His early innovations in large - capacity electrical switches , including the 1000lb .
( December 10 , 1872 -- June 22 , 1955 , birth name Augustus Jesse Bowie III ) was a pioneering American technology engineer , inventor and entrepreneur .
Augustus Jesse Bowie III 's early innovations in large - capacity electrical switches , including the 1000lb .
( December 10 , 1872 -- June 22 , 1955 , birth name Augustus Jesse Bowie III ) was a pioneering American technology engineer , inventor and entrepreneur .