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George B. Grant

April 11, 2024

George Barnard Grant (December 21, 1849 – August 16, 1917) was an American mechanical engineer, inventor, entrepreneur and botanist.[1] He is notable for having made important contributions to 19th-century mechanical calculators, for pioneering new techniques in gear making, and for starting several successful companies. Grant came to be known as "the Father of the American Gear Cutting Industry". Several of his businesses continued to operate many years after his death.[2]

Personal life edit

Grant was born in Gardiner, Maine, to Peter Grant, a farmer, and Vesta (Capen) Grant.[3] Both his parents were descended from families that originally came to New England in the 1630s. He prepared for college at Bridgton Academy and then started at the Chandler Scientific School at Dartmouth College, where he studied for three terms. In 1869 Grant transferred to the Lawrence Scientific School at Harvard University, graduating with a B.S. degree in 1873.

After graduation from Harvard, Grant lived in Boston and Maplewood, Massachusetts. He moved to Lexington, Massachusetts, in 1887, and then Pasadena, California, around 1900. He died in Pasadena in 1917, having never married.[4]

 
Grant 1876 Calculating Machine
 
Grant's Barrel, 1877

Calculating machine work edit

While a student at Harvard, Grant worked on the problem of inventing a mechanical calculator. With the encouragement of his professor, Oliver Wolcott Gibbs, he set about improving on the work of Babbage and Per Georg Scheutz.[5] He published this work in the American Journal of Science and Arts (see below) and was awarded two patents as a student. Shortly after college, Grant designed and built two calculating machines that were displayed at the Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia in 1876[6] One of them, known as a difference engine, was eight feet long and five feet high, and weighed 2,000 pounds. It may have been the largest calculator ever built (pictured below).[7] The other, known as the "Centennial Model", is among the Smithsonian collection of Grant's inventions.[8] The Smithsonian Institution has nine of Grant's inventions in its collection in Washington, D.C.[9] Grant's calculating machine business was known as "Grant Calculating Machine Company of Lexington, Mass". Although Grant's sales of calculating machines were modest (125 of the "Rack and Pinion Model" were sold commercially), his machines were considered sturdy and reliable[10] Grant's calculators won a number of awards: the Centennial Medal, the Scott Medal of The Franklin Institute, and the Gold Medal of the Massachusetts Mechanics Association.[11]

Gear industry work edit

As an outgrowth of Grant's work on calculating machines, he became interested in the production of gears. This field was undergoing much growth and change in the late 19th century. Grant played a leading role in that development. For example, a controversy had raged for many years over gears' optimal design. In Grant's time, the most common were cycloidal gears. Grant argued that in fact involute gears were superior for most applications. Grant played an important role in shifting industry convention, and since then most gears produced have been involute.[12] As with calculating machines, Grant published his work in journals, and was awarded patents for his inventions of new gear manufacturing devices (see below). Grant also published books that became standard reference works in the gear industry (see below). Companies that Grant started included Grant Gear Works (1877), Boston Gear Works,[13] Lexington Gear Works, Cleveland Gear Works, and Philadelphia Gear Works (1892). The Philadelphia Gear website has a corporate history that explains Grant's significance to the company.[14]

Contributions to botany edit

In California, starting in about 1900, Grant became a collector of previously undocumented plant species. He named a number of plants, and his collection is now part of the Stanford University herbarium.[15][16]

Publications edit

  • Grant, George B. (June 5, 1871). "On a New Difference Engine". American Journal of Science and Arts. 2 (8): 113–117. Bibcode:1871AmJS....2..113G. doi:10.2475/ajs.s3-2.8.113. S2CID 131553703.
  • Grant, George B. (July 15, 1874). "A New Calculating Machine". American Journal of Science and Arts. 8 (46): 277–284. Bibcode:1874AmJS....8..277G. doi:10.2475/ajs.s3-8.46.277. S2CID 131309896.
  • Grant, George B. (1885). A Handbook on the Teeth of Gears. Lexington Gear Works.
  • Grant, George B. (1891). Odontics: Or, The Theory and Practice of the Teeth of Gears. Lexington, MA: Lexington Gear Works.
  • Grant, George B. (1899). A Treatise on Gear Wheels. Philadelphia Gear Works.

