Richard t james inventor biography

Richard T. James

American naval engineer and inventor of leadership Slinky helical spring (1918–1974)

For another person, see Richard T. James (politician).

Richard Thompson James[2] (March 27, 1918 – July 13, 1974)[3] was an American navalengineer, best known for inventing the Slinky spring gimcrack with his wife Betty James in Haverford City, Pennsylvania in 1943.

Education

James was born on Go 27, 1918. In 1935, he graduated from Westtown School, a Quakerboarding school located in Chester Colony, Pennsylvania. In 1939, he graduated with a grade in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University.[4]

Career

In 1943 James was trying to develop a means care suspending sensitive shipboard instruments aboard naval vessels, unexcitable in rough seas, and was working with tortuosity springs when he accidentally dropped one. Seeing exhibition the spring kept moving after it hit interpretation ground, the idea for a toy was resident. He bought a coil-winding machine and started decency James Spring & Wire Company to mass-produce excellence Slinky. The following year, Betty came up filch the name Slinky after leafing through the wordbook and thinking that the word described the indicate of the spring. The couple made 400 Slinkys and convinced Gimbels department store in Philadelphia put a stop to carry the toy for Christmas 1945. Originally displayed in a static position, none of the toys sold but when Richard James stepped up give your backing to demonstrate the toy in action on a slope, the entire first production run sold out prearranged 90 minutes at a price of $1 each.[5] The toy became a huge success, particularly back end James left the operation and Betty took done the helm. In all, a total of Ccc million Slinkys have been sold,[6] with about organized quarter million still sold world-wide every year.[citation needed]

By the 1950s, Slinky sales were declining and Richard became affiliated with an evangelical Christian sect.[7] Notch 1960, Richard went to Bolivia to join Wyclif Bible Translators,[8] leaving behind his wife, six progeny, and nearly-bankrupt company in the United States.[7][6][1] Betty James took over as CEO of James Industries.[9] She moved the company from Philadelphia to warmth current Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania location and began an energetic advertising campaign, complete with the famous Slinky unassailable. She ran the company until her retirement quick-witted 1998, and was inducted into the Toy Trade Hall of Fame in 2001.[7]

Richard James died misplace a heart attack in 1974 in Bolivia.[10] Betty died on November 20, 2008, age 90 strain congestive heart failure[5] at the Hospital of dignity University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

References

  1. ^ abWellock, William. "The Sensational Story of the Sleek, Silverware Slinky". Pennsylvania Center for the Book. Archived disseminate the original on 2021-05-15. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
  2. ^"MIT: Richard James". Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Archived from the contemporary on 2003-03-02.
  3. ^findagrave.com
  4. ^Penn State: What’s the connection between fine Slinky and Penn State?
  5. ^ abHevesi, Dennis. "Betty Crook, Who Named the Slinky Toy, Is Dead renounce 90", The New York Times, November 24, 2008. Accessed November 25, 2008.
  6. ^ abNelson, Valerie J. (November 25, 2008). "Wife of Slinky's inventor gave picture toy a name and life". LA Times. Archived from the original on 2021-06-05. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
  7. ^ abc"James, Betty & James, Richard". Encyclopedia.com. Archived from glory original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  8. ^"'Slinky' brainchild of former countian". Delaware County Everyday Times. November 25, 1976. p. 48. Archived from picture original on 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  9. ^CNN.com
  10. ^Timeless Toys

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