The Hatfields and the McCoys were a pair of feudin' families from the hills of Virginia in the 19th century; indeed, it was a feud of epic proportions, stretchin across several generations and dozens of deaths, that soon became a national cause celebre. Elijah McCoy, the Canadian inventor educated in Scotland, made a successful machine for lubricating engines that spawned many copies, all inferior to the original. The Real McCoy was Canadian-born inventor Elijah McCoy who in 1872 invented locomotive steam engine lubrication technology. The Real McCoy was good Canadian whiskey from his operations, not home distilled stuff. They had what were called hairpin holders. His father, George McCoy, enlisted in the British army and fought in the 1837 … Supposedly, the sailor and rum-runner William "the Real" McCoy was the best and wealthiest rum-runner within the port of Greenport during its prime. Was it, as Alistair Cooke argued, a famous cattle baron? The form McCoy is apparently of US origin. The oil cup, which automatically delivers a steady trickle of lubricant to machine parts while the machine is running, predates McCoy’s career; a description of one appears in the May 6, 1848 issue of Scientific American. "The Real McCoy" was the inventor Elijah McCoy who invented a lot of different kinds of things. Over time, the expression “real McCoy” has been used for anything that means the real thing, the real solution. Kevin Smith, Greenport, Long Island, New York United States, "The real McCoy" was the inventor Elijah McCoy,born in Canada in 1844. McCoy improved his … The 'real mccoy'is an American corruption of the 'real mackay'. Supposedly, the sailor and rum-runner William "the Real" McCoy was the best and wealthiest rum-runner within the port of Greenport during its prime. Elijah McCoy was a black inventor and engineer in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Other companies copied his devices, but these never worked as well as Elijah's so people would say, "I want a, Brewer's Millenium Edition Born May 2, 1844 - Died October 10, 1929 Elijah McCoy received his first patent for an automatic lubricating device in 1872. He would then supply the local speakeasies who would ask for Real McCoy Whiskey. He had many different inventions including an ironing board and a lawn sprinkler. "The Real McCoy" was the inventor Elijah McCoy who invented a lot of different kinds of things. That previously was the only explanation I'd ever heard and I always believed it. He had many different inventions including an ironing board and a lawn sprinkler. No! With many immitations out there the phrase "Real McCoy" came to be. He patented the design in 1872. It was undoubtedly this phrase which RLS had in mind when he described himself as 'the real Mackay'. "The real McCoy" was the inventor Elijah McCoy,born in Canada in 1844. Back in the late 40s early 50s there were ceramic pieces made. What does “The Real McCoy” mean? Previously, engines had to be stopped before necessary lubrication could be applied. Some of the candidates are: Canadian inventor Elijah McCoy, who invented a machine to lubricate the moving parts of a railway locomotive . Elijah McCoy was born in Colchester, Ontario, Canada to George and Mildred McCoy on May 2, 1844. This use of the phrase originated in the 1820s. Set in the late 1800’s, The Real McCoy, by Andrew Moodie tells the story Elijah McCoy, the Afri-Canadian engineer who invented (among other things) a lubricating device that revolutionized the way steam engine trains operate. The pieces were usually flowers. The the real McCoy was the scotch whiskey smuggled into the US by Capt Willy McCoy during the era of prohibition. A letter written by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson in 1883 contains the phrase, "He’s the real Mackay". He secured a patent for it in 1872 and steadily improved it over time. He had many different inventions including an ironing board and a lawn sprinkler. Answer 5. Who used Peanuts to create one of their many inventions? Most of them were for hanging. I recently read an article in VOX magazine which had an article about the turn of the century and rum-running during Prohibition. However many 5 and 10 stores made copies. Various stories about an American boxer have been suggested as the origin of the phrase, but Eric Partridge in "From Sanskrit to Brazil" [1952] , says with probable truth that it dates from the 1880s and originated in Scotland , where it was applied to whisky, men and things of the highest quality. Answer 7. Who invented “The Safety Hood”? It don't matter cuz I'm a real Mccoy ...my family is out there in Virginia ....so if you don't have