Patents edit

  • U.S. patent 129,335, "Improvement in Calculating-Machines", 1872[17]
  • U.S. patent 138,245, "Improvement in Calculating-Machines", 1873[18]
  • U.S. patent 368,528 "Calculating-Machine" from 1887[19]
  • U.S. patent 405,030 "Machine for Cutting Spur and Worm Gears", 1889[20]
  • U.S. patent 407,437 "Machine for Planing Gear Teeth", 1889[21]
  • U.S. patent 512,189 "Machine for Generating Beveled Gear-Teeth", 1894[22]
  • U.S. patent 605,288 "Calculating-Machine", 1898[23]

Further reading edit

  • G.B. Grant obituary, August 18, 1917, Boston Evening Transcript
  • Otnes, Robert K. (1987) Calculators by George B. Grant. Historische Buerowelt
  • Merzbach, Uta C.; Zoology, Smithsonian Contributions To; Ripley, S. Dillon; Merzbach, Uta C. (1977). Georg Scheutz and the First Printing Calculator. Bibcode:1977gsfp.book.....M. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.639.3286.
  • Woodbury, Robert C. (1972) "Studies in the History of Machine Tools", The M.I.T. Press

References edit

  1. ^ L. Leland Locke, "George Barnard Grant", Dictionary of American Biography, vol. 7, New York: Scribners, 1931, pp. 487–488y
  2. ^ Rugged Gear Man Grant, American Machinist, August 28, 1947
  3. ^ "Our Family Genealogy Pages – George Barnard Grant". OurFamilyTree.com. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  4. ^ Grant, George (1928–1936). Dictionary of American Biography. American Council of Learned Societies.
  5. ^ Grant, George (June 5, 1871). "On a New Difference Engine". American Journal of Science and Arts. 2 (8): 113–117. Bibcode:1871AmJS....2..113G. doi:10.2475/ajs.s3-2.8.113. S2CID 131553703.
  6. ^ Sandhurst, Phillip K. (1876). The Centennial Exhibition Critically Described And Illustrated. P.W. Ziegler & Co.
  7. ^ Grant, George (January 23, 2003). "Grant Calculating Machine". IBM Archives. IBM. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  8. ^ Grant, George. "Grant Calculating Machine, Centennial Model". National Museum of American History. Smithsonian. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  9. ^ "Collections Search Result: George B. Grant". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  10. ^ Locke, L. Leland (1931). George Barnard Grant, Dictionary of American Biography. American Council of Learned Societies.
  11. ^ "An Efficient Calculating Machine". Scientific American. 71 (5): 71. August 4, 1894. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican08041894-71.
  12. ^ Woodbury, Robert S. (1972). Studies in the History of Machine Tools. The M.I.T. Press. pp. 32–34, 36, 38, 90, 94, 95, 107. ISBN 9780262730334.
  13. ^ "Company Website". Boston Gear Works. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  14. ^ Power Transmission and Gearing Solutions - Philadelphia Gear
  15. ^ [herbarium "Grant, George Bernard"]. Islapedia. Retrieved November 22, 2017. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  16. ^ "G.B. Grant". International Plant Name Index. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  17. ^ Grant, George. "Improvement in Calculating-Machines". U.S. Patent and Trademark Database. U.S.Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  18. ^ Grant, George. "US Patent 138,245". U.S. Patent and Trademark Database. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  19. ^ Grant, George. "Calculating-Machine". U.S. Patent and Trademark Database. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  20. ^ Grant, George. "Machine for Cutting Spur and Worm Gears". U.S. Patent and Trademark Database. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  21. ^ Grant, George. "Patent for Machine for Planing Gear Teeth". U.S. Patent and Trademark Database. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  22. ^ Grant, George. "Machine for Generating Beveled Gear Teeth". U.S. Patent and Trademark Database. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  23. ^ Grant, George. "Calculating-Machine". U.S. Patent and Trademark Database. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved November 18, 2017.

