N E W J E R S E Y

REPRINTED FROM

Mid-Century Edition 30 June 1950

thm the coyrdes~ of

BOONTONNEW JERSEY

"tid its role in Ihe

ELECTI\ONIC PRECISION INSTRUMENTS INDUSTRY

REPRINTED FROM

Mid-Century Edition

30 June 1950

BALLANTINE LABORATORIES

Six Maior Firms Dominate Precisiun Itvzr kents Industry, DeveIbped Here

By Edgar M. Weed Mr. IVeed, who is now advertising

manager of Measurements Corporahn, has a long newspaper background. Dur- ing the 1920s, he was advertising man- ager 6 treasurer of The Jerseyman, one- lime Morristown daily, and later (1930- 41) was adverlising manager of The Morristown Daily Record. H e was with Aircraft Radio Corporation during the war before moving to Measurements.

The molding of vulcanized as- bestos and the development of radio circuits may seem to be en- tirely disassociated activities, but it was in a tiny molding de- partment of the Loando Hard Rubber Company that Boonton’s world-renowned electronic in- dustries first began. Today these companies, R a d i o Frequency Laboratories, B o o nton Radio Corporation, Ballantine Labora- tories, Measurements Corpora- tion, Aircraft Radio Corporation and Ferris Instrument Corpora- tion, are known wherever pre- cision instruments are used.

For many years since the turn of the century, Richar6 W. Sea- bury had been engaged in the development of molding process- es for bakelite as a licensee under the patents of Dr. Leo H. Baekeland. Mr. Seabury’s con- cern produced a great variety of molded parts including many pieces for electrical equipment.

Business was thriving and the future looked very bright as an enterprising new industry, radio broadcasting, was sweeping the nation. There were big demands for moldings of coil forms and many of the parts that were used in early radio sets but it was soon discovered that mater- ial which was satisfactory for ordinary electrical use was a poor insulator a t radio frequen- cies. To solve the problem and thus meet the requirements of his customers, Mr. Seabury en- gaged a competent radio engin- eer, Dr. Lewis M. Hull, who years later was to become presi,dent of Aircraft Radio Corporation.

Dr. Hull and associates, while

working on various molding ma- terials, had to devise new elec- tronic devices for test purposes. In doing so, their creative minds brought forth circuits that were innovations to the art and the radio industry deluged them with new technical problems to solve. Thus a modest molding plant had spawned a highly technical new enterprise that in 1922 became known as Radio Frequency Laboratories (famil- iarly known to radio men 8 9 RFL) .

Other financial backers ob- tained interests in the firm, in- cluding Dr. Edward Weston, of instrument Pame, the late Val- entine B. Havens and Clinton P Townsend, noted attorneys. Add- itional radio engineers were en- gaged, one of these being Stuart Ballantine who, until his death in 1944, was to make some of the most important contributions to radio that the half-century wa6 to witness. Another capable en- gineer who joined this group was William D. Loughlin who held the office of president of RFL from 1930 to 1934 when he estab- lished his own company, the Boonton Radio Corporation.

RFL developments included amplifier circuits, a single-con- trol broadcast receiver, automa- tic volume control and many other improvements which, af- ter being patented, were licensed to such concerns as Stromberg- Carlson, Crosley Radio Corpora- tion, American Bosch, National Carbon C o m p a n y , Kellogg Switchboard & Supply Company, Sangamo E 1 e c t r i c Company, Grigsby-Grunow and De Forest Radio of Canada. Many readers will recall the purchase of a “Majestic” radio set, one of the popular early makes which fea- tured the RFL single-control tuner.

