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Year: 1889
Who: John Stanard (1868 - 1900), misspelled in many references as "Standard"
Where: Newark, NJ
What: John Stanard, born on June 15, 1868, in Newark, New Jersey, was a Black inventor who made significant contributions to kitchen appliances, specifically through his improvements to the refrigerator and oil stove. Despite facing racial discrimination prevalent in the late 19th century, Stanard was able to secure two patents during his lifetime, revolutionizing modern kitchen designs.
Stanard's most famous invention was an improvement to the refrigerator, for which he was granted U.S. Patent No. 455,891 on June 14, 1891. His design included a manually-filled ice chamber separate from the main refrigerator unit, which allowed for better air circulation and cooling efficiency. This non-electric refrigerator used air ducts to maintain a constant flow of cold air, making it a practical and efficient device for its time. His design even featured a tap that provided cold drinking water, a feature that would later become a standard in modern refrigerators.
In addition to his refrigerator improvement, Stanard also patented an improved oil stove in 1889 (U.S. Patent No. 413,689). This space-saving design was particularly suited for buffet-style meals on trains, providing a practical solution for cooking a variety of foods simultaneously in small, confined spaces.
Stanard's innovations in refrigeration and stove design were ahead of their time, laying the groundwork for future developments in kitchen technology. His work is particularly notable given the racial and economic barriers he faced during his life. Despite these challenges, his inventions continue to influence the way people store and prepare food today.
Stanard passed away in 1900 at the young age of 31 or 32, leaving behind a legacy of innovation that had a lasting impact on both domestic kitchens and commercial catering. His work serves as a testament to the ingenuity and perseverance of Black inventors in the face of adversity.
Sources:
Websites:
Google Patents. (n.d.). Patent US455891A - Refrigerator by John Standard. https://patents.google.com/patent/US455891A/en
MicroFridge. (n.d.). Black Inventors Who Have Improved Our Everyday Lives: John Standard. https://www.microfridge.com/microfridge-blog/black-inventors-who-have-improved-our-everyday-lives/#:~:text=John%20Standard&text=While%20the%20refrigerator%20was%20already,arrangements%20and%20combinations%20of%20parts%E2%80%9D
ThoughtCo. (n.d.). John Standard: African American Inventor. https://www.thoughtco.com/john-standard-inventor-1991315
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