E.B. Craft

 

Edward Beech Craft was born in Cortland, Ohio, September 12, 1881. He joined Western Electric Company (AT&T) in 1903. Over time he became a key inventor. His most long-lasting contribution was the flat spring relay (especially E and R types), patented in 1915, US1156671A. See Figure 2. 

 

From a Bell Labs Record article [BLR], “Previous [relay] designs required numerous machining operations and careful fitting.  Relays based on his designs are now the largest apparatus item in Western Electric production, and they are an indispensable part of the telephone plant [in 1929].”

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Also important is Craft's invention of the "Grasshopper Fuse" (US817959A, 1906). See Fig 1 below. A very clever fuse such that when it blows, the front part "raises its hand" so repair persons can see what fuse tripped immediately among a sea of fuses. Secondly, the rear side "kicks out its foot"  to make contact with an alarm bar and thereby sound an audible or lamp alarm as needed. 

 

In 1922 he advanced to become the Chief Engineer of the Western Electric Company, 1922-25 and Executive Vice President of Bell Telephone Laboratories, 1925-1928. Unfortunately, Mr. Craft died early at age 48, in 1929.

 

Dr. F. B. Jewett, President, Bell Telephone Laboratories, wrote this about him:

 

“His creative imagination was of an outstanding high order and tangible evidence of it is found wherever telephone plant exists. His indomitable determination, his indefatigable energy, and the resourcefulness he displayed in overcoming obstacles made many of his dreams turn into valuable practical realities, when most men would have given up discouraged.”

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Reference

 

BLR: A Biographical Note on E.B.Craft, Bell Laboratories Record, Sept, 1929.

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