Where did the expression "the real McCoy" come from? One possible source is the story behind the success of an automatic oil cup designed by the African-American inventor, Elijah McCoy.

Born in Canada to fugitive slaves, Elijah displayed an avid interest in mechanical devices from a young age. He traveled to Scotland to receive formal training in engineering. Despite his education, Elijah could only find work as a fireman/oilman for the Michigan Central Railroad in the United States. To make his job more efficient, Elijah designed an oil cup, the success of which first surprised the skeptical engineers, and then converted them to his model. How Elijah McCoy gained recognition for his achievements, is a compelling story of an African-American man's struggle to succeed in post-Civil War America.

Wendy Towle and Wil Clay are proud to introduce children to the life of Elijah McCoy, a brilliant African-American pioneer in engineering, whose contributions to technology, science, and home are still very much in evidence today.

From the dust jacket