Associated with Mr. Seabury, besides Hull, Ballantine and Loughlin, were other skilled ra- dio engineers who later became prominent in the electronic in- dustry. Two of these men, Mal-

Six Major Firms Dominate PrecisionInstruments Industry, DevelopedHere

By Edgar 1\1. Weed

Mr. Iflrtd, who if now ,ulOr";';'"mllflllK" 01 M,I1s""rrun'J Corpora/ion,has if Ion, n,wsp"p" hMJ./(,O",,,J, DJlr­illl 1M 192QI, ht tV..s "illtt/;si"l man·"lr, 6 I,'IIHIT,. 0/ Tht !r'UJmall, OM­S;"" Mo••iJlowlI Jail,. ""J /,I/U (1930­41) ....., tlill",;si"l mll"tll" of Th,Mo"is/own D"i/J Rtro,tI. H, U-'aJ withAi'f,a!t RaJh/ CO'IU>rMio/l J",i"I Ih""", brIo" mo"i", 10 M'"J",tmt1lll.

The molding or vulcanized as­bestos and the development. ofradio circuits may seem to be en­tlrely disassociated activities,but It was In a tiny molding de­partment of the Loando HardRubber Company that Boonton'sworld-renowned electronic In­dustrles first began. TocI'ay thesecompanies, R a d t 0 FrequencyLaboratories, Boonton RadioCorporation, Ballantine Labora­tories, Measurements Corpora­tion, Aircraft Rlldio Corporationand Ferris Instrument. COrpora­t.lon, tlre known wherever pre·c\,slon inst.ruments are used.

For many years since the t.urnof t.he cent.ury, RIchard W. Sea­bury had been engaged In thedevelopment. of molding process­es for bakellt.e as a licenseeunder t.he pat.ents of Dr. Leo H.Baekeland. Mr. Seabury's con­cern produced a great variet.y ofmolded parts Including manypieces for electrical equipment..

Business was t.hrlvlng and t.h~future looked very bright. as anent.erprlslng new indust.ry. radiobroadcasting, was sweeping thenation. There were big demandsfor moldings of coll forms andmany of the parts that. wereused In early radio set.s but. Itwas soon discovered t.hat m'ater­lal which was satisfactory forordinary electrical use was apoor Insulator at radio frequen­cies. To solve the problem andthus meet the requirements ofhis customers. Mr. Seabury en­gaged a competent radio engin­eer, Dr. LewLs M. Hull, who yearslater was to become president 01Aircraft Radio Corporation.

Dr. Hull and associates, whlle

working on various molding ma­terials, had to devise new elec­tronic devices for test purposes.In doing so, their creative mindsbrought forth circuits that wereInnovations to the art and theradlo industry deluged themwlt.h new technical problems tosolve. Thus a modest. moldlngplant had spawned a highlyt.echnlcal new enterprise t.hat in1922 became known as RadioFrequency Laboratories (famil­iarly known to radio men :..,RFL).

Other financial backers ob­tained Interests In the firm, in­cluding Dr. Edward Weston, ofinstrument lame, the late Val­entine B. Havens and Clinton PTownsend, not.ed at.torneys. Add­Itional radio engineers were en­gaged, one of these being StuartBallantine who, until his deathin 1944, was to make some or t.hemost 1mportant contributions toradio that the half-century wasto witness. Another capable en­gineer who joined this group wasWilliam D. Loughlin who heldthe oWce or president of RFLfrom 1930 to 1934 when he esw.b­IIshed his own company, t.hl'Boonton Radio Corporation.

RFL developments Includedamplifier circuits, 'll single-con­trol broadcast receiver, automa­tic volume control and manyother Improvements which, af­ter being patented, were licensedto such concerns as Stromberg­Carlson, Crosley Radio Corpora­tion, American Bosch, NationalCarbon Comp:..ny, KelloggSwitchboard & Supply Company,Sangamo E I e c t ric COmpany,Grigsby-Grunow and De ForestRadio of Canada. Many readerswill recall the purchase of a"Majestic" radio set, one or thepopular early makes which fea­tured the RFL single-controltuner.

