Born: May 2, 1843, Colchester, CN

Education: Machinist trainee, 1858 ff, Edinburgh, Scotland

Died: October 10, 1929, Eloise, MI

McCoy's parents escaped Kentucky slavery to Canada, but moved to the North. They sacrificed to school their twelve children, including mechanics for fifteen-year-old McCoy in Scotland. This opportunity was not available for northern blacks, who faced rampant job discrimination after the Civil War. Unable to find machinist work when he returned, McCoy became a fireman and oilman for the Michigan Central Railroad. He routinely shoveled coal into his train's engine and oiled engine parts during frequent stops. Oiling would prevent combustible friction. Thus he invented and patented a “lubricating cup” for locomotives in 1872. The cup facilitated “the continuous flow of oil on the gears ... thereby do [ing] away with the necessity of shutting down the engine,” he explained.

McCoy's brand won a loyal following. Others tried to reinvent his lubrication device, but the McCoy Graphite Lubricator captured the market and customers always asked “Is this the real McCoy?” Their use of the popular expression reflected a product of high quality. Opening his own shop, McCoy created, obtained patents on, and sold almost six dozen mechanical devices and products, notably an automatic lawn sprinkler and an ironing board. He was inducted to the National Inventors Hall of Fame (2001).