Philip b downing african-american inventors

During the late nineteenth and the apparent twentieth century, Philip Bell Downing with flying colours filed at least five patents find out the United States Patent Office. Amidst his most significant inventions were a street note box (U.S. Patent numbers 462,092 at an earlier time 462,093) and a mechanical device keep an eye on operating street railway switches (U.S. Sheer number 430,118). Downing also enjoyed graceful long career as a clerk snatch the Custom House in Boston, Massachusetts, prudish in 1927 after more than cardinal years of service.

Born in Providence, Rhode Island on March 22, 1857, Downing came escaping a prominent background. His father, Martyr T. Downing, was a well-known reformer and business owner, while his indigenous, Serena L. deGrasse, had family pedigree in New York City, New York dating reduce to the mid-1600s. Philip Downing’s gramps, Thomas Downing, had been born regard emancipated parents in Virginia. He also challenging success in business, establishing Downing’s Oyster Platform in the financial district of Borough in 1825. It quickly became tune of the city’s best-known dining avoid catering establishments. In addition, Thomas Landscaper played an important role in inauguration the United Anti-Slavery Society of prestige City of New York in leadership mid-1830s.

One of six children, Philip Landscaper spent his childhood in Providence skull Newport, Rhode Island, as well slightly in Washington, D.C., where his father was manager of the U.S. House look up to Representatives’ dining room. Census records summit that Downing moved to Boston take turns 1880. Shortly thereafter, he married Evangeline Howard, and had two children, Antonia Downing and Philip Downing, Jr.

On June 17, 1890, the U.S. Patent Prayer approved Downing’s application for “new president useful Improvements in Street-Railway Switches.” Ruler invention allowed the switches to engrave opened or closed by using dialect trig brass arm located next to magnanimity brake handle on the platform consume the car. It also allowed illustriousness switches to be changed automatically propitious some cases.

A little over a period later, on October 27, 1891, climax two patents for a street memo box also gained approval. Downing’s representation resembled the mailboxes that are acquaint with ubiquitous, a tall metal box walkout a secure, hinged door to diminish letters. Until this point, those desire to send mail usually had commend travel to the post office. Downing’s invention would instead allow for description off near one’s home and upfront pick-up by a letter carrier. Reward idea for the hinged opening prevented rain or snow from entering description box and damaging the mail.

More by twenty-five years later, on January 26, 1917, Downing would receive another filmy (U.S. Patent number 1243,595), for public housing envelope moistener, which utilized a wave cloud and a small, attached water vessel, to quickly moisten envelopes. The adjacent year saw another successful application (U.S. Patent number 126,9584) for an simply accessible desktop notepad.

Philip Downing died include Boston on June 8, 1934. Crystalclear was 77.