The African-American Ohio inventor, Garrett Morgan, created an early version of the traffic signal and gas mask. Inventor Earnie Fraze dreamed up the pull tab still popular on beverage cans, today! This video provides a look back to what inspired these inventions.
Class Discussion Questions:
1) Which one of the featured Ohio inventions is the most important? Why?
Read the Script:
Did you know the pop tab design originated from Ernie Fraze, a machine tool operator from Dayton, Ohio?
Beverage cans used to require a separate opener to access the beverage. One day Fraze forgot his opener and had to use a car bumper to access the beverage! Fraze decided there had to be an easier way to open the can and in 1959, he developed a "pull-top" can, much like today's version that allows the user to pull a tab to access the drink.
Years later in 1977, Fraze created a new version where the tab remained attached to the can, and as you can see this design is still used on cans today.
Another creative mind, Garrett Morgan, developed the concept of the traffic signal after witnessing a crash between a car and a buggy. In 1923, while living in Cleveland, he applied for a patent for the t-shaped design and sold it to general electric for $40,000.
But that's not the only thing Morgan invented. In fact, in 1916 he created a version of the gas mask.
As an African American inventor, Morgan faced some resistance among buyers as racial tensions remained high during that time. When a tunnel collapsed under Lake Erie, Morgan and his brother donned the safety mask and ventured into the shaft first and saved some of the miners.
Fire departments and mine owners across the country ordered his design and it helped to save countless lives.
It's been almost 100 years since that time, and Garret Morgan still holds a big spot in Ohio inventor history.
Instructional Links
Interactive Timeline: TimeToast, Ermal Cleon Fraze
https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/ermal-cleon-fraze--2
Student Created
Website: Ohio History Connection, Ermal Fraze
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Ermal_Fraze
Video: The Ohio State University Lantern, Honorary Buckeye Captain, Jacob Jarvis, Continues to Live Out His Dreams
Website Article: Muscular Dystrophy Association, What Is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?
https://www.mda.org/disease/duchenne-muscular-dystrophy/overview