The 25 Greatest Gadgets Created By Black Inventors

5. Lubricating Cup

Inventor: Elijah McCoy
Year: 1843
Despite its rather amusing moniker, the lubricating cup was a system that kept engines and machines lubricated without having to shut them down: preserving time and transportation costs, primarily steam engine. In fact, Elijah McCoy’s creation became so renowned, railroad engineers would refer to it as “the real McCoy” to ensure their trains were equipped with the authentic system.