0:05 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome back friend to hometown history. 0:08 [SPEAKER_00]: We often see some names linger in the shadows of history, hardly making it into the limelight, but quietly crafting the world we live in today. 0:19 [SPEAKER_00]: And one such name is Louis Howard Latimer, a name you might not have heard much, but there is 0:35 [SPEAKER_00]: lot of them were worked with some of the greatest inventors in history, but never actually properly credited for his work. 0:44 [SPEAKER_00]: And you will be shocked by the kind of stuff he was involved in. 0:48 [SPEAKER_00]: So in today's episode, we will explore his work, work that continues to influence our world, even today. 1:00 [SPEAKER_00]: Let's rewind the clock and take a closer look at the early chapters of Lewis Latter-Mers' journey. 1:07 [SPEAKER_00]: Born on September 4, 1848, in Chelsea, Massachusetts, Lewis was the youngest of four children, and given his background that seemed unlikely he would ever brush shoulders with scientists, physicists, or inventors. 1:25 [SPEAKER_00]: You see George and Rebecca were no strangers to adversity. 1:30 [SPEAKER_00]: They had escaped enslavement in Virginia in 1842, hiding beneath the deck of a ship bound north. 1:39 [SPEAKER_00]: This was a big deal, of course. 1:41 [SPEAKER_00]: Also, because during the time when Lewis Latimer's parents escaped, the state was home to more than 500,000 enslaved black people, making up one-third of its population in 1860. 1:56 [SPEAKER_00]: But their search for freedom hit a snag when George was recognized in Boston and arrested. 2:04 [SPEAKER_00]: But things too lawyers, Frederick Douglass, and William Lloyd Garrison, and the support of other activists, he did manage to get free again. 2:13 [SPEAKER_00]: But the struggle was far from over. 2:17 [SPEAKER_00]: George Lottimer vanished after the Dred Scott decision, in 1857, a dark period when the Supreme Court ruled that an enslaved man could not sue for his freedom. 2:31 [SPEAKER_00]: He was still fearing the shadows of enslavement, rightfully so. 2:36 [SPEAKER_00]: And he soon went underground, leaving the rest of the latter family, with a great deal of hardships ahead of them. 2:46 [SPEAKER_00]: Now fast forward to Lewis' 15th birthday, determined to support his family, he started taking on odd jobs, until finally, enlisting in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War, and served on the USS Masasawat. 3:04 [SPEAKER_00]: He earned an honorable discharge in 1865, and then returned to Boston. 3:11 [SPEAKER_00]: Here, he joined a patent law firm, Crosby and Gould, starting as an office assistant. 3:20 [SPEAKER_00]: But he was not a typical one. 3:23 [SPEAKER_00]: He wasn't just fetching coffee. 3:25 [SPEAKER_00]: He was observing the drafters and teaching himself the ropes of mechanical drawing and drafting. 3:33 [SPEAKER_00]: And if you were not aware, drafting is like drawing, for a different purpose. 3:39 [SPEAKER_00]: It's about making detailed plans and diagrams for inventions or buildings. 3:46 [SPEAKER_00]: For example, you have this amazing idea for a new gadget. 3:50 [SPEAKER_00]: But before you can build it, you need to make precise drawings, showing how it'll work, and what it'll look like from different angles. 4:01 [SPEAKER_00]: That's where drafting comes in, and these plans are also incredibly important. 4:07 [SPEAKER_00]: and getting a patent for your new invention, just to make sure no one ever tries to copy your idea. 4:13 [SPEAKER_00]: So it was this observation and his curiosity that would help him achieve the great things he is remembered for today. 4:22 [SPEAKER_00]: Lata Merc quickly climbed the rankings, thanks to his undeniable talent and compromise. 4:32 [SPEAKER_00]: He taught himself to use the set square, ruler, and other drafting tools, making him more valuable to the company. 4:42 [SPEAKER_00]: From a salary of $3 per week, which is around $57 today, he was now earning $20 a week as the head draftsman that would be about $420 today. 4:57 [SPEAKER_00]: and everyone including his boss seemed to realize his value. 5:02 [SPEAKER_00]: He became the go-to draftsman, designing his very own inventions along the way, and we will talk about all of them, one invention at a time. 5:15 [SPEAKER_00]: Now in the post-Civil War era, scientific and engineering breakthroughs were all the more common, and Vladimir didn't just sit back and watch. 5:25 [SPEAKER_00]: He was working independently, and he soon understood that there was potential profit and spotting a technical issue, creating a solution beneficial to both the inventor and the public, and obtaining a patent for it as well. 5:41 [SPEAKER_00]: And this was the beginning of his journey. 5:44 [SPEAKER_00]: The first patent he received was on February 10, 1874. 