family from out that way you probably aren't related to the mccoys who actually reused with the hatsfields. Answer 8. Who invented the refrigerated truck? The Parlor itself did no business as it was a front for a whiskey distillery. Hence 'The real McCoy'. Real McCoy is actually a reference to one of America’s most prolific inventors, Elijah McCoy. "The real McCoy" is a phrase used throughout much of the English-speaking world to mean "the real thing" or "the genuine article." I have read that those old fashioned cookied jars (character typed things) you often see at flea markets and antique shops were originally made by a McCoy. The coined phrase, "the Real McCoy" is supposedly based on this character who apparently delivered the most illegal alcohol to Eastern Long Island and at a fair and reasonable price. An alternative suggestion is that it originates from the phrase 'the real Mackay', an advertising slogan used by G. Mackay and Co, whisky distillers in Edinburgh in 1870. Over time, the expression “real McCoy” has been used for anything that means the real thing, the real solution. McCoy trained as an engineer in Scotland as a teenager. Elijah McCoy was a 19th century African American inventor best known for inventing lubrication devices used to make train travel more efficient. Steam engine owners requested it by asking for, “The Real McCoy" (that is where the saying came from). This use of the phrase originated in the 1820s. They had what were called hairpin holders. In 1872, McCoy patented a device that automatically oiled locomotive parts while the train was moving. The memorable phrase "That's no the real Mackay" was uttered sotto voce by a member of the audience. It was undoubtedly this phrase which RLS had in mind when he described himself as 'the real Mackay'. In the back of the flower was a hole or pocket where you would but your hat pins or hairpins etc. The whisky was exported to both the USA and Canada , where people of Scottish origin drank the whisky and kept the phrase alive. Whose inventions … The Parlor itself did no business as it was a front for a whiskey distillery. Answer 4. Who created the invention that is a combination of the telephone and the telegraphy? Only McCoy's whiskey was the real stuff. McCoy was a Canadian whiskey smuggler in Prohibition. also see: http://www.princeton.edu/~mcbrown/display/mccoy.html. Railway engineers would ask for his product by name. McCoy invented and patented all kinds of mechanical things to help them work smoothly, efficiently and safely. He would then supply the local speakeasies who would ask for Real McCoy Whiskey. I recently read an article in VOX magazine which had an article about the turn of the century and rum-running during Prohibition. First page of US patent 129,843 for Improvement in Lubricators for Steam-Engines Elijah J. McCoy (May 2, 1844 – October 10, 1929) was a Canadian-born inventor and … That’s because the quality of Elijah McCoy’s inventions created a level of distinction that continues to bear his name. The earliest example is from 1856, which is recorded in the Scottish National Dictionary: “A drappie [drop] o’ the real MacKay”. An alternative suggestion is that it originates from the phrase 'the real Mackay', an advertising slogan used by G. Mackay and Co, whisky distillers in Edinburgh in 1870. Who Was Elijah McCoy? The part of Bailie Nichol Jarvie, a popular comic character, was played in Edinburgh for many years by an actor called Mackay. He had many different inventions including an ironing board and a lawn sprinkler. It was Elijah McCoy's 1st invention, a lubricator for steam engines, which made people ask for the real McCoy (at least in America). With many immitations out there the phrase "Real McCoy" came to be. To quote "Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into History Again" (a great, nearly 100% accurate source of trivia), page 144 "The most infamous rumrunner was sea captain Bill McCoy, whose liquor was of such high quality that it led to the expression 'the real McCoy'". Many people have heard the expression “The Real McCoy” but don’t have any idea of the origin or significance of either the invention that created it or the man behind the invention itself. Go to the answers Elijah McCoy (1843 or 1844-1929) was a mechanical engineer and inventor. One evening he did not appear,and was replaced by another actor. McCoy's invention allowed engines to be lubricated while … The term The Real McCoy was born to mean the real thing. The part of Bailie Nichol Jarvie, a popular comic character, was played in Edinburgh for many years by an actor called Mackay. The coined phrase, "the Real McCoy" is