Jan E. Matzeliger

Description

Jan E. Matzeliger was an African American inventor and engineer who made an indelible mark on the shoe industry in the late 1800s. He is most famous for his invention of the shoe–lasting machine, a revolutionary device that allowed for the mass production of shoes.  Before Matzeliger’s invention, shoemakers had to manually sew and shape each shoe by hand, a laborious process that limited the production of shoes. Matzeliger’s machine automated the process and allowed shoemakers to produce multiple shoes at a much faster rate.

In 1991, the United States Postal Service released a commemorative stamp in honor of Matzeliger. The 29–cent stamp featured a portrait of Matzeliger with an illustration of him at work on his machine in the background. The stamp was designed by Chris Calle and was part of a series of stamps commemorating American inventors. Matzeliger‘s invention had a profound impact on the shoe industry and the economy more broadly.

His invention allowed for the mass production of shoes and made them more accessible and affordable to the general public. This had a ripple effect throughout the economy, creating more jobs in the shoe industry, stimulating economic growth, and giving a boost to the fashion industry. The Jan E. Matzeliger stamp is a fitting tribute to this remarkable inventor and engineer and serves as a reminder of the impact that one person’s ideas can have on an entire industry.