April 11, 2024
george, grant, george, barnard, grant, december, 1849, august, 1917, american, mechanical, engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, botanist, notable, having, made, important, contributions, 19th, century, mechanical, calculators, pioneering, techniques, gear, making. George Barnard Grant December 21 1849 August 16 1917 was an American mechanical engineer inventor entrepreneur and botanist 1 He is notable for having made important contributions to 19th century mechanical calculators for pioneering new techniques in gear making and for starting several successful companies Grant came to be known as the Father of the American Gear Cutting Industry Several of his businesses continued to operate many years after his death 2 Contents 1 Personal life 2 Calculating machine work 3 Gear industry work 4 Contributions to botany 5 Publications 6 Patents 7 Further reading 8 ReferencesPersonal life editGrant was born in Gardiner Maine to Peter Grant a farmer and Vesta Capen Grant 3 Both his parents were descended from families that originally came to New England in the 1630s He prepared for college at Bridgton Academy and then started at the Chandler Scientific School at Dartmouth College where he studied for three terms In 1869 Grant transferred to the Lawrence Scientific School at Harvard University graduating with a B S degree in 1873 After graduation from Harvard Grant lived in Boston and Maplewood Massachusetts He moved to Lexington Massachusetts in 1887 and then Pasadena California around 1900 He died in Pasadena in 1917 having never married 4 nbsp Grant 1876 Calculating Machine nbsp Grant s Barrel 1877Calculating machine work editWhile a student at Harvard Grant worked on the problem of inventing a mechanical calculator With the encouragement of his professor Oliver Wolcott Gibbs he set about improving on the work of Babbage and Per Georg Scheutz 5 He published this work in the American Journal of Science and Arts see below and was awarded two patents as a student Shortly after college Grant designed and built two calculating machines that were displayed at the Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia in 1876 6 One of them known as a difference engine was eight feet long and five feet high and weighed 2 000 pounds It may have been the largest calculator ever built pictured below 7 The other known as the Centennial Model is among the Smithsonian collection of Grant s inventions 8 The Smithsonian Institution has nine of Grant s inventions in its collection in Washington D C 9 Grant s calculating machine business was known as Grant Calculating Machine Company of Lexington Mass Although Grant s sales of calculating machines were modest 125 of the Rack and Pinion Model were sold commercially his machines were considered sturdy and reliable 10 Grant s calculators won a number of awards the Centennial Medal the Scott Medal of The Franklin Institute and the Gold Medal of the Massachusetts Mechanics Association 11 Gear industry work editAs an outgrowth of Grant s work on calculating machines he became interested in the production of gears This field was undergoing much growth and change in the late 19th century Grant played a leading role in that development For example a controversy had raged for many years over gears optimal design In Grant s time the most common were cycloidal gears Grant argued that in fact involute gears were superior for most applications Grant played an important role in shifting industry convention and since then most gears produced have been involute 12 As with calculating machines Grant published his work in journals and was awarded patents for his inventions of new gear manufacturing devices see below Grant also published books that became standard reference works in the gear industry see below Companies that Grant started included Grant Gear Works 1877 Boston Gear Works 13 Lexington Gear Works Cleveland Gear Works and Philadelphia Gear Works 1892 The Philadelphia Gear website has a corporate history that explains Grant s significance to the company 14 Contributions to botany editIn California starting in about 1900 Grant became a collector of previously undocumented plant species He named a number of plants and his collection is now part of the Stanford