supposedly based on this character who apparently delivered the most illegal alcohol to Eastern Long Island and at a fair and reasonable price. It was Elijah McCoy's 1st invention, a lubricator for steam engines, which made people ask for the real McCoy (at least in America). "The real McCoy" was the inventor Elijah McCoy,born in Canada in 1844. Elijah McCoy was a black American inventor whose committment to quality, excellence and integrity gave rise, in the late 1800s, to the term, the Real McCoy.His remarkable path took him … "There are at least half a dozen theories about which of the myriad McCoys of America at the end of the nineteenth century is the genuinely real McCoy. An expression used in the USA, but formerly in Britain it was the Real MacKay. Therefore, it became a mark of pride to belong to either one of the families, but for some reason or other it was the McCoys whose name would go down in history as an expression of authenticity. Whenever challenged on their provenance outside the state of Virginia, a member of said family would inevitably reply, 'Yessir, aaahm a Real McCoy'. Answer 9. His invention met with success all over the country and despite the imitations, the train companies all demanded to have the real McCoy, a guarantee of quality. As members of my family have told me, the "Real McCoy" came from my great grandfather, who ran a funeral parlor in Lower Manhattan during the prohibition era. One very possible origin of this phrase is connected with the stage version of Scott's famous novel Rob Roy. The origin of the phrase "the real McCoy" is not generally agreed on. To quote "Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into History Again" (a great, nearly 100% accurate source of trivia), page 144 "The most infamous rumrunner was sea captain Bill McCoy, whose liquor was of such high quality that it led to the expression 'the real McCoy'". The phrase “Real McCoy” arose to distinguish Elijah’s inventions from cheap imitations? Only McCoy's whiskey was the real stuff. The Real McCoy: The Life of an African American Inventor by Wendy Towle is a biography of Elijah McCoy, who invented the graphite lubricator among other things. In the 1890s however, there is no doubt that it was applied to a famous boxer, Ked 'the real'. Answer 6. Who saw a watch as inspiration for their invention? Other companies copied his devices, but these never worked as well as Elijah's so people would say, "I want a, Brewer's Millenium Edition McCoy, to solve these problems invented the lubricating cup, an automatic lubrication system that constantly pours the lubricant during the trip and eliminates delays and endangering the lives of employees. The form McCoy is apparently of US origin. McCoy was a Canadian whiskey smuggler in Prohibition. Unable to find an engineering position in the United States, he took a job working for a railroad and subsequently invented a lubrication device to … Born between March 27, 1844, and May 2, 1844 in Colchester, Ontario, Canada, Elijah McCoy’s parents were fugitive slaves from Kentucky who escaped in Canada using the Underground Railroad. One very possible origin of this phrase is connected with the stage version of Scott's famous novel Rob Roy. The phrase "The real McCoy" may be a corruption of the Scots "The real MacKay", first recorded in 1856 as: "A drappie o' the real MacKay" ("a drop of the real MacKay"). However many 5 and 10 stores made copies. As members of my family have told me, the "Real McCoy" came from my great grandfather, who ran a funeral parlor in Lower Manhattan during the prohibition era. The feud between the Hatfield and McCoy families, of West Virginia and Kentucky respectively, in the 1880s. Probably. Start your review of The real McCoy: African-American invention and innovation, 1619-1930 Write a review Aug 30, 2014 Mark Bowles rated it really liked it Other companies copied his devices, but these never worked as well as Elijah's so people would say, "I want a , and make sure it's a real McCoy." It don't matter cuz I'm a real Mccoy ...my family is out there in Virginia ....so if you don't have family from out that way you probably aren't related to the mccoys who actually reused with the hatsfields. In the back of the flower was a hole or pocket where you would but your hat pins or hairpins etc. Most of them were for hanging. The whisky was exported to both the USA and Canada , where people of Scottish origin drank the whisky and kept the phrase alive. The the real McCoy was the scotch whiskey smuggled into the US by Capt Willy McCoy during the era of prohibition. Most people may not know his name, but many know the phrase: it’s the real McCoy. also