Associated with Mr. Seabury,besides HUll, Ballantine andLoughlin, were other sldlled ra­dIo engineers who laLer becameprominent In the electronic in­dustry. Two or these men, Mal-

colm Ferris and Harold Snow, important part tn an that was soon to ex- develop into several

(tfiierent conseras, each special- ixfng in sum particular phase of the electxonlc art.

Aircraft W o c6Fp. As radio broadcasting grew in

popubrity, the use of radio for

ture and sale of ment under m e New buildings were thecompan =wan plant OcoupTes many acres with a modern laborators building,

tIctiOn departments, ware-

The first airborne range re- ceiver was installed in airmail planes'and Aircraft Radio Cor- poration designed and manu'fac- tured the redeiving and trans- mikting equipment used by Jim- my Doolittle in his now famous ffivst all-blind plight in 1920. The destgn and development of air- borne communication gation equipment of ity gpon became a specialty of the company and by 1932 the design of lightweight two-way voice c o m m u nication equip-

R"d o m s and a large new hanger.

opment but a€so the mapufac-

eolm F"errl.s and Harold Snow,played 3n lmportan~ part In anenterprise that was soon ro ex·pand and develop into severaldifferent concerns, each special­izing In lome particular phase 01the elecLronlc art.

Aircraft Radio Corp.As radio broadcasting grew In

popul'nrlty, the use of radio "forother purposes became Increas­ingly important, particularly Inaircraft, not only as a mean& ofcommunication, but also all anecessity for safe navigation.The then Department at Com­merce wa.s developlng what. isnow known as the low frequencyranges for air navigation andwas sorely In need of an air­borne, high sensitivity receiverto make proper use of the ser­vIce. In the Fall of 192'1 the Alr­crart. Division of Radio Frequen­cy Laboratories, which Iuter be­came Aircraft Radio Corpora­tion, undertook the developmentor such a unit. By the Summerof 1928, this receIver had beencompletely developed and hadgone through a prellmlnary pro­duction by General Radio COm­pany in Cambridge, and arrange­ments had bee n made withStromberg-Carlson in Rochesterfor production. In addition, thepresent airport and the firstbuildings now occupied by AJr~

craft Radio COrporation werestarted, They were completoolate In 1928 and about that timethe Aircraft Division of RadioFrequency Laboratories becamea separate entity, Aircraft RadioCorporation, devoted exclusivelyto the design of airborne elec­tronic equipment.

Many highly-trained radio en~

glneers and other technical menjoined the organization and sev­eral were laler promoted to Im­portant executive positiOrui. Oneof this group, John E.. Johanson,ass1.s~ in the design of muchof Aircraft's precision compen­enLs. He was formerly vice pres­Id-.nt in charge of production ofARC, having left in 1945 to formhis own company, the JohansonManUfacturing Corporation lo­cated in Rockaway Valley.

It was not unW several yearslater that the decision to includenot only the re6earch and devel­opment but also the manufac-

ture and sale of electronic equip­ment under one roof took effect.New bundings were erected asthe company grew and today theplant occupies many acres witha modem laboratory building,production departments, ware­houses and a large new hanger,

The first airborne range re~

cciver was Installed in airmailplanes and Aircraft Radio COr­poration desla:ned and manu'fac­tured the receiving and trans~

mltUng equipment. used by Jlm~

my Doollt.tle in his now famousflI'5t al1~bllnd flight. in 1929. Thedesign and denlopment of air­borne communication and navi­gation equipment of high qual­Ity soon became a specialty ofthe company and by 1932 tbedesign of lightweight two~way

voice com m u nlcatlon equlp~

ment had been completed whichwon an InduSLry-wide designcompetition sponsored by t.heArmy. At about the same time,the Navy accepted a similar de~

sign by ARC and 1933 saw ARCdesigned equipment In the firstfighter squadrons of the AirForce and the Navy.

