Adventures in Research
Byron E. Eldred '96 was born in Jackson,Mich., February 12, 1873. After two years withthe class of '96 he left college to begin his remarkable work in inventions and industrialdevelopments.
In a few years his work became so outstanding that in 1903 the College gave him his B.S.degree, and in 1916 conferred the honorarydegree of Doctor of Science upon him.Your Secretary is very happy to presentthis synopsis of his work:
DR. ELDRED is one of the outstanding menof science of the past half century. He isnow retired and lives in his beautiful homein Lime Rock, Conn. His house is filled withbeautiful paintings and works of art frommany parts of the world.
Some who read this may not know that Dr. Eldred presented the bust of Craven Laycock to Dartmouth. It is a well-established tradition that rubbing the nose of the Laycock bust brings good marks in examinations.
Dr. Eldred has devoted the past half century to scientific research and invention in the fields of physics, electricity, chemistry and metallurgy.
His early work was in the combustion field, resulting in the invention of a method for the regulation and control of the duration of combustion, or the temperature and volume of flame. The saving in fuel by this method applied to low temperature operations such as ore roasting and lime burning, was phenomenal. The invention received much favorable publicity and was heralded by the Associated Press. The City Trusts of Philadelphia awarded the John Scott Legacy and Medal for this work, and his services were sought here and abroad.
The next accomplishment followed in the invention of a method to produce lime in such form that it would not deteriorate from air slaking, nor swell in the package. This product is now known as hydrated lime, a product which has practically displaced the use of quick lime on the job.
The next important invention was the "Dumet" wire now used throughout the world in the manufacture of electric lamps. Prior to this invention platinum wire was used for lamp seals. This invention affected savings of millions of dollars annually, and was purchased by the General Electric Company in 1916 for what was then said to be the largest cash sum paid for an invention. Dr. Eldred received the Elliott Cresson Gold Medal for this accomplishment, an award given to Madame Curie for the discovery of radium, to Marconi for radio, and to Mergenthaler for the linotype. The solution of this problem, which had occupied the attention of such scientists as Edison, Elihu Thomson, Sir Hiram Maxim, Sir Joseph Swan and others, is highly rated as a scientific accomplishment.
The next outstanding work was in thechemical field in an endeavor to produce asubstitute for glycerin. This was done withcrude kerosene as the starting material for theproduction of glycol, which up to that timewas only a laboratory curiosity. Little wasknown about its properties and the only record of the material was that of Sir HumphryDavey who had produced less than a teaspoonful from ethyl alcohol.
Glycol was found to be a valuable product. The patents were sold to the Union Carbide and Carbon Company, who now manufacture and market it under the trade name of "Prestone."
During the World War he was requested by the U.S. Government to develop a method and design a plant for the manufacture of
' Mustard Gas". Was told that attempts to do this work in universities here and in Europe had failed. The Germans were producing the material and the Allies were in grave need of it. The work was promptly done with the use of kerosene as a starting material. Likewise the Eldred Laboratory produced the basic material for the manufacture of novocaine for the Army and Navy. Previously novocaine was produced only in Germany.
Nitro-glycol likewise afforded a new explosive, slightly more powerful than nitroglycerin yet superior as it would not freeze at 9OOF., and was insensitive to friction or shock. The new explosive was called Nitro-Byronel by the explosive manufacturers. It was used in depth bombs late in the war, and was demonstrated to be twice as powerful as TNT. Many new uses for glycol have made it of such value that it is only used sparingly for explosives.
After the war, when coal was expensive, scientists here and in Europe devoted much attention to the problem of cleaning dirty coals. An accumulation of generations in coal washery ponds contained fine coal mixed with approximately 50 percent ash. Was called to England to solve this problem. The work was promptly accomplished by availing of the adsorbed gas held by the coal, the idea being brought to mind by the physical principles demonstrated by the adsorption of poison gas in the gas mask respirator box. The coal dirt was charged with water into a chamber with suitable barometric legs and partial vacuum applied. The gas was drawn from the coal, forming adherent bubbles which caused the coal to float while the gangue, not being adsorptive, settled out and was discharged through one barometric leg. The "ash" content of the recovered coal did not exceed over 2 percent, and the gangue contained less than 2 percent coal. The U.S. Patent was sold to the Union Carbide and Carbon Company. The invention did not come into general use because the price of coal depreciated.
Adventures in Research will be continued in the March issue.
BYRON E. ELDRED '96
