Larsen is sometimes credited with inventing the WD-40 formula in 1953 but this is not certain. The WD-40 company website and other books and newspapers credit him[3][4][5] but according to Iris Engstrand, a historian of San Diego and California at the University of San Diego, it was actually Iver Norman Lawson (also an engineer born in Chicago at around the same time as Norm Larsen), and the names became confused over time.[2] The formula was kept as a trade secret, so no patent was ever filed listing inventors.[5]
Larsen left the Rocket Chemical Company (the original producers of WD-40) in 1958 after a verbal agreement between Rocket and a distributor fell apart; the distributor set up CRC Industries in Philadelphia to directly compete with Rocket and Larsen left to lead it.[6] CRC was originally called Corrosion Reaction Consultants, Inc.[7] Its first product was called CRC Corrosion Inhibitor, also called 5–56.[6]
By 1968 Larsen had left CRC and had founded a company called Surcon, Inc. headquartered in Collegeville, PA, which also had developed a chemical anti-corrosion formula eventually called "Free 'n Kleen"; the company used it to remove corrosion from the wreck of a Spanish galleon found off the Florida coast.[8][9] By 1970 the product was being used by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp in its helicopters and was also used by the military to keep machine guns working.[1]
Larsen died in December 1970 at home at the age of 47, of an apparent heart attack.[1]
References
^ abc"Norman B. Larsen, 47, Surcon President Dies". Pottstown Mercury from Pottstown, Pennsylvania via Newspapers.com. 4 December 1970. p. 2.
^ abEngstrand, Iris H.W. (Fall 2014). (PDF). The Journal of San Diego History. 60 (4): 253–270. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-12-22.
^"WD-40 History - History and Timeline". WD-40 Company. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
^Bobby Mercer (March 18, 2011). ManVentions: From Cruise Control to Cordless Drills - Inventions Men Can't Live Without. Adams Media. pp. 181–. ISBN978-1-4405-1075-5. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
^ abMartin, Douglas (22 July 2009). "Obituary: John Barry, Popularizer of WD-40, Dies at 84". The New York Times.
^ ab(PDF). CRC Industries. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2006.
^Industrial Research Laboratories of the United States (10th ed.). National Academies. 1960. p. 129.
^Dougherty, Joseph E. (5 December 1968). "Company Restoring Pieces of Wrecked Spanish Ship". Hanover Evening Sun via NewspaperArchive. p. 25.
^"Surcon Inc Manufacturers of Free 'n Kleen Products". Pottstown Mercury from Pottstown, Pennsylvania via Newspapers.com. 15 November 1969. p. 55.
February 21, 2023
norman, larsen, norman, bernard, larsen, 1923, 1970, american, industrial, chemist, biography, edithe, born, chicago, larsen, sometimes, credited, with, inventing, formula, 1953, this, certain, company, website, other, books, newspapers, credit, according, iri. Norman Bernard Larsen 1923 1970 1 was an American industrial chemist Biography EditHe was born in Chicago 2 Larsen is sometimes credited with inventing the WD 40 formula in 1953 but this is not certain The WD 40 company website and other books and newspapers credit him 3 4 5 but according to Iris Engstrand a historian of San Diego and California at the University of San Diego it was actually Iver Norman Lawson also an engineer born in Chicago at around the same time as Norm Larsen and the names became confused over time 2 The formula was kept as a trade secret so no patent was ever filed listing inventors 5 Larsen left the Rocket Chemical Company the original producers of WD 40 in 1958 after a verbal agreement between Rocket and a distributor fell apart the distributor set up CRC Industries in Philadelphia to directly compete with Rocket and Larsen left to lead it 6 CRC was originally called Corrosion Reaction Consultants Inc 7 Its first product was called CRC Corrosion Inhibitor also called 5 56 6 By 1968 Larsen had left CRC and had founded a company called Surcon Inc headquartered in Collegeville PA which also had developed a chemical anti corrosion formula eventually called Free n Kleen the company used it to remove corrosion from the wreck of a Spanish galleon found off the Florida coast 8 9 By 1970 the product was being used by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp in its helicopters and was also used by the military to keep machine guns working 1 Larsen died in December 1970 at home at the age of 47 of an apparent heart attack 1 References Edit a b c Norman B Larsen 47 Surcon President Dies Pottstown Mercury from Pottstown Pennsylvania via Newspapers com 4 December 1970 p 2 a b Engstrand Iris H W Fall 2014 WD 40 San Diego s Marketing Miracle PDF The Journal of San Diego History 60 4 253 270 Archived from the original PDF on 2015 12 22 WD 40 History History and Timeline WD 40 Company Retrieved 10 April 2017 Bobby Mercer March 18 2011 ManVentions From Cruise Control to Cordless Drills Inventions Men Can t Live Without Adams Media pp 181 ISBN 978 1 4405 1075 5 Retrieved June 28 2013 a b Martin Douglas 22 July 2009 Obituary John Barry Popularizer of WD 40 Dies at 84 The New York Times a b The CRC Story PDF CRC Industries Archived from the original PDF on 4 May 2006 Industrial Research Laboratories of the United States 10th ed National Academies 1960 p 129 Dougherty Joseph E 5 December 1968 Company Restoring Pieces of Wrecked Spanish Ship Hanover Evening Sun via NewspaperArchive p 25 Surcon Inc Manufacturers of Free n Kleen Products Pottstown Mercury from Pottstown Pennsylvania via Newspapers com 15 November 1969 p 55 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Norman Larsen amp oldid 1139948195, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