see: http://www.princeton.edu/~mcbrown/display/mccoy.html. An expression used in the USA, but formerly in Britain it was the Real MacKay. That previously was the only explanation I'd ever heard and I always believed it. What Elijah McCoy invented that became a big hit for those who worked on the railroad was an oil-drip cup that would help to lubricate the engine while in motion. He is known for his 57 U.S. patents and for completely revolutionizing the railroad industry. He had many different inventions including an ironing board and a lawn sprinkler. McCoy's high-quality industrial inventions (especially his steam engine lubricator) were the basis for the expression "the real McCoy," meaning the real, authentic, or high-quality thing. Others tried to imitate McCoy's invention, but he kept ahead of them with his superior engineering skills. In the 1890s however, there is no doubt that it was applied to a famous boxer, Ked 'the real'. Elijah McCoy was probably born in 1844, before the Civil War, and under other circumstances might have expected to spend his entire life as a slave on a Southern plantation. Hence 'The real McCoy'. They name on these pieces (the real ones , that is) is McCoy. This electronic lubricator was often copied, but the copies were inferior to the real invention that Elijah McCoy had developed. The 'real mccoy'is an American corruption of the 'real mackay'. Various stories about an American boxer have been suggested as the origin of the phrase, but Eric Partridge in "From Sanskrit to Brazil" [1952] , says with probable truth that it dates from the 1880s and originated in Scotland , where it was applied to whisky, men and things of the highest quality. McCoy invented a lubricating cup that oiled engine parts as the train was moving. This appeared in a poem Deil's Hallowe'en published in Glasgow and is widely accepted as the phrase's origin. This appeared in a poem Deil's Hallowe'en published in Glasgow and is widely accepted as the phrase's origin. The memorable phrase "That's no the real Mackay" was uttered sotto voce by a member of the audience. The same work says that in 1870 the slogan was adopted by Messrs G Mackay and Co, whisky distillers of Edinburgh. I have a few and they are worth $$ to a collector today. I have read that those old fashioned cookied jars (character typed things) you often see at flea markets and antique shops were originally made by a McCoy. I have a few and they are worth $$ to a collector today. There’s plenty of evidence, however, for suggesting that the original McCoy was actually a Mackay. The phrase the “real McCoy,” which means the “real thing” may have come from Black Canadian, Elijah McCoy. They name on these pieces (the real ones , that is) is McCoy. The phrase "The real McCoy" may be a corruption of the Scots "The real MacKay", first recorded in 1856 as: "A drappie o' the real MacKay", ("a drop of the real MacKay"). Real McCoy is actually a reference to one of America’s most prolific inventors, Elijah McCoy. The pieces were usually flowers. His oil cup was patented and one-of a-kind. Whenever challenged on their provenance outside the state of Virginia, a member of said family would inevitably reply, 'Yessir, aaahm a Real McCoy'. "The real McCoy" was the inventor Elijah McCoy,born in Canada in 1844. Back in the late 40s early 50s there were ceramic pieces made. Elijah McCoy was born in Canada, to parents who had fled slavery. Therefore, it became a mark of pride to belong to either one of the families, but for some reason or other it was the McCoys whose name would go down in history as an expression of authenticity. Yet Elijah was born free, thanks to his fugitive slave parents, George and Emilia, and the shadowy network of anti-slavery campaigners who helped them escape from the South via the ‘Underground Railroad’. Richard Thompson, Allerod Denmark Or was it perhaps Elijah McCoy, who invented a machine to lubricate the moving parts of a railway locomotive? One evening he did not appear,and was replaced by another actor. Kevin Smith, Greenport, Long Island, New York United States, "The real McCoy" was the inventor Elijah McCoy,born in Canada in 1844. McCoy invented and patented all kinds of mechanical things to help them work smoothly, efficiently and safely. The Real McCoy was also a film starring Kim Basinger. Full answer is here. The Hatfields and the McCoys were a pair of feudin' families from the hills of Virginia in the 19th century; indeed, it was a feud of epic proportions, stretchin across several generations and dozens of deaths, that soon became a national cause celebre. Probably. 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