Alfred L. Cralle
Encyclopedia
Alfred L. Cralle was an African-American from Virginia
who became an inventor and businessman in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. He is best remembered for inventing the ice cream scoop in 1897, a practical design still widely in use over 100 years later.
, Lunenburg County, Virginia
in 1866 just after the end of the American Civil War
(1861–1865). He attended local schools and worked with his father in the carpentry trade as a young man, becoming interested in mechanics.
He was sent to Washington, DC where he attended Wayland Seminary
, one of a number of schools founded by the American Baptist Home Mission Society
to help educate African Americans after the Civil War. Later, he settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
where he first served as a porter in a drug store and at a hotel.
, which had become a popular confection, was difficult to dispense. It tended to stick to spoons and ladles, usually requiring use of two hands and at least two implements to serve.
To overcome this, he invented a mechanical device now known as the ice cream scoop and applied for a patent
. On February 2, 1897, the 30-year old was granted U.S. Patent #576395. Cralle’s ingenious invention, originally called an “Ice Cream Mold and Disher” was designed to be able to keep ice cream and other foods from sticking, and easy to operate with one hand. Strong and durable, effective, inexpensive, it could be constructed in almost any desired shape, such as a cone or a mound, with no delicate parts that could break or malfunction.
Alfred L. Cralle went on to become a successful businessman as well. He was named assistant manager when the Afro-American Financial, Accumulating, Merchandise and Business Association in Pittsburgh was organized. Cralle did not become famous for inventing the ice cream scooper.
Alfred Cralle was married and had three children. His wife and one of his daughters died in 1918 of a communicable disease. In 1920, Cralle's only son also died of a disease, leaving Anna Cralle, born in 1910, as his only surviving child. Later in 1920, Alfred Cralle was killed in an automobile accident.
After her father's death, his daughter, Anna, moved in with her uncle, Joseph Cralle in Connecticut. In 1945, Anna Cralle moved to Tuskegee, Alabama
to work at the U.S. Veterans Administration
hospital as an accounting clerk. She was active at the Washington Chapel AME Church for 55 years. At the age of 90, she moved in 2000 to Bowie, Maryland
to live with her godson, Thomas Wims. She died February 1, 2009 at the age of 98.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
who became an inventor and businessman in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. He is best remembered for inventing the ice cream scoop in 1897, a practical design still widely in use over 100 years later.
Youth, education
Alfred L. Cralle was born in KenbridgeKenbridge, Virginia
Kenbridge is a town in Lunenburg County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,253 at the 2000 census. It is in a tobacco farming area. The area is home to noted folk artist Eldridge Bagley.-Geography:Kenbridge is located at ....
, Lunenburg County, Virginia
Lunenburg County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,146 people, 4,998 households, and 3,383 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile . There were 5,736 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
in 1866 just after the end of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
(1861–1865). He attended local schools and worked with his father in the carpentry trade as a young man, becoming interested in mechanics.
He was sent to Washington, DC where he attended Wayland Seminary
Wayland Seminary
Wayland Seminary was the Washington, D.C. school of the National Theological Institute. The Institute was established beginning in 1865 by the American Baptist Home Mission Society, designed primarily for providing education and training for African-American freedmen to enter into the ministry...
, one of a number of schools founded by the American Baptist Home Mission Society
Home mission society
The American Baptist Home Mission Societies is a Christian missionary society. It was established in New York City in 1832 to operate in the American frontier, with the stated mission "to preach the Gospel, establish churches and give support and ministry to the unchurched and destitute." In the...
to help educate African Americans after the Civil War. Later, he settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
where he first served as a porter in a drug store and at a hotel.
Inventor, businessman
It was while working in Pittsburgh as a porter that Cralle noticed that ice creamIce cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
, which had become a popular confection, was difficult to dispense. It tended to stick to spoons and ladles, usually requiring use of two hands and at least two implements to serve.
To overcome this, he invented a mechanical device now known as the ice cream scoop and applied for a patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
. On February 2, 1897, the 30-year old was granted U.S. Patent #576395. Cralle’s ingenious invention, originally called an “Ice Cream Mold and Disher” was designed to be able to keep ice cream and other foods from sticking, and easy to operate with one hand. Strong and durable, effective, inexpensive, it could be constructed in almost any desired shape, such as a cone or a mound, with no delicate parts that could break or malfunction.
Alfred L. Cralle went on to become a successful businessman as well. He was named assistant manager when the Afro-American Financial, Accumulating, Merchandise and Business Association in Pittsburgh was organized. Cralle did not become famous for inventing the ice cream scooper.
Legacy
Cralle's basic design is so efficient that the now-familiar lever-operated Italian Ice/ice cream scoop was still seen in wide use over 100 years later.Alfred Cralle was married and had three children. His wife and one of his daughters died in 1918 of a communicable disease. In 1920, Cralle's only son also died of a disease, leaving Anna Cralle, born in 1910, as his only surviving child. Later in 1920, Alfred Cralle was killed in an automobile accident.
After her father's death, his daughter, Anna, moved in with her uncle, Joseph Cralle in Connecticut. In 1945, Anna Cralle moved to Tuskegee, Alabama
Tuskegee, Alabama
Tuskegee is a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 11,846 and is designated a Micropolitan Statistical Area. Tuskegee has been an important site in various stages of African American history....
to work at the U.S. Veterans Administration
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
hospital as an accounting clerk. She was active at the Washington Chapel AME Church for 55 years. At the age of 90, she moved in 2000 to Bowie, Maryland
Bowie, Maryland
Bowie is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 54,727 at the 2010 census. Bowie has grown from a small railroad stop to the largest municipality in Prince George's County, and the fifth most populous city and third largest city by area in the state of...
to live with her godson, Thomas Wims. She died February 1, 2009 at the age of 98.