 152,511, granted 1874-06-30.

Henry Pickett

Improve-ment in Scaffolds

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Methods of Killing Vermin by Titus S. Church, U.S. Patent 161,864, granted 1875-04-13.

Titus S. Church

Improve-ment in Methods of Killing Vermin

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improvement in Life Preserving Stools by Henry H. Nash, U.S. Patent 168,519, granted 1875-10-05.

Henry H. Nash

Improvement in Life Preserving Stools

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Steam Cylinder Lubricator by Elijah McCoy, U.S. Patent 173,032, granted 1876-02-01.

Elijah McCoy

Steam Cylinder Lubricator

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Steam Cylinder Lubricator by Elijah McCoy, U.S. Patent 179,585, granted 1876-07-04.

Elijah McCoy

Steam Cylinder Lubricator

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Adjustable Mirrors for Dressing Cases by Samuel R. Scottron, U.S. Patent 191,720, granted 1877-06-05.

Samuel R. Scottron

Improve-ment in Adjustable Mirrors for Dressing Cases

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Cotton Cultivator by Edward H. Sutton, U.S. Patent RE 7,955, granted 1877-11-20.

Edward H. Sutton

Cotton Cultivator

1877-11-03

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Rotary Engines by Benjamin H. Taylor, U.S. Patent 202,888, granted 1878-04-23.

Benjamin H. Taylor

Improve-ment in Rotary Engines

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment of Printing Presses by William A. Lavalette, U.S. Patent 208,184, granted 1878-09-17.

William A. Lavalette

Improve-ment of Printing Presses

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Improve-ment in Door-Holding Devices by Osbourn Dorsey, U.S. Patent 210,764, granted 1878-12-10.

Osbourn Dorsey

Improve-ment in Door-Holding Devices

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Fire Escape Ladder by Joseph R. Winters, U.S. Patent 214,224, granted 1879-04-08.

Joseph R. Winters

Fire Escape Ladder

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

Patent drawing for Ladder Scaffold-Support by William Bailis, U.S. Patent 218,154, granted 1879-08-05.

William Bailis

Ladder Scaffold-Support

Not stated in digitized patent metadata

Explicit improvement

bottom of page