Richard B. Spikes
Inventor of the automatic gear shift and multiple automotive and bar equipment patents
automatic gear shift and multiple automotive and bar equipment patents
Why This Person Is Included
Richard B. Spikes was a prolific inventor who patented the automatic gear shift mechanism in 1933 — the precursor to the automatic transmission that is now standard in most vehicles. He also invented improvements to beer taps, automobile turn signals, and billiards equipment. He completed his final inventions while blind, using tools of his own design.
Historical Significance
Spikes's automatic gear shift removed the need for manual gear changing — a significant contributor to making automobile driving accessible to people who found manual transmission physically difficult. His automotive inventions span the early development period of the automobile industry.
The Story
Richard B. Spikes was born in Texas in 1878 and lived in San Francisco for much of his adult life. He was a prolific inventor across multiple product categories: automobile-related inventions (automatic gear shift, turn signals, a safety brake mechanism), bar equipment (a self-closing beer tap that became widely used), and billiards equipment. He received U.S. Patent No. 1,934,994 in 1933 for the automatic gear shift mechanism.
In his later years, Spikes lost his sight but continued inventing, designing tools to help him work without vision. He died in San Francisco in 1962. His automotive innovations span the early development period of the automobile and include contributions to safety and accessibility that influenced subsequent transmission and signaling design.
Sources
- 1.Richard Spikes. BlackPast.org.↗