From Its Inception, AlrcrnnRadio COrporation has main­Wned the pollcy of developlna:and selling specialized equip­ment in wblch they havelearned to be experts and theirsuccess In t.hIs field can be al­tested to by radio officers andmen in both the Air Force andthe Navy who have operated theequJpment through the years.

The company continues atpresent to specialize In airbornecommunication and electronicequipment but, due to the typeot personnel and machinery re­Quired, has been able to expandIts operation Into the develop­ment of specialized test. equip­ment in this field, Includingthree types of signal generatorsfor testing airborne elecLronleequipment. The officers of AJr~

craft Radio COrporation Include:Richard W. Beabury, chairmanof the board; Dr'. Lewis M. Hun,president. and treasurer; Dr.Frederick H. Drake, executivevice president; PaulO. Farnham,vice president., research; NilsSundstrom, vice president, man­Ufacturing; A. W. Parkes Jr,vice president, fleld engineering

and sales; Berton E. Holley, sec- retary.

Ballantine Laboratories During this time many other-

changes were were made. RFL had sold all of its patents to the Radio Corporation of America and had executed license agree- ments with this organization, with the American Telephone & Telegraph Company and with the Hazeltine Corporation, to sell radio transmitters and re- ceivers f o r a i rcraf t . In 1929 Stuart Ballantine and two other stockholders of RF’L formed a new corporation for the contin- uation of electronic research and development work operating un- - der the name of the Boonton Research Corporation. This cor- poration continued until 1932 when it was dissolved following the sale of important inventions in vacuum tubes and associated equipment. All of the assets of this c o r p o ration, laboratory buildings, apparatus, land and tools were acquired by Mr. Bal- lantlne who organized in 1932 the present Ballantine Labora- tories Inc. for the purpose of carrying on the same type 01 activity engaged in by the orig- inal corporation.

Following a period of depres- sion, during which it wm neces- sary to build up the business and develop new inventions and de- vfces, Ballantine Laboratories marketed some new precision measurlng equipment which is still being manufactured. The laboratories worked in coopers- tim with the Navy in the devel- opment of highly confidential equipment and, at its own ex- pewe, developed the first SUC- cessful throat microphone to be used by the Arm Air Corps. Af- ter a long perioBof testing, the instrument was finally stan- dardized by the Army and many thousand were manufactured for the Air Corps.

These d e v e lopments were chiefly the result of Mr. Ballan- tine’s work as is also true of many of the earlier develop- ments processed in his own lab- oratory or in its predecessors. The history of Ballantine Labor- atories from its inception until the death of its founder in May

1944 is largely concerned wlth the individual efforts of this one man. A brilliant physicist and engineer, h i 6 activities ranged from fundamental anal- ysis and measurement of acous- tic phenomena to engineering development of tubes and cir- cuits in radio broadcasting and reception. Some fift scientific papers, thirty paten& and one book in his name attest to his high degree of standing in the electronic field. Mr. Ballantine was the recip-

ient of many honors. In 1920 he received a s ecial award and ci- . tation by &e Secretary of the Navy for the development of a radio direction-finder. In 1923 he was elected a John Tyndall Fellow in Mathematical Physics a t Harvard University. In 1931 he received the Morris Mebmann Awar& of the Institute of Radio Engineers. In 1934 he was awar- ded the Elliott Cresson Gold Medal by the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia.

In 1947 he was posthumously awarded the Armstrong Medal of the Radio Club of America, and the following citation: “The Armstrong Medal of the Radio Club of America i s a-ed to Charles Stuart BBllantfne for outstanding c o n t ributions to the art.

‘Tn the period of 1908 to 1916 he pioneered in radio in the Philadelphia area just as the members of the newly born Ra- dio Club W a r l y pioneered in the New York area.

“Out of that early experience came his book ’Radio Tele hohy for Amateurs’ whieh was, %I ef- fect, the first amateur “bible” and from which the long line of similar publications has since descended.

