Miriam Benjamin was an inspirational african american
inventor and the second black woman in history to receive a patent. Her invention was called a Gong and Signal Chair for Hotels. As someone who prefers quiet dining myself, I love this invention!
Her patent application states that the chair will "reduce the expenses of hotels by decreasing the number of waiters and attendants, to add to the convenience and comfort of guests and to obviate the necessity of hand clapping or calling aloud to obtain the services of pages." Her patent was issued on July 17, 1888.
Patrons of a restaurant would press a small button on their chair to signal their waiter or waitress. Instead of waving or shouting "MISS!", they could obtain services quietly and remain respectful of other patrons. Sound familiar? It should, it was the inspiration for the call buttons used on airlines to signal flight attendants!
Can you imagine taking a flight with everyone shouting and waving to the flight attendants? Thanks to Miriam Benjamin, we don't have to!
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