University herbarium 15 16 Publications editGrant George B June 5 1871 On a New Difference Engine American Journal of Science and Arts 2 8 113 117 Bibcode 1871AmJS 2 113G doi 10 2475 ajs s3 2 8 113 S2CID 131553703 Grant George B July 15 1874 A New Calculating Machine American Journal of Science and Arts 8 46 277 284 Bibcode 1874AmJS 8 277G doi 10 2475 ajs s3 8 46 277 S2CID 131309896 Grant George B 1885 A Handbook on the Teeth of Gears Lexington Gear Works Grant George B 1891 Odontics Or The Theory and Practice of the Teeth of Gears Lexington MA Lexington Gear Works Grant George B 1899 A Treatise on Gear Wheels Philadelphia Gear Works Patents editU S patent 129 335 Improvement in Calculating Machines 1872 17 U S patent 138 245 Improvement in Calculating Machines 1873 18 U S patent 368 528 Calculating Machine from 1887 19 U S patent 405 030 Machine for Cutting Spur and Worm Gears 1889 20 U S patent 407 437 Machine for Planing Gear Teeth 1889 21 U S patent 512 189 Machine for Generating Beveled Gear Teeth 1894 22 U S patent 605 288 Calculating Machine 1898 23 Further reading editG B Grant obituary August 18 1917 Boston Evening Transcript Otnes Robert K 1987 Calculators by George B Grant Historische Buerowelt Merzbach Uta C Zoology Smithsonian Contributions To Ripley S Dillon Merzbach Uta C 1977 Georg Scheutz and the First Printing Calculator Bibcode 1977gsfp book M CiteSeerX 10 1 1 639 3286 Woodbury Robert C 1972 Studies in the History of Machine Tools The M I T PressReferences edit L Leland Locke George Barnard Grant Dictionary of American Biography vol 7 New York Scribners 1931 pp 487 488y Rugged Gear Man Grant American Machinist August 28 1947 Our Family Genealogy Pages George Barnard Grant OurFamilyTree com Retrieved November 18 2017 Grant George 1928 1936 Dictionary of American Biography American Council of Learned Societies Grant George June 5 1871 On a New Difference Engine American Journal of Science and Arts 2 8 113 117 Bibcode 1871AmJS 2 113G doi 10 2475 ajs s3 2 8 113 S2CID 131553703 Sandhurst Phillip K 1876 The Centennial Exhibition Critically Described And Illustrated P W Ziegler amp Co Grant George January 23 2003 Grant Calculating Machine IBM Archives IBM Retrieved November 18 2017 Grant George Grant Calculating Machine Centennial Model National Museum of American History Smithsonian Retrieved November 18 2017 Collections Search Result George B Grant Smithsonian Institution Retrieved November 15 2017 Locke L Leland 1931 George Barnard Grant Dictionary of American Biography American Council of Learned Societies An Efficient Calculating Machine Scientific American 71 5 71 August 4 1894 doi 10 1038 scientificamerican08041894 71 Woodbury Robert S 1972 Studies in the History of Machine Tools The M I T Press pp 32 34 36 38 90 94 95 107 ISBN 9780262730334 Company Website Boston Gear Works Retrieved November 22 2017 Power Transmission and Gearing Solutions Philadelphia Gear herbarium Grant George Bernard Islapedia Retrieved November 22 2017 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Check url value help G B Grant International Plant Name Index Retrieved November 22 2017 Grant George Improvement in Calculating Machines U S Patent and Trademark Database U S Patent and Trademark Office Retrieved November 21 2017 Grant George US Patent 138 245 U S Patent and Trademark Database U S Patent and Trademark Office Retrieved November 18 2017 Grant George Calculating Machine U S Patent and Trademark Database U S Patent and Trademark Office Retrieved November 18 2017 Grant George Machine for Cutting Spur and Worm Gears U S Patent and Trademark Database U S Patent and Trademark Office Retrieved November 18 2017 Grant George Patent for Machine for Planing Gear Teeth U S Patent and Trademark Database U S Patent and Trademark Office Retrieved November 18 2017 Grant George Machine for Generating Beveled Gear Teeth U S Patent and Trademark Database U S Patent and Trademark Office Retrieved November 18 2017 Grant George Calculating Machine U S Patent and Trademark Database U S Patent and Trademark Office Retrieved November 18 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George B Grant amp oldid 1178809582, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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