“During World W a r I and buUding on the discovery of others of t&l!%- Club, he developed the loop compass and radio di- rection finder as the primary and major defensive tool against the otherwise utterly success’ful submarine warfare of the Cier- man navy. Shortly after his en- trance into the field of broad- cast receivers in 1923, he devel- oped the principle of negative feed back as well as of automatic volume control.

d

and sales; Berton E. Holley, sec­ret'ary.

Ballantine LaboratoriesDuring thl5 time mllny other

changes were were made. RFLhad sold all of Its patents to theRadio Corporation of Americaand had executed license agree­ments wIth this organization,with the American Telephone& Telegraph Company and withthe Hazeltine Corporation, tosell radio transmitters and re­ceivers for a I r craft. In 1929Stuart Ballantine and two otherstockholders of RFL formed nnew corporation for the contin­uation of electranlc research anddevelopment work operating un­der the name of the BoontonResearch Corporation. This cor­poration continued untU 1932when it was dissolved followingthe sale of Important InventionsIn vacuum tubes and associatedequipment. All of the assets ofthis cor p 0 ration, laboratorybuildings, apparatus, land andtools were ucqulred by Mr. Bal­lantine who organIzed In 1932the prescnt Ballantine Labora­tories Inc. for the purpose ofcarrying on the Game type o"!activity engaged In by the orig­Inal corporation.

Followtng a perIod of depres­sion, durIng which It was neces­sary to build up the business anddevelop new Jnventions and de~

vices, BalllLntlne Laboratoriesmarketed some new precisIonmeasurtng equipment which Isstill being manufactured. ThelaboratorIes worked In coopera­tion with the Navy In the devel­opment of highly conHdentlalequipment and, at Its own ex­pen5e, developed the Hrst suc­cessful throat microphone to beused by the Army Air Corps. Af­ter a long period of testing, theInstrument was finally sttln~

dardlzed by the Army and manythousan<l were manufacturedfor the Air Corps.

These de v e lopments werechiefly the result of Mr. Ballan­tine's work a'S Is also true ofmany of the earlier develop­ments processed In his own lab­oratory or In Its predecessors.The history of Bnllantlne Labor­atorIes from Its inception untilthe death of Its 'founder In May

1944 Is largely concerned withthe IndIvidual efforts of thisone man. A brilliant physicistand engineer, hi'S activitiesranged from fundament.al anal­ysis and measurement of acous­tic phenomena to engineeringdevelopment of tubes and, cir­cuits in rndlo broadcasting andreception. Some Ufty scientlHcpapers, thirty patents and onebook In his name attest to hishigh degree of st.andlng In theelectronic field.

Mr. Ballantine was the recip­Ient of many honors. In 1920 hereceived a specIal award and ci­tation by the Secretary of theNavy for the development of nradio direction-finder. In 1923he was elected a John TyndallFellow In Mathematical Phy6lcsat Harvard University. In 1931he received the Morris LiebmannAward of the Institute of RadioEngtneers. In 1934 he was awar­ded the Elliott Cresson GoldMedal by the Franklin InstItuteor Philadelphia.

In 1947 he was posthumouslyawarded the Armstrong Medal ofthe RadIo Club of AmerIca, andthe following citation: "TheArmstrong Medal of the RadioClub of America Is awarded toCharles Stuart BnUantlne foroutstanding con t rlbutIons tothe art.

"In the period of 1908 to 1916he pioneered tn radio In thePhiladelphIa area just Il6 themembers of the newly born Ra·dlo Club sImilarly pioneered Inthe New York area,

"Out of that early experienceome his book 'Radio Telephonyfor Amateurs' whIch was, In ef­fect, the first amateur "bible"and from which the long Hne ofsimilar publications has sincedescended.

