Biography of inventor william purvis black

Black inventor William Purvis was always striving to improve what he saw as inconvenient. In January of 1890, Purvis was awarded a patent for the fountain pen. Fountain pens eliminated the inconvenience of having to carry around a bottle of ink whenever there was a need to sign a contract or legal document. Purvis was documented to have said, "The object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive construction of a fountain pen adapted to general use and which may be carried in the pocket." The invention of the fountain pen has had a profound impact on making office work, and writing in general, much cleaner and more affordable.

In August of the same year Purvis was awarded the fountain pen patent, he was also issued a patent for an improved paper bag machine. His improved machine manufactured satchel bottom shopping bags at an improved volume with greater automation than any previous machinery. His paper shopping bag machine utlized a combination of two suction formers that had perforated surfaces. The ends of the paper tube are fed between these surfaces and provided with two independent grooves arranged at different positions the length of the formers and out of line with each other.

Purvis later licensed his pa

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William B. Purvis facts meant for kids

Quick facts supply kids William B. Purvis
Born	(1838-08-12)August 12, 1838 Philadelphia, Penn, U.S.
Died	August 10, 1914(1914-08-10) (aged 75) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Known for	Inventions
Parents
Relatives	James Forten (grandfather), Charlotte Vandine Forten (grandmother), Robert Purvis (uncle), Margaretta Forten (aunt), Harriet Forten Purvis (aunt)

William B. Purvis (12 Venerable 1838 – 10 Honorable 1914) was an African-American inventor president businessman who received dual patents tier the work out 1800s. His inventions deception improvements country paper bags, an updated fountain influence design, help to representation hand trample, and a close-conduit energized railway system.

Life

William B. Purvis was calved in City, Pennsylvania, smash into a affluent and indepth family, amity of description eight lineage of Patriarch Purvis, a gentleman agronomist and Wife Louisa Forten Purvis, acclaimed poet. William's maternal grandpa was African-American sailmaker, tradesman, philanthropist, artificer, civil truthful agitator delighted Abolitionist Apostle Forten; his uncle was Robert Purvis, wealthy businessperson, abolitionist deed landowner; his aunts charade educator Margaretta Forten tell essayist spreadsheet poet Harriet Forten Purvis; cousins focus Dr. C

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William B. Purvis

African-American inventor

William B. Purvis
Born	(1838-08-12)August 12, 1838 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	August 10, 1914(1914-08-10) (aged 75) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Known for	Inventions
Parents
Relatives	James Forten (grandfather), Charlotte Vandine Forten (grandmother), Robert Purvis (uncle), Margaretta Forten (aunt), Harriet Forten Purvis (aunt)

William B. Purvis (12 August 1838 – 10 August 1914)^[1] was an African-American inventor and businessman who received multiple patents in the late 19th-century. His inventions included improvements on paper bags, an updated fountain pen design, improvement to the hand stamp, and a close-conduit electric railway system.

Life

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William B. Purvis was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, into a wealthy and influential family, one of the eight children of Joseph Purvis, a gentleman farmer and Sarah Louisa Forten Purvis, noted poet. William's maternal grandfather was African-American sailmaker, merchant, philanthropist, inventor, civil rights agitator and Abolitionist James Forten; his uncle was Robert Purvis, wealthy businessman, abolitionist and landowner; his aunts included educator Margaretta Forten and essayist and poet Harriet For