5:49 [SPEAKER_00]: When the U.S. patent office granted a lot of mere and fellow inventor, Charles M. Brown, patent number 147, Hama 363, for the design of a toilet. 6:03 [SPEAKER_00]: He was only 26 years old. 6:06 [SPEAKER_00]: This design was basically an improvement 6:11 [SPEAKER_00]: The idea was to use a trapdoor, activated by the lid for easy emptying, much like the flush system that is used today. 6:22 [SPEAKER_00]: It was one of the many inventions that were about to follow, and one of the most notable being the telephone. 6:29 [SPEAKER_00]: Now if you're confused and thinking, wasn't the telephone invented by Graham Bell? 6:37 [SPEAKER_00]: Don't worry, you're right, but there's more to the story. 6:41 [SPEAKER_00]: So back in 1874, Alexander Graham Bell, the person we all know is the inventor of the telephone, was experimenting with something called the harmonic telegraph. 6:54 [SPEAKER_00]: His idea was to send multiple tones through telegraph wires using a device with lots of metal reads, tuned to like a harp. 7:04 [SPEAKER_00]: The idea was there, but he needed someone to help him put it down on paper, and who better than Latamir to do that. 7:12 [SPEAKER_00]: So in March 1875, Latamir got to work with Belle and his lawyer, sketching out the plans for this groundbreaking invention. 7:23 [SPEAKER_00]: But as you might have known, at the same time, another inventor named Alisha Gray was also 7:34 [SPEAKER_00]: and with that, things got interesting. 7:39 [SPEAKER_00]: Vladimir took the responsibility seriously, dedicating long hours into the night on February 14th, 1876. 7:49 [SPEAKER_00]: He completed the patent application just in time, submitting it a mere hours before gray, and thanks to this hard work, Bell secured the patent rights 8:04 [SPEAKER_00]: Bell's patent covered the method of an apparatus for, transmitting vocal and other sounds, telegraphically, by causing electrical undulations. 8:17 [SPEAKER_00]: similar informed to the vibrations of the air, a company that said vocal or other sound. 8:24 [SPEAKER_00]: Now even though his name is not directly associated with this invention, it was a defining moment in his career, and it established him as an expert drafter in this industry, and this was only the beginning. 8:41 [SPEAKER_00]: It seems a lot of mere was getting himself into inventor wars, 8:45 [SPEAKER_00]: because in 1880, his name popped up in another rivalry. 8:51 [SPEAKER_00]: This time, Vladimir joined forces with Hyramaxon, the chief competitor of Thomas Edison, and his company, the United States Electric Lighting Company. 9:03 [SPEAKER_00]: The company was at the forefront of the electric lighting industry, aiming to develop a more cost-effective and sustainable alternative to gas lighting. 9:14 [SPEAKER_00]: Vladimir was introduced to the work of Thomas Edison, who had recently patented the first commercially viable incandescent light bulb. 9:24 [SPEAKER_00]: For some context, an incandescent light bulb is a type of electric light that produces light by heating a filament wire until it glows. 9:34 [SPEAKER_00]: So when an electric current flows through the filament, it will heat it up and as a result 9:43 [SPEAKER_00]: Now Edison's initial bulb design, utilized a carbonized bamboo filament, which significantly prolonged its lifespan compared to previous models. 9:55 [SPEAKER_00]: But that did not mean it was the best model. 9:59 [SPEAKER_00]: There were still challenges to overcome, including the manufacturing process and overall durability. 10:07 [SPEAKER_00]: And when I say pro-longed life span, I mean yes, it lasts longer than previous models, but not long enough. 10:16 [SPEAKER_00]: Realistically, you cannot keep changing your bulbs every few days, and the bamboo filament inside these bulbs would have you doing just that. 10:27 [SPEAKER_00]: It was just poor design. 10:29 [SPEAKER_00]: So there was an opportunity here to improve, so competing electric companies, including maximums, were scrambling to be the first to create a solution. 10:42 [SPEAKER_00]: So Vladimir immersed himself in the study of electricity, quickly mastering its complexities. 10:49 [SPEAKER_00]: In 1882, he and fellow engineer, Joseph Nicholas, obtained a patent for a new filament 11:00 [SPEAKER_00]: The idea here was to encase carbon filaments and cardboard envelopes during heat treatment, ensuring their integrity and durability. 11:11 [SPEAKER_00]: This breakthrough allowed for the production of filaments, with unique shapes, such as maximum's own M-shaped filaments that we still see today. 11:22 [SPEAKER_00]: It may seem pretty simple now, but it made a huge difference. 11:27 [SPEAKER_00]: It protected the filament from breaking, and made the bulbs last much longer. 