Garrett Morgan was an African American inventor who is best known for his contributions to the field of traffic safety. He is credited with inventing the safety hood, also known as the gas mask, in 1914.
Morgan was born in Paris, Kentucky in 1877 and moved to Cleveland, Ohio as a young man. He began his career as a sewing machine repairman, but he always had a strong interest in mechanics and invention. He started his own business, the Morgan Manufacturing Company, which produced a variety of products including hair care products and a hood for horses to protect them from flies.
In 1914, Morgan was working as a maintenance man at a clothing factory in Cleveland when he witnessed a terrible accident. A sewer line had ruptured, releasing a toxic gas that killed several workers. This incident sparked Morgan's interest in developing a device that would protect people from dangerous gases.
He began experimenting with different materials and designs, and eventually created a hood that covered the head and provided a supply of fresh air to the wearer. The device was made of rubber and had a small hose that connected to a canister of compressed air. The canister could be refilled as needed, allowing the user to wear the hood for extended periods of time.
Morgan received a patent for his safety hood in 1914 and began manufacturing and selling it to firefighters, police officers, and other first responders. The device quickly gained popularity, and Morgan's company became known for producing high-quality safety equipment.
In addition to his contributions to traffic safety, Morgan is also remembered for his efforts to promote racial equality. He was an active member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and used his influence to speak out against discrimination and segregation.
Garrett Morgan's invention of the safety hood has had a significant impact on the field of public safety, and his legacy continues to inspire inventors and innovators today.
Garrett Morgan Saves the Day
Morgan landed a job in the garment industry, inventing among other things a zigzag stitch pattern for sewing machines. He was honored with medals from Cleveland businesses and honorary memberships to certain societies, but discrimination still affected sales. Nonetheless, a committee of prominent Clevelandershonored Morgan for his bravery, awarding him a solid golddiamond-studded medal. After watching firefighters struggle to breathe due to smoke inhalation, the inventor was struck with the idea of a safety hood. In essence, he had invented the yellow light. Theme music Hayden, R. AA6 ; "Death Notices".
Garrett Morgan Patented Safety Hood and Smoke Protector
Initially, the fire department was not interested in using the mask because it was not considered a traditional fire-fighting tool. He designed and built the first traffic signal in 1916, and the following year, he filed a patent for the technology. The University of Houston's College of Engineering presents this series about the machines that make our civilization run, and the people whose ingenuity created them. As the repair shop prospered, he added a small dress factory, and it, too, did well. He created an oil dye and curved teeth comb as well as hair oil dyes. If used in an environment with low oxygen levels, such as a fire, you are in danger of suffocation. Morgan did what he had to do in the worst of times.
How did Garrett Morgan invented the gas mask?
Morgan also discovered and developed a chemical hair-processing and straightening solution. While still a teenager, he left Kentucky and moved north to Cincinnati, Ohio, in search of opportunities. Morgan Enters Newspaper Business As Garrett Morgan continued successfully operating in the world of business, one of his frustrations was that African American business owners were rarely recognized. Morgan, himself an automobile owner, witnessed a crash between a car and a buggy. But he discovered something else. When did Garrett Morgan invent the canvas hood? Morgan by Robert L. With the masks on, the Morgans pushed their way down the tunnel to find a few of the rescue squad members who were still living.
