In this special Forgotten Genius Friday podcast episode, we explore the life and legacy of Elijah McCoy—the pioneering engineer whose automatic lubrication systems transformed steam engine efficiency during the industrial era.

McCoy’s innovations reduced downtime, improved safety, and helped define new standards for mechanical reliability across railroads and industry. His reputation for quality became so strong that it later became associated with the popular phrase “the real McCoy.”

But did the expression actually originate from him?

This episode also examines the debate surrounding the phrase’s origins. While McCoy is widely credited in popular culture, historians and linguists note that similar expressions existed earlier and that there is no definitive historical evidence directly linking the phrase to his inventions. As a result, many scholars consider it a compelling but unverified origin story.

Join us as we separate fact from folklore and uncover the true legacy of one of America’s most important yet often overlooked inventors.

https://stmdailynews.com/the-knowledge-2/forgotten-genius-fridays/

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