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80
True United States

The modern doorknob was invented in 1878 by Osbourn Dorsey, a 16-year-old African American inventor.

The claim that Osbourn Dorsey invented the modern doorknob in 1878 is supported by web sources. The Black Wall Street Times notes that Dorsey patented the doorknob and doorstop in that year, using cast iron to improve on previous versions. This claim is historical and appears well-supported by available sources, indicating that Dorsey's contribution to the invention of the modern doorknob is recognized by multiple accounts.

April 13, 2026 Language: en 1 claim analyzed

Individual Claims

80
True Invention
The modern doorknob was invented in 1878 by 16-year-old African American inventor Osbourn Dorsey.
The claim is substantiated by sources indicating that Osbourn Dorsey patented the doorknob in 1878. According to The Black Wall Street Times, Dorsey’s use of cast iron represented a significant improvement over earlier designs, suggesting the claim is accurate.
Fact Check Score None
Fact Check Weight 0
Web Consensus Score 90
Web Consensus Weight 50
Source Quality Score 80
Source Quality Weight 25
Llm Reasoning Score 85
Llm Reasoning Weight 25
Weighted Total 80
Evidence Summary Web evidence supports the claim with sources confirming Dorsey's patent of the doorknob in 1878.

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