Inventor Jan Ernst Matzeliger Revolutionized the Shoe Making Industry
Jan Ernst Matzeliger was an African American inventor who was born in 1852. He went on to become one of the most important African American inventors of his time. Matzeliger is best known for his invention of the shoe lasting machine. (Not to be confused with shoe lacing.) This revolutionized the shoe-making industry. Before Matzeliger’s invention, shoes were made by hand, and the process was time-consuming and labor-intensive. Matzeliger’s machine automated the process of lasting shoes. This is the process of shaping the upper part of a shoe around the last, or mold, to give the shoe its final shape. His invention made it possible to produce shoes much more quickly and efficiently. This helped to bring down the cost of shoes, making them more accessible to people.