"During World War I andbulldlng on the discovery ofothers of the Club, he developedthe loop compass and radio di­rection finder as the prImaryand major defensive tool agaInstthe otherwise utterly success'lulsubmarIne warfare of the Ger·man navy. Shortly after his en­trance Into the field of broad­cast receivers In 1923, he devel­oped the principle of negativefeed back as well as of automaticvolume control.

y's principal output Por war- E" fme use. In cooperatfon

sive pro$ram of Department of equip our airways with the most m&em electronic navigational

the Boonton Radio in 1947 introduced 4~

crystal monitored signal genera- tor and a glide slope test set which are both widely med for

radio equip- ome navigs- . Various air-

lines are now tmhlling thisnew equipment and it will evmtmlly be available to private flyers; thus this Boonton labomtog h w made an inmartant cont&xa&n

'L

Other new equipment followedincluding the "QX-Checker,"8imUar to the "Q-Meter" but de­signed as a production testinginstrument that could be oper­ated by factory personnel, andstill give laboratory 'accuracy. Aradio Interference measuring In~st.rument was developed andproduced for the Governmentand BRC pioneered the develop­ment of the beat-frequency sIg­nal generator.

Major Edwin H. Armstronghad introduced hl..s system offrequency modulated transmit­ters and recelvera which 'attrac­ted the attention of engineersthroughout the world. One ofthese was Mr. Loughlin who,predicting the demand for FMtest equipment, directed his lab­oratory group In the design andproduction of an FM sIgnal gen­erator that was llrst presentedIn 1940 at the Institute of RadioEngineers' meeting in Boston.The concern had again made atimely development as a modi­fied version of this InstrumentIs stlll being manufactured byBRC.

In 1940 with the war cloudsdarkening, but our country stilinot in actual combat with Ger­many or Japan, large numbersof planes were being flown tocanada for the Installation ofarmament and radio equipmentbefore they were piloted to theBritish Isles. To provide the fer­ry ptlots, who took the planesto Canada, with radio, so vItalto safe navigation, Boonton Ra­dio Corporation produced a com­pact, lightweight receiver andpower suppiy. Thl..s unit, devel­oped by RFL, required no specialInst'allation and had only to becarried by the pilot .ror use ineach plane he had to deliver. Thereceher was later used by theNavy in Its N3N-3 trainingplanes.

Like the others, Boonton Ra­dio Corporation's efforts duringthe war period were devoted tothe production of instrumentsfor the Armed Services and oth­er manUfacturers maldng elec­tronic equipment. The produc­tion of micro-wave algnal gen­entors for the development andmaintenance of airborne radarequipment represented the com-

pany's principal output tor war­time usc.

In cooperation with the exten­sive program of the CAA andDepartment of Commerce toequip our aIrways with the mostmodern electronic navigationalequipment, the Boonton RadioCorporation in 1947 Introduced acrystal monitored signal genera­tor and a glide slope test setWhich are both widely used fortesting omul-range radio equip­ment and oth.er airborne naviga­tional Instruments. Various air­lines are now Install1ng this newequipment and It will eventuallybe available to private flyers;thus this Boonton laboratory hasmade an Important contributionto the safety of air travel.

Within the past two years alarge addition has been buUt onthe BRC plant and the originalstructure has been modernizedin every detail.

Boonton Radio CorporatJon'sproducts are recognizedthroughout the world for theirsuperior quality which is thecumulatJve result of expert carefrom the drafting boards to theUnal test departments and thecompany's polley of buUding on­ly those instruments which havebeen pioneered In their own lab­oratories.

Ot1lcers of the BRC besidespresident WiUlam D. LoughlinInclude Dr. George A. Downs­brough, vice president and gen­el1LI manager who Joined the or­ganization In 19421 and James R.Estler, secretary-ueasurer,

