A few companies that have evolved from each of the listed African American inventions between 1865 and 1939:
- murant9
- May 26
- 2 min read
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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