THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE – THE BLACK SCIENTISTS – GRANVILLE T. WOODS

THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE – THE BLACK SCIENTISTS – GRANVILLE T. WOODS

Freedom is beautiful, but it is also dangerous. Because as a matter of fact, freedom is not free. There are thoughts and actions that either keep you free or take you back to bondage. Today we have all the freedom in the world as black Africans but what do we do with it? Back in the days that racial segregation was very high, it seemed we understood more what freedom really was or maybe a lack of black history is disconnecting us from knowing who we really are so that we can dream bigger dreams that is beyond making money and fame. We have tons of graduates that leave school yearly who has all the freedom and resources to literally change the world. But no we are all looking for a job and money like good jobs falls from heaven.

Meet the black inventor and entrepreneur Granville T woods who was largely self taught. Who took advantage of the limited freedom we all have plenty today to become one of the greatest inventor that the world never knew. He was popularly referred to as “The Black Edison”. And held over 60 patents on different inventions.

Granville Tailor Woods was born in Columbus, Ohio, on April 23, 1856, to free African-Americans. He spent his early years attending school until the age of 10 after which he became an apprentice to learn how to be a machinist and blacksmith.  He began working in a machine shop repairing railroad equipment and machinery. Intrigued by the electricity that powered the machinery, Woods, an avid reader and astute learner, began to focus all his spare time and attention to mastering electrical engineering. He often had friends check out library books for him, since African-Americans were excluded from many libraries at the time. This experience helped to prepare him for a formal education studying engineering (surprisingly, it is unknown exactly where he attended school but it is believed it was an eastern college.) but its was reckoned that at the age of 20 he enrolled in a technical college and trained for two years in electrical and mechanical engineering.  After graduation, with no prominent jobs prospects in Ohio, he worked as an engineer on a British steamer where he quickly rose through the ranks to become the Chief Engineer. He then returned to America and took up a job as an engineer with the Dayton and Southwestern Railroad in Ohio. His interest in railways persisted throughout his life and many of his important inventions centered around it. He held various engineering and industrial jobs before establishing a. company to develop electrical apparatus. His decision to become an independent entrepreneur stemmed in part because of his difficulty in finding work.  

INVENTING CAREER

Woods' Many Patents

Granville Woods was awarded more than 60 patents. Among them:

o   His first patent, for a Steam Boiler Furnace, June 3, 1884

o   Apparatus for Transmission of Messages by Electricity, April 7, 1885

o   Electro Mechanical Brake Apparatus , Oct. 18, 1887

o   Galvanic Battery , Aug. 14, 1888

o   Automatic Safety Cut-Out for Electric Circuits, Oct. 14, 1890

o   System of Electrical Distribution, Oct. 13, 1896

o   Overhead Conducting System for Electric Railway, May 29, 1888

o   System of Electrical Control, April 15, 1902

o   Motor Controlling Apparatus, April 15, 1902

o   Safety Apparatus for Railways, Oct. 16, 1906

Overhead Conducting System for Electric Railways
Granville T. Woods invented a version of the electrical apparatus which gave the trolley the name which it carries until this day (despite its current trendy nickname of 'Light Rail').  This electrical apparatus, the "trawler" or "trolley" is the electrical apparatus which provides electric traction power to the rail vehicle; transmitting power from the overhead catenary wire to the moving (or stationary) rail vehicle. 

Electric Railway Conduit System & The Third Rail
With this electrical patent Granville T. Woods invents the Conduit system used for wireless streetcar transit operation in Manhattan, Washington DC and other Cities.  Granville woods invented an innovative method for converting Manhattans existing and extensive mechanical cable car system to electric traction. 

Grandville Woods also invented a version of The Third Rail Subway and Elevated systems  (such as the NYC subway system) and commuter rail systems (such as the Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road) still use the 3rd Rail power distribution system to this day. 

The Induction Telegraph System  
One of his most important inventions was the “Synchronous Multiplex Railway Telegraph” also known as the “induction telegraph” – a device which allowed moving trains to communicate with stations via voice. The induction telegraph system allowed messages to be sent to and from moving trains, enabling train conductors and engineers to avoid collisions and report hazard on tracks ahead.  This invention actually anticipated today's wireless LAN Network (Local Area Network). The rights to this invention were sold to Alexander Graham Bell of Bell Labs and the money allowed Woods to stop worrying about his financial situation and focus solely on inventing like he wanted to do.  

After Woods has patented it, Thomas Edison filed a lawsuit against him claiming that he had invented this first. Woods was successfully able to defend his patent in court. But Edison didn’t give up easily when he wanted something. Trying to win Granville Woods over, and his inventions, Edison offered Granville Woods a prominent position in the engineering department of Edison Electric Light Company in New York. Granville T. Woods, preferring his independence, declined. People started referring to him as “Black Edison” because of his significant achievements in the same field as Edison.

Granville T.  Woods' field shunting speed control system

Granville T. Woods invented an innovative field shunting speed control system for trolleys and electric rail cars; this system would replace the resistor based speed control systems then in use. 

The electric railway power distribution systems invented by Granville T. Woods

Woods used his knowledge of electrical systems in creating a method of supplying electricity to a train without any exposed wires or secondary batteries. Approximately every 12 feet, electricity would be passed to the train as it passed over an iron block. He first demonstrated the device as an amusement apparatus at the Coney Island amusement park and while it amused patrons, it would be a novel approach towards making safer travel for trains.

Granville Woods often had difficulties in enjoying his success as other inventors made claims to his devices. Many of Woods inventions attempted to increase efficiency and safety of railroad cars.

Over the course of his life time Granville Woods would obtain more than 60 patents for inventions including an automatic brake and an egg incubator and for improvements to other inventions such as safety circuits, telegraph, telephone, and phonograph.

Woods sold his inventions to a number of companies, including the American Bell Telephone Company and the General Electric Company. He was remarkable, not only for being one of the foremost African American engineers and inventors and for his contribution to the fields of railway technology and communication, but also because he was largely self taught. Granville T. Woods died on January 30, 1910, in New York City at the age of 53.

The role of history is mostly as an activator rather than as a reminder. To ignite upcoming generations to continue with the chain of greatness from where the former left it. We have not been savages forever and we have not always been primitives. But if we don’t add to these legacies, then we will continue to be obscured and made to look like we are under. You have to understand that intellectual and scientific creativity is not racially distributed. Never forget that freedom is never free. The next burden of freedom on this generation is intellectual. We have to rise up and intellectually prove that we are a free people.

More importantly, Granville Woods story proves that if we did it before, we can do it again and even more!!

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