The yellow light of traffic signals was invented by a man with no university education!
All of us know that it would be unsafe to ride a vehicle without wearing a seatbelt or helmet. Driving cars without airbags or sitting on a boat without a life jacket could also be equally risky, isn’t it? Safety gadgets have been crucial in the history of inventions through ages. Gas masks and traffic signals are an important addition to the list of life-saving innovations. But who should you thank for these two inventions? Garrett Morgan. Surprisingly, he had no university education. Garrett Augustus Morgan, born March 4, 1877, was an American businessman and inventor. However, his inventions were born out of tragedies.
The invention of gas masks
Morgan’s invention of gas masks was inspired by a tragedy that occurred in 1911. A fire broke out at New York’s Triangle Shirtwaist Company, killing 146 employees. Morgan, who worked in the garment industry, decided to create an effective gas mask that could be used as a safety device during a fire. The prototype mask that he developed had a long tube that drew air by hanging close to the ground like a tail. No prizes for guessing what inspired this design: An elephant! Morgan’s mask, known back then as the safety hood, proved to be quite effective. However, he could not sell it due to racism. People were not ready to trust him because of his skin colour. After much brainstorming, he finally hired a white actor to pose as the inventor to entice potential buyers, and guess what? Sales increased!
Another tragic event occurred in 1916 when a natural gas pocket beneath Lake Erie exploded, killing 11 workers and rescuers. Again, Morgan’s gas mask came to the rescue. Morgan himself went down the shaft to rescue people. A true hero indeed!
The invention of three-step traffic signal
Garrett Morgan witnessed a terrible accident at an intersection in 1920 involving an automobile and a horse-drawn cart. Back then, traffic signals only had two options: Stop and go. So, what did Morgan invent? Yes, the hold sign, also known as the yellow light! Morgan sold his three-position traffic signal to General Electric, a major electric company in the US, who installed it at every intersection. You can see his inventions on display in the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC.
Morgan had no formal higher education!
When you think of great inventors, you might imagine a scientist with years of education such as Thomas Edison or Nikola Tesla. However, this is not true for every inventor. Garrett Morgan is one such rare genius who only received education till sixth-grade! He spent most of his childhood working on his parent’s farm before becoming a handyman in a sewing shop. Eventually, he learned how to build sewing machines and soon opened his own shop in 1907 in Cleveland.
Some of Morgan’s early inventions began to take shape in 1905. While developing a fluid to polish needles, he discovered a formula to straighten human hair. Talk of coincidence! He also created a zigzag switching device for manually operated sewing machines. These inventions fuelled his business, and he eventually expanded his business to great profit in the years that followed. Despite not being a scholar, Garrett Morgan made significant contributions that continue to save countless lives even today.