As Black History Month continues in the UK, we celebrate the inventors and the other outstanding achievements and contributions Black Britons have made to this country
Imagine a world plunged into chaos without traffic lights, or a universe of anarchy where people couldn’t secure their front doors.
These everyday essentials might not have existed if it weren’t for the brilliance and creativity of some remarkable individuals – all of whom are Black.
As we continue to celebrate Black History Month (BHM) in the UK, Mirror salutes these inventors and the other extraordinary achievements and contributions Black Britons have made to our nation. Some of the inventions listed below date back to the 19th century, yet they remain vital in our homes, the NHS, and workplaces today.
Blood banks
The groundbreaking work of Charles Richard Drew, an African American surgeon and medical researcher, paved the way for the establishment of blood banks in the early 20th century, reports the Mirror.
At the onset of World War II, he was the mastermind behind large-scale blood banks that saved thousands of soldiers’ lives. He utilised mobile trucks equipped with refrigerators to transport blood where it was needed most.
Drew also ensured that all blood plasma was tested before being dispatched and only skilled personnel could perform transfusions to prevent cross-contamination.
Refrigerated trucks
Thermo King was co-founded by Frederick McKinley Jones, an award-winning African American inventor and entrepreneur, who was recognised for his innovations in refrigeration.
The entrepreneur crafted a portable air-cooling unit for lorries transporting perishable food in 1938 and secured the patent two years later. He was self-taught in mechanical and electrical engineering.
Mr Jones earned over 60 patents for refrigeration technologies and other breakthroughs including X-ray machines, engines and sound equipment throughout his career.
Ice cream scoop
In 1896, businessman Alfred L. Cralle filed for a patent on his invention, a built-in lever-action ice cream scoop scraper that enabled ice cream to be scooped with one hand. It later became his invention – the ice cream scoop.
His creation was initially dubbed the Ice Cream Mold and Disher and was designed to prevent ice cream and other foods from sticking. However, Mr Cralle noticed ice cream servers were having difficulty placing large chunks onto a cone and came up with the new idea, it is believed.
Rolling pin
A staple in most kitchens and an essential tool for pastry chefs, the rolling pin was invented in the mid 19th century by John W Reed, an African-American Inventor.
He patented the rolling pin, as we know it today, which has two handles connected to a centre rod, a design similar to what bakers still use today. Mr Reed realised by designing it this way it meant pastry could be successfully rolled out without cooks putting their hands on the rolling surface.
Mr Reed also adapted more updated versions of a dough kneader.
Fire sprinkler system
The fire extinguisher sprinkler system, a staple in large buildings and businesses for effectively dousing fires, was the brainchild of Thomas J Marshall. In 1872, he patented his innovative idea that allowed water to be pumped through pipes throughout the building, significantly improving the design of the fire sprinkler system.
It was introduced in the US two years later. Since 2007, it’s been mandatory for new buildings over 30 metres tall in England to be fitted with a sprinkler system.
Traffic lights
In 1923, African American Garrett Morgan patented the three-position traffic light system which, a century later, is still in use today.
Mr Morgan, born to two slaves, observed that the traffic signals of the time only had red for stop and green for go, with no interval in between. After witnessing an accident at a troublesome junction, it’s believed, he devised the three-signal system, incorporating an amber light.
He later sold the rights to his invention to General Electric for a cool $40,000.
Lemon squeezer
Before John Thomas White came along, squeezing lemons was quite a chore. However, in 1896, he received a patent for an improved lemon squeezer, making the task considerably easier.
Still in use today, this device allows us to extract citrus juice while keeping our hands clean. It remains a staple in hotels, restaurants and homes worldwide.
Gas mask
Garrett Morgan, the inventor of traffic lights, also masterminded a smoke hood which later evolved into a gas mask.
The hood he patented in 1912 was essentially a clear, airtight bag placed over the head, equipped with an air filter held in the mouth for the wearer to breathe through.
This invention played a crucial role in a tunnel construction disaster rescue in Cleveland in 1916. The smoke hood later became the prototype and precursor for the gas masks used during World War I.
Door knob
It’s hard to imagine a world without door knobs, but before Osbourn Dorsey patented the creation we use today, people had a different method.
Only the well-off could lock their doors, and until this African American inventor came up with the idea we use today, most people relied on a latch-string device to keep their doors shut.
He also invented the doorstop and applied for a patent for both inventions in December 1878. At just 16, his idea literally changed the world.
Wringing mop
Thomas W. Stewart patented a new type of mop in 1893 that made cleaning floors a breeze.
His clamping device could wring water out of a mop using a lever. He first designed a mop head that could be unscrewed from the base of the handle and replaced with a new one.
Then he created a lever attached to the mop head which would wring water from the head without the user getting their hands wet.
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