The Real McCoy
Born in Canada to runaway slaves, McCoy was educated in Edinburgh and later moved to the US where he became a leading expert in the field of thermo-dynamics. His invention of the self-lubricating hydraulic pump in 1872 revolutionized steam engine travel and by extension the industrialized world. When others tried to imitate his invention with lesser success, suppliers began asking for “the real McCoy”, an expression of authenticity that has lasted more than a century.
Over the course of his career, McCoy patented 57 inventions including the portable ironing board, rubber-soled shoes, the circulating sprinkler, and a staggering array of other items. Yet McCoy’s true racial identity became a hindrance to his career interests, and his move to the U.S. was coupled with triumph and personal tragedy.
The Real McCoy accomplishes the difficult task of finding the universal resonances in the particulars of history. It is a powerful story that deals with the failed promises of the late industrial age, and the struggles between science and faith, between pride and forgiveness …all manifested in one Elijah McCoy.
