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Biography · Science & Inventions

Solomon Harper

1895–1980

United States

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Biography

Solomon Harper (October 8, 1895, Poplar Grove, Arkansas - December 8, 1980, New York, New York ) was an electrical engineer and inventor known for creating the first electrically heated hair roller and 28 other inventions. Harper worked for various railways performing jobs like section head, construction and other locomotive work. In 1914, he applied for his first patent for his block system which he invented to prevent train collision. It was designed to prevent rear and head on collision and to prevent trains from running into open switches, to automatically reduce train's speed at dangerous places, and to stop trains at railways junctions.

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Biography text · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

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