11:33 [SPEAKER_00]: Plus it made them cheaper to produce, and more efficient, too. 11:37 [SPEAKER_00]: Talk about a bright idea. 11:43 [SPEAKER_00]: Other than that, Latamir also devised more efficient methods for attaching carbonized 11:52 [SPEAKER_00]: further enhancing the bulb's durability. 11:55 [SPEAKER_00]: His contributions led to improvements in various aspects of lamp manufacturing, from filament baking ovens to glass-blowing equipment. 12:07 [SPEAKER_00]: And with that, electric lighting became a reality in homes and on streets. 12:12 [SPEAKER_00]: People could finally enjoy the convenience and safety of electric lights without worrying about them burning out all the time. 12:21 [SPEAKER_00]: So all of this meant that Vladimir's reputation and the lighting industry skyrocketed. 12:27 [SPEAKER_00]: And soon he was and high demand across the country to solve lighting problems. 12:34 [SPEAKER_00]: From Philadelphia to New York City and Montreal to railroad stations and New England, Vladimir led the charge in bringing electric lights to the masses. 12:47 [SPEAKER_00]: But wait, it gets better. 12:50 [SPEAKER_00]: By 1890, Latamir skills caught the eye of none other than Thomas Edison himself, recognizing his talent and expertise in the field, he hired Latamir to be his right-hand man. 13:05 [SPEAKER_00]: So Latamir became Edison's chief draftsman, and patent expert, overseeing all of Edison's patent work. 13:13 [SPEAKER_00]: He even went to court to defend Edison's inventions against copycats 13:19 [SPEAKER_00]: So he definitely made a major contribution to this field, leading him to be named a member of the Edison Pioneer. 13:27 [SPEAKER_00]: A group that helped create the electrical industry, as we know it today. 13:31 [SPEAKER_00]: Of its 28 charter members, Vladimir was the only African-American and that was something. 13:42 [SPEAKER_00]: With all his new accolades, 13:44 [SPEAKER_00]: Vladimir went on to participate in several other projects and hold other patents. 13:51 [SPEAKER_00]: In 1894, Lewis Latimer made significant strides in the field of innovation by introducing a new safety elevator, which was an improvement over the previous one, enhancing the overall security and functionality of buildings. 14:08 [SPEAKER_00]: but not all of his work involved that type of seriousness, if you will. 14:14 [SPEAKER_00]: He came up with some inventions to make our lives easier. 14:17 [SPEAKER_00]: First up, he created something called locking racks. 14:22 [SPEAKER_00]: These devices were perfect for places like restaurants and hotels. 14:27 [SPEAKER_00]: They held hats, coats, and umbrellas securely, so they wouldn't get lost or stolen. 14:34 [SPEAKER_00]: Seems simple now, but this was a big deal at the time. 14:38 [SPEAKER_00]: Other than that, Vladimir invented the improved book supporter or bookends. 14:44 [SPEAKER_00]: You know how books can sometimes flop over on shelves, his book supporter kept books standing upright, neat, and tidy, simple, yet effective. 14:57 [SPEAKER_00]: Now going back to the more serious ones, Vladimir invented an early version of the air conditioner, complete with the first high-efficiency particle air, or HEPA filter. 15:09 [SPEAKER_00]: He called it the apparatus 15:13 [SPEAKER_00]: The aim of this invention was to provide a large surface for evaporation, and tended to cool the air around it, or pass over it to infuse it with chemical substances, such as carbolic acid, or bromoclorulum. 15:29 [SPEAKER_00]: This would eliminate any odors, or disease causing germs, present. 15:35 [SPEAKER_00]: So this objective was achieved by suspending a textile fabric, such as webbing, between a reservoir and a drip, or between multiple reservoirs. 15:46 [SPEAKER_00]: Ensuring the fabric remained saturated and continuously supplied moisture through evaporation. 15:54 [SPEAKER_00]: Decempified things, it was designed to cool the air or get rid of odors and germs by using 16:04 [SPEAKER_00]: What was especially interesting was that this invention offered flexibility and its arrangement to suit various environments or purposes. 16:13 [SPEAKER_00]: Whether used horizontally or vertically for deodorizing, disinfecting or cooling. 16:19 [SPEAKER_00]: This device's design may be adjusted accordingly, with the primary components, the reservoirs and fabric, remaining fairly consistent. 16:29 [SPEAKER_00]: So pretty soon, hospital started using it to keep dust and germs from spreading in public areas and patient rooms, making them cleaner and safer places for everyone. 16:42 [SPEAKER_00]: This was yet another important one, and paved the way for the development of modern air conditioning systems, humidifiers, and air purifiers, all the which rely on similar principles of evaporative cooling and air purification. 