by Anura Guruge
on May 2, 2022
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Though I have been somewhat of a railway buff all my life I had until I saw today’s ‘Google Doodle‘ never heard of Elijah McCoy — though I have seen the lubrication devices devised by him. My loss. It was interesting to read about him. Quite the guy.
I was, however, skeptical as to whether the saying ‘The Real McCoy’ really could be attributed to him. Yes, it is possible, but seems a tad unlikely. Just as with the ‘Red Light District‘ it just seems the term would have originated in Europe (rather than the U.S.) — & in this context in Scotland.
So, I would be more inclined to go with explanation #1 per Wikipedia (above).
That Robert Louis Stevenson used the phrase just 11 years after Elijah’s patent would lend credence that the phrase has to predate the patent. It is unlikely that the invention & then the term would have gained enough traction to have reached the U.K. and the ears of Mr. Stevenson in such a relatively short time. But, we can’t be sure.
So, I willing to be dissuaded, though for now I remain skeptical that Elijah was the REAL McCoy. But, granted, he was QUITE the McCoy.