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Ejijah McCoy found work as a fireman and oiler at the #Michigan Central #Railroad, fueling and maintaining #trains. (That hashtag is for all the #train fans on Fedi. You're welcome.)

While working on Trains, he quickly recognized flaws in the systems for keeping them oiled, which required frequent stops for maintenance, and began developing improvements. Around 1870, he started his own #manufacturing #business for #B2B #machine parts.

In 1872, he patented an automatic oiling known as the "McCoy Lubricating Cup", which at the time was a major step forward in quality and efficiency, drastically cutting down work for #engineers. Other #companies had made such devices before, and attempted to make something to compete, but his design was simply so good that companies would ask for it by name.

This is the origin of the phrase, "The Real McCoy".

In this modern era, it is important to remember the contributions of people like McCoy, and the detriment of policies which held them back.

#TheRealMcCoy