Radio Frequene, Lab,.By now most of the RFL activ­

Ities had been absorbed by AIr­craft Radio Corporation andSeabury & Sons Inc., but In 1937RFL bullt a new l'aboratory andhanger on the airport oppositethe ARC plant and engaged Inthe further development andproduction of atrcra'ft radiocommunication and navigationequipment, as well as radio-con­trolled, pUotiess 'aIrcraft. Late in1941 an agreement was madewith Boonton Radio Corporationto manufacture RFL aircraft re­ceivers for the Navy. During thewar RFL also aIded in the designand manufacture of electricaltesting and proving equipmentfor the Weston Electrical Instru-

pang and the EcElpse- eer Mvisic)n 6f Bendix. At

tim of hostilities the s engfnterlng Weat turned

to new commercial equipment

Measaramaents Corporatien S W another important mem-

ber of Boontcm’s electronic group is Measurements Corporation, research and rnanufactnrhg engineers of a world-famous We of electronic measuring equipment. The story of the for- mation of thfs c o m m y must too be evolved from the former msociation’of its founders with other local laboratories. These founders, Jerry 3. Writer &nd

until early in 1939 when they left that organization to form their own company, Mlcrovolb Inc.

On April 10, 1940, the Micro- volt name was dropped and the new concern became Measure- ments Corporation as it is known today. Mew quarters were se- cured in a local building that had formerly been used 88 a doll faa- tory and it was here that the flnst “Laboratory Standards” of Measurements Corporation were produced.

Laboratories, man.$facturers and governmental agencies be-

generators, fleldl strength meters, vwuum tube voItneters und

manufactured in large numbers.

cats.

rnent and it became necessary to expand innto an abandoned school on Harrison street, 831 idle automobile showroom on Main street and a silk mill on Monroe street, all in Bgonton. Me’asurements’ personnel in- creased to several hundred workers and the company can be ustly proud of the contribution

made to the war effort in vital ent 50 necessary for the

tenance of communication &?!‘vices, radar and the develop- ment of highly secret qlectrontc devices.

After V-J Day the Mmrae street plant remained &s the headquarters of Measurements Corporation and all activities were concentfated in the pro- duction oT li’M and television signal generators 8s well as test equipment for micro-wave re- lays, airplane navigational sys- tems, mobile radio and count- less other electronic applica- tions.

In the Fall of 1948 ground was broken adjacent to Unit One for a modern plant, the new home of Measurements.

ment COmpany and the Eellpse­Pioneer Dlvlsion of Bendix. At.the cessation of ho.stllltles thefirm's engineering talent turnedto new commercial equipmentand government developmentaleont.net3.

several of these produeLs arenow on the market and include IIportable magnet charger, "Be&!­nuta," an f. t. probe, a metal de­tector. LnsulaUon testers, Instru­ment calibrator stands, a nldia·Yon Integrator and a small,IlgbL-we1ght r ad t 0 telegraphterminal unit. RFL products andengineutng services are todaysold all 0 't' e r tbe world.. Itsfotmder Richard W. Beabury 15now chainnan 01 the board withRJehard W. Seabury jr as presi­dent and Edwin S. 5e'abury 83executive vice president.. OtherRFL offlcen: include Robert H.Denton, vice president; EverettA. Gilbert. "lee president, engin­eerlng; Elliott L. Richmond,treasurer; Berton E. HoDey. sec­retary; John Solomon, assist­ant sec r e tary and assbtanttreasurer.

Measurements Corpora.lionSlDl another Important mem­

ber of Boonton's electronic groupLs Measurements COrporation,reanrch and manUfacturingengineers of a world-famousUne of electronic measuringequipment. The story of the for­mation of this company musttoo be evolved from the formerassociation' of its founders withother local laboratories. 'I1lesefounders, Jerry B. Minter andJohn M. van Beuren, both sUllactive tn Measurements Cor­poration, were employed by theFerris Instrument Corporationuntil earlv In 1939 when they lertthat organiZation to form theirown company, Microvolts Inc.

On April 10, 1940, the Micro­volt name was dropped and thenew concern became Measure­ments Corporation as It Is knowntoday. New quarters were se­cured in a local building that hadformerly been used 'as a doll fac­tory and It was here that thenNlt "Laboratory Standards" ofMen.surements Corporation wereproduced.

