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Biography · Science & Inventions

Richard Spikes

1878–1963

United States

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Biography

Richard Bowie Spikes (October 2, 1878 – January 22, 1963) was an African-American inventor who held several United States patents. He is credited with developing and improving inventions such as a beer tap, a modification of an automatic gear shift mechanism for motor vehicles, and a safety braking system for trucks and buses. Notably, his beer tap patent was purchased by the Milwaukee Brewing Company, and variations of his design are still in use today.

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

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