Who really invented the black box?
Did a man from Moor Row invent the black box used on airplanes?
The Australian publicity machine went into overdrive a few weeks ago when one David Warren died, claiming he had been the inventor of the black box. "Nonsense" said Whitehaven News' reader Lawrence Graves who had in his possession a cutting from The Daily Express of July 27, 1996. It said there that the black box was invented by Professor Gordon Black at Farnborough in 1948 - hence the name 'black' box. What's more Mr Graves recalled memories of Gordon Black: "He was born at John Street, Moor Row. He was the only son of Mr and Mrs Black. Mr Black worked at the local railway depot at Moor Row and his mother worked at Inowell School which is now know as Westlakes. Gordon went to the local council school at Moor Row, and then went to Manchester University I beleive. He became a Doctor and Professor and I think he worked for Atomic Energy at Warrington. I can remember him coming to visit his mother back in Moor Row". More careful reading of the the obituaries of David Warren suggests that the Australian may have built the prototype, leaving it open for our Professor Black to have invented the device. Can anyone else provide more information on Prof Black and whether he was indeed the true inventor?
Published: August 12, 2010
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My dad was talking about this fairly recently. It seems that Gordon Black was his cousin, and it seems that he did indeed have something to do with the "black box". I will be seeing my dad again in a few days and I will see if he can tell me anything else about it
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Professor Gordon Black was my father. I have read the article in the Whitehaven News and have paid a visit to Mr Graves in Moor Row where my father grew up.
My father did indeed come up with the concept of 'The Black Box' when he was a research scientist at Farnborough and was given that name after his surname. My mother wrote to the MOD in London a few years ago because the Hale Civic Society wanted to put a blue plaque at are old house stating that, that was where Professor Black once lived. The MOD wrote back to verify everthing.Unfortuneately my father died before he was able to be recognised for his involvement. Hopefully at some time in the future he will be.Posted by Jonathan Black on 17 December 2010 at 17:15