Laboratories, manulacturersand governmental agencIes be-

gan to specify MeasurementsequIpment In their requLsltionsbecause of Its excellent quality.so before long the new companyoutgrew Ita plant facUlties. It.tract of land on Intervale road,Parsippany. near Boonton, waspurchased and a long framebuUdJng, known as Unit One.WlU constructed. Here signalgenerators, fteld strength meters,vacuum tube voltmeters andother precJslon electronic lnaLru­menls we redeveloped andmanufactured In increasinglylarge numbers.

In IMI a pioneer in the radIoindustry, Harry W. Houck. ac­quired an Interest in Measure­ments COrpoTlLUon. Mr. Houckbad been U30Clated with Vilflousbranches of the Indu.stry alnce1910 and had galned prominencefor his collaboratlon wit bMajor It.nnsLrong in the develop­ment of the superheterodyne re­ceiver and for hLs pat.ent.a on thebat. t e r J elbninator vacuumtubes and varied electronic cIr­cults.

During !.he war every engi­neerlng f'a.cUlty was dlrec~d tothe production of critical equip·ment and It became necessary toexpand Into an abandonedschool on Harrison street, anidle automobile showroom onMain street and a silk mUi onMonroe street, an In Bqonton.Measurements' personnel In·creased to several hundredworkers and the company can bejustly proud of the contributionit made to the war effort In vitalequipment so necessary for themaintenance of communicationservices, radar and the develop­ment of highly secret ~iectronlc

devices.Alter V-J Day the Monroe

litreet plant remaIned as theheadquarters of MeasurementsCorporation and all activitieswere concenlJ'ated in the pro­duction of FM and televisionsignal generators a.s wen as testequipment for micro-wave re­lays, alrpl'ane navigational sys·tems, mobile radio and count­less other electronic applica­tions.

In the Fall of 1948 ground wasbroken adjacent to Unit One fora modem plant., the new homeof Measurements.

J

The Dew buUdlng is now eOD:"·pteted with over 25,000 SQuarefeet ot Ooor space uWlzed torlaboratories and production de­partments. Radiant. beatOOg, alrcondItioning and expertly engl-

. ncerl!d llght.lng, plus the finesttools, equipmen~ and instru­ments assure every modern con­venience for the comfort ofMeasurements' personnel andthe emclent production ot thecompany's Une or "LaboratoryStandards". Measurement. Cor­porat.lon hILS been the Ilrst to de­velop and commercially producemany important Instruments In­cluding the nrst 5lgnal generatorwith bullt-ln tuning motor; aAeld strength meter usableabove 20 megacycles; a slgnallenenator tor testing hlgh fre­quency r~eivers; the first UHFalgnal generator with a sel!­contalned pulse modulator; anFM I1gnal gmerator coveringthe present band; t.be tlrst wide­range grid-dip meter and thefirst commerc1al wid e - ban d.wide-range tel e v J s Ion signalgenerator.

The omcers 01 MeasurementsCOrporation ace John M. van

Beuren, chairman or the boardand chid research engineer;Harry W. Houck, president andgeneral manager; Jerry B. Min­ter, vice-president and chiefengln~r.

The area's electronic indus­tries are as lmportant to Boon­ton and nearby communlUes astheir Instruments are to theelectronIc art. With a total per­sonnel of over 500 skilled work­ers, the annual payroll repre­sents a nry alzeable porUon otthe Industry'" ",olume ot saleatotalllni many mnllons or dol­lars yearly.

(NOTE: Bes1des the indivId­uals menUoned In the loreloingarUcie there were many otherswho took an Important pact Inthe formaUon and growth ofBoonton's electronic Industri~.Many of these people today holdimportant positions with theseconcerns. A.s a complete lbtlngof every one would literally re­semble a local city directory,space lImJtatlons permitted thenamtng or but a few prtnc1­pals.-E. M. W.)