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A few companies that have evolved from each of the listed African American inventions between 1865 and 1939:

1. Steam Dome (Elijah McCoy, 1872)

  • General Electric

  • Babcock & Wilcox

  • Westinghouse

2. Shoe Lasting Machine (Jan Ernst Matzeliger, 1883)

  • Nike

  • Adidas

  • Reebok

3. Corn Planter (Henry Blair, 1834)

  • John Deere

  • Case IH (a brand of CNH Industrial)

  • AGCO Corporation

4. Electric Lamp (Lewis Latimer, 1881)

  • Philips

  • Osram

  • General Electric

5. Clothes Wringer (Ellen Eglin, 1888)

  • Whirlpool Corporation

  • LG Electronics

  • Samsung Electronics

6. Automatic Railway Coupler (Andrew Beard, 1897)

  • Wabtec Corporation

  • Amsted Rail

  • Knorr-Bremse

7. Ironing Board (Sarah Boone, 1892)

  • Honey-Can-Do International

  • Household Essentials

  • Homz (Home Products International)

8. Sugar Refining Process (Norbert Rillieux, 1846)

  • Imperial Sugar

  • Domino Sugar

  • Cargill

9. Paint and Varnish (George Washington Carver, early 20th century)

  • Sherwin-Williams

  • PPG Industries

  • Benjamin Moore

10. Letter Box (Philip Downing, 1891)

  • Pitney Bowes

  • Quadient (formerly Neopost)

  • Mailbox Works

11. Hair Brush (Lyda Newman, 1898)

  • Conair

  • Goody Products

  • Revlon

12. Clothes Line (W. B. Purvis, 1882)

  • Whitmor

  • Honey-Can-Do International

  • Household Essentials

These companies are prominent in their respective fields and have products or services that trace back to the inventions mentioned.

Thermo King was co-founded in 1938 by Frederick McKinley Jones, a self-taught African American engineer and prolific inventor, and Joseph A. Numero, a businessman and former owner of a movie sound equipment company. Together, they established the U.S. Thermo Control Company, which later became known as Thermo King .Wikipédia+13Wikipedia+13Thermo King+13

Frederick McKinley Jones is renowned for designing the first portable air-cooling unit for trucks, revolutionizing the transportation of perishable goods. His innovation not only transformed the food industry but also had significant applications during World War II, aiding in the preservation of blood, medicine, and food for military use .National Inventors Hall of Fame+5Thermo King+5Thermo King+5Wikipedia+1Thermo King+1

Jones held over 60 patents throughout his career, with more than 40 dedicated to refrigeration technology. His contributions earned him numerous accolades, including the National Medal of Technology and induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame .Thermo King+2Wikipedia+2Thermo King+2

Today, Thermo King operates as a subsidiary of Trane Technologies, continuing the legacy of innovation initiated by Jones and Numero in the field of transport refrigeration systems .Wikipedia+5Wikipedia+5Thermo King+5

For a more in-depth look at Frederick McKinley Jones's contributions and the origins of Thermo King, you might find this video informative: https://youtu.be/BzyGhblxGmI?si=HbMpjENBxkeFbG2W

 
 
 

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