AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Traffic Control => Topic started by: ZLoth on November 24, 2023, 10:42:41 PM

Title: 100 years of Garrett Morgan’s traffic signal
Post by: ZLoth on November 24, 2023, 10:42:41 PM
From CNN:

An innovation that's saved countless lives: 100 years of Garrett Morgan's traffic signal
QuoteWhenever Sandra Morgan approaches an intersection as the light shifts from green to yellow, she said she feels a touch of pride.

"I'm reminded of my unique family heritage and my grandfather's contribution to public safety," Morgan told CNN.

It's been 100 years since Garrett Morgan, Sandra's grandfather, patented the three-position traffic signal. Morgan said she's proud of her family's legacy and is often struck by the fact that her grandfather's invention has saved an untold number of lives.

But the origin of Morgan's traffic signal, she said, was sparked by a tragedy.
FULL ARTICLE HERE (https://markholtz.info/2ta)
Title: Re: 100 years of Garrett Morgan’s traffic signal
Post by: Brandon on November 25, 2023, 08:34:30 AM
Quote from: ZLoth on November 24, 2023, 10:42:41 PM
From CNN:

An innovation that's saved countless lives: 100 years of Garrett Morgan's traffic signal
QuoteWhenever Sandra Morgan approaches an intersection as the light shifts from green to yellow, she said she feels a touch of pride.

"I'm reminded of my unique family heritage and my grandfather's contribution to public safety," Morgan told CNN.

It's been 100 years since Garrett Morgan, Sandra's grandfather, patented the three-position traffic signal. Morgan said she's proud of her family's legacy and is often struck by the fact that her grandfather's invention has saved an untold number of lives.

But the origin of Morgan's traffic signal, she said, was sparked by a tragedy.
FULL ARTICLE HERE (https://markholtz.info/2ta)

You mean 103 years of William Potts's traffic signal.  Morgan took out a patent three years after the three-position signal had been invented by Officer William Potts of the Detroit Police Department in 1920.  Why is Potts's accomplishment buried in favor of Morgan who merely copied Potts's work?  I'm sick and tired of seeing Detroiters and Michiganders in general being passed over for someone from somewhere who made the same idea AFTER it was done in Michigan first.
Title: Re: 100 years of Garrett Morgan’s traffic signal
Post by: Rothman on November 25, 2023, 05:43:51 PM
Quote from: Brandon on November 25, 2023, 08:34:30 AM
Quote from: ZLoth on November 24, 2023, 10:42:41 PM
From CNN:

An innovation that's saved countless lives: 100 years of Garrett Morgan's traffic signal
QuoteWhenever Sandra Morgan approaches an intersection as the light shifts from green to yellow, she said she feels a touch of pride.

"I'm reminded of my unique family heritage and my grandfather's contribution to public safety," Morgan told CNN.

It's been 100 years since Garrett Morgan, Sandra's grandfather, patented the three-position traffic signal. Morgan said she's proud of her family's legacy and is often struck by the fact that her grandfather's invention has saved an untold number of lives.

But the origin of Morgan's traffic signal, she said, was sparked by a tragedy.
FULL ARTICLE HERE (https://markholtz.info/2ta)

You mean 103 years of William Potts's traffic signal.  Morgan took out a patent three years after the three-position signal had been invented by Officer William Potts of the Detroit Police Department in 1920.  Why is Potts's accomplishment buried in favor of Morgan who merely copied Potts's work?  I'm sick and tired of seeing Detroiters and Michiganders in general being passed over for someone from somewhere who made the same idea AFTER it was done in Michigan first.
Pfft.  No patent, no credit.
Title: Re: 100 years of Garrett Morgan’s traffic signal
Post by: Brandon on November 25, 2023, 08:39:36 PM
Quote from: Rothman on November 25, 2023, 05:43:51 PM
Quote from: Brandon on November 25, 2023, 08:34:30 AM
Quote from: ZLoth on November 24, 2023, 10:42:41 PM
From CNN:

An innovation that's saved countless lives: 100 years of Garrett Morgan's traffic signal
QuoteWhenever Sandra Morgan approaches an intersection as the light shifts from green to yellow, she said she feels a touch of pride.

"I'm reminded of my unique family heritage and my grandfather's contribution to public safety," Morgan told CNN.

It's been 100 years since Garrett Morgan, Sandra's grandfather, patented the three-position traffic signal. Morgan said she's proud of her family's legacy and is often struck by the fact that her grandfather's invention has saved an untold number of lives.

But the origin of Morgan's traffic signal, she said, was sparked by a tragedy.
FULL ARTICLE HERE (https://markholtz.info/2ta)

You mean 103 years of William Potts's traffic signal.  Morgan took out a patent three years after the three-position signal had been invented by Officer William Potts of the Detroit Police Department in 1920.  Why is Potts's accomplishment buried in favor of Morgan who merely copied Potts's work?  I'm sick and tired of seeing Detroiters and Michiganders in general being passed over for someone from somewhere who made the same idea AFTER it was done in Michigan first.
Pfft.  No patent, no credit.

Sometimes it's done because the invention is that important that it shouldn't be patented.  He also made the first automatic signals in 1921, still two years ahead of Morgan's patent, and they were deployed across Detroit.  It's feasible, and possible, that Morgan heard of these signals (Cleveland isn't that far from Detroit).

The original signal: https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-collections/artifact/227457

More about William Potts: https://prabook.com/web/william.potts/1757113
Title: Re: 100 years of Garrett Morgan’s traffic signal
Post by: SectorZ on November 26, 2023, 09:07:05 AM
An innovation that's saved countless lives [citation needed]
Title: Re: 100 years of Garrett Morgan’s traffic signal
Post by: GaryV on November 26, 2023, 02:10:58 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on November 26, 2023, 09:07:05 AM
An innovation that's saved countless lives [citation needed]
"How many lives did it save?"

"We don't know, we can't count them."

"OK, I'll just write 'countless'."
Title: Re: 100 years of Garrett Morgan’s traffic signal
Post by: epzik8 on November 26, 2023, 08:43:47 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on November 26, 2023, 09:07:05 AM
An innovation that's saved countless lives [citation needed]

It's up to the people to use them correctly.