16:59 [SPEAKER_00]: So all of these inventions tell us that Vladimir wasn't just a one-hit wonder, he kept on inventing things that would make life better for everyone. 17:15 [SPEAKER_00]: However, even though his contributions were significant, he felt that he was discriminated against at some level during his career. 17:25 [SPEAKER_00]: Writing about himself and third person, he said every new workman, who came into the office saw for the first time, a colored man making drawings, and as often as they came to work in the office, they tried to pretend that they could not do their work. 17:43 [SPEAKER_00]: It is unfortunate, but Vladimir didn't let prejudice stop him. 17:48 [SPEAKER_00]: Instead, he worked even harder to prove himself. 17:52 [SPEAKER_00]: He was determined to become someone the white couldn't ignore. 17:57 [SPEAKER_00]: He did all sorts of things to improve himself, like painting, playing music, and writing poetry, and plays. 18:06 [SPEAKER_00]: Vladimir didn't have much formal education, and he taught himself a lot, and even taught others technical drawing, engineering, and English. 18:16 [SPEAKER_00]: And since he faced a lot of racism himself, he became a big supporter of civil rights. 18:23 [SPEAKER_00]: In 1895, he even wrote a statement, in connection with the National Conference of Colored Men about equality, security, and opportunity for others like him. 18:38 [SPEAKER_00]: Later in 1903, the latter family purchased a house in the mostly white neighborhood of Flushing Queens. 18:47 [SPEAKER_00]: situated on Holley Street, the house was not extravagant, but rather a relatively new, Queen Anne suburban cottage, constructed between 1887 and 1889, for a family named Sexton. 19:03 [SPEAKER_00]: This house became a lot of mere lifelong residents. 19:07 [SPEAKER_00]: He even helped set up a church in this neighborhood, 19:12 [SPEAKER_00]: Now, Vladimir believed in the principles of social justice for black people, as outlined in the Constitution. 19:20 [SPEAKER_00]: So he engaged with prominent black intellectuals of his time, including Frederick Douglass, Booker Washington, and Richard Theodore Greener. 19:29 [SPEAKER_00]: You might remember Richard Greener as the first African-American Harvard graduate. 19:35 [SPEAKER_00]: He was a scholar, diplomat, and key figure in organizing the National Conference of Colored Men and Detroit in 1895. 19:46 [SPEAKER_00]: With these interactions, the latter-meer home became a hub for gatherings among leading black cultural and political figures. 19:55 [SPEAKER_00]: Poet composer James Walden Johnson, his brother Rosamun Johnson, composer Harry Burley, actor singer Paul Robeson, and writer activist Dubois, among others, frequented the Vladimir household. 20:14 [SPEAKER_00]: As you can guess, socially Vladimir was doing well, continuing to contribute to the development of those around him. 20:23 [SPEAKER_00]: but unexpectedly, and 1911, the board of patent control disbanded, leaving Vladimir without employment or prospects. 20:38 [SPEAKER_00]: He struggled to find work for a while, which is unfortunate considering his obvious talent in the business. 20:46 [SPEAKER_00]: But he was finally hired by an old friend and colleague, Edwin Hammer, another member of Edison's Pioneers. 20:55 [SPEAKER_00]: Vladimir then served as Hammer's patent consultant until 1922, when declining health forced his retirement at the age of 74. 21:04 [SPEAKER_00]: He passed away on December 11, 1928, at the age of 80, and the Edison Pioneers published 21:16 [SPEAKER_00]: It read, in part. 21:19 [SPEAKER_00]: He was of the colored rays, the only one in our organization, and was one of those to respond to the initial call that led to the formation of the Edison pioneers, January 24, 1918. 21:34 [SPEAKER_00]: Broadmindedness, versatility and the accomplishment of things intellectual, and cultural, a linguist, a devoted husband and father. 21:44 [SPEAKER_00]: all were characteristic of him, and his genial presence will be missed from our gatherings. 21:52 [SPEAKER_00]: So, owing to his work, he was honored on May 10, 1968, with the dedication of a public school in Brooklyn, New York, known as the PS-56, Louis Lottomir School. 22:07 [SPEAKER_00]: It is one of the few ways he is still remembered. 22:11 [SPEAKER_00]: not as widely as Edison or Graham Bell, which is unfortunate given the size of his contributions to their projects. 22:21 [SPEAKER_00]: And that is a wrap on today's exploration into the journey of Lewis Howard, Vladimir, and an inventor, a draftsman, and an all-around genius who helped light up our world. 22:36 [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for listening to hometown history and be sure to follow along for more interesting stories from the past.
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