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Famous Ohio Inventors
While it is not known what combination of genetics, education and socioeconomic
circumstances spawn creative genius, the state of Ohio has been the birthplace
of many celebrated inventors. The following general overview will highlight just
a few of the most famous of these inventors.
Light For the Masses
Probably the most famous of these was Thomas Alva Edison, credited with inventing
the light bulb. Born in Milan, Ohio, Edison didn’t invent the light bulb, the idea
of electric lighting having already existed for a while. Edison was able to develop
a carbon filament that burned longer, and in the process developed ideas that were
vital to the widespread use of electric lights rather than gas lights.
However, Edison achieved most of his fame during his lifetime for the invention of a
phonograph machine. Edison realized that a stylus attached to the diaphragm on the end
of a phone receiver could record sounds when applied to a paper tape, and then later, a
tin foil cylinder. Today, Edison’s contributions to the development of safe, reliable, and
affordable electrical service are what most people think of when they hear the name of
Thomas Edison.’Inventors
Measuring the Earth Move
Another notable inventor hailing from the Buckeye State is Charles Francis Richter,
the inventor of the Richter Scale. The Scale is a measurement of intensity of earthquakes
based on a logarithm applied to seismograph tracings of earth tremors. Charles Richter was
born in Overpeck, Ohio, but grew up in California.
According to the Richter Scale, an earthquake of magnitude four would be a thousand times
weaker than a magnitude seven, a hundred times weaker than a magnitude six and ten times
weaker than a magnitude five.
Fuel for the Automotive Age
William M. Burton, born in Cleveland, Ohio, is credited with inventing catalytic cracking
of crude petroleum into gasoline and other useful products. This process uses heat and
pressure to break heavy hydrocarbon molecules into lighter ones, resulting in increased
gasoline, kerosene and other products. This refining of crude oil paved the way for modern
methods. It is estimated that it saved one billion barrels of crude oil over the first
fifteen years used.
First in Fixed Wing Flight
Orville Wright was one of the most famous inventors in the world and was born in
Dayton, Ohio. Orville, along with his brother Wilbur, is credited with inventing,
and flying, the first fixed wing aircraft at the turn of the twentieth century.
There were many early aviators at the time, but the Wrights made a great contribution
with their work with axis control of aircraft and their use of a homemade wind tunnel
to test their prototypes. The Wrights had a strong background in mechanics, having
experience with bicycles and operating a printing press, among other things.
Charles F. Kettering
The End of Hand Crank Car Starting
Charles F. Kettering, of Loudonville, Ohio, had several inventions attributed to him.
After distinguishing himself with developing at National Cash Register, Kettering began
work on improving automobile ignition systems privately with a group of other engineers
from NCR, calling themselves Delco, or Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company.
They developed an electric starter that replaced the hand crank automobile starter and
Delco was sold to General Motors. Kettering held several patents and became wealthy. He
also founded the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
The contributions of these men to our modern way of life are enormous. Their work not
only improved and saved countless lives, it has provided springboards from which other
inventors improved and developed other products and systems. The people of the state of
Ohio can be proud of these native sons.
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