Granville T. Woods was born on April 23, 1856 in Columbus, OH to free African Americans (Brody, 1993). Granville T. Woods did not receive much formal education, and in his early teens he obtained a variety of jobs, including a railroad engineer in a railroad machine shop, an engineer on a British ship in a steel mill, and a railroad worker (Bio, 2014b). While living in New York, Woods took courses in Engineering because he realized that he wanted to it to be his future (Bio, 2014b).
In 1887, Woods invented his most important invention-the multiplex telegraph, also known as the "induction telegraph," or block system (Bio, 2014b) The device allowed faster communication by allowing voice communication over telegraph wires, a process that allowed men to communicate by voice over telegraph wires, ultimately preventing crucial errors such as train accidents (Bio, 2014b).
Thomas Edison sued Woods twice claiming that he was the first inventor of the multiplex telegraph. After losing, Thomas Edison attempted to recruit Woods and offered him an engineering position at Edison Electric Light Company, and Woods declined (Haber, 1970). After this, Woods became known as "Black Edison" (Bio, 2014b). After receiving the patent for the multiplex telegraph, Woods reorganized his company as the Woods Electric Company (Haber, 1970). In 1890, he moved his own research operations to New York City, where he was joined by a brother, Lyates Woods, who also had several inventions of his own (Bio, 2014b).
Woods's next most important invention was the power pick-up device in 1901, which is the basis of the so-called "third rail" currently used by electric-powered transit systems. From 1902 to 1905, he received patents for an improved air-brake system. Woods then started a business to develop, manufacture, and sell electrical equipment including an improved telephone transmitter. The patent for his device, which combined the telephone and telegraph, was bought by Alexander Graham Bell, and the payment freed Woods to devote himself to his own research. One of his most important inventions was the "troller," a grooved metal wheel that allowed street cars, or trolleys, to collect electric power from overhead wires (Bio, 2014b).
In 1887, Woods developed the multiplex telegraph. The device allowed men to communicate by voice over telegraph wires (Granville T. Woods, n.d.) Ultimately, it helped to speed up important communications and, subsequently, preventing crucial errors such as train accidents. (Granville T. Woods, n.d.).
In 1887, Woods invented his most important invention-the multiplex telegraph, also known as the "induction telegraph," or block system (Bio, 2014b) The device allowed faster communication by allowing voice communication over telegraph wires, a process that allowed men to communicate by voice over telegraph wires, ultimately preventing crucial errors such as train accidents (Bio, 2014b).
Thomas Edison sued Woods twice claiming that he was the first inventor of the multiplex telegraph. After losing, Thomas Edison attempted to recruit Woods and offered him an engineering position at Edison Electric Light Company, and Woods declined (Haber, 1970). After this, Woods became known as "Black Edison" (Bio, 2014b). After receiving the patent for the multiplex telegraph, Woods reorganized his company as the Woods Electric Company (Haber, 1970). In 1890, he moved his own research operations to New York City, where he was joined by a brother, Lyates Woods, who also had several inventions of his own (Bio, 2014b).
Woods's next most important invention was the power pick-up device in 1901, which is the basis of the so-called "third rail" currently used by electric-powered transit systems. From 1902 to 1905, he received patents for an improved air-brake system. Woods then started a business to develop, manufacture, and sell electrical equipment including an improved telephone transmitter. The patent for his device, which combined the telephone and telegraph, was bought by Alexander Graham Bell, and the payment freed Woods to devote himself to his own research. One of his most important inventions was the "troller," a grooved metal wheel that allowed street cars, or trolleys, to collect electric power from overhead wires (Bio, 2014b).
In 1887, Woods developed the multiplex telegraph. The device allowed men to communicate by voice over telegraph wires (Granville T. Woods, n.d.) Ultimately, it helped to speed up important communications and, subsequently, preventing crucial errors such as train accidents. (Granville T. Woods, n.d.).