Potentiometers regulate the flow of electricity, like the volume dial on a radio. In 1940, Arnold O. Beckman was unsatisfied with dials on the market, so he designed his own helical potentiometers, or helipots, for use…

This photograph is part of a series of marketing images used to demonstrate the small size of Helipot products, in this case microcircuits.

This photograph is part of a series of marketing images used to demonstrate the small size of Helipot products, in this case a microcircuit.

This photograph is part of a series of marketing images used to demonstrate the small size of Helipot products, in this case a microcircuit.

This photograph is part of a series of marketing images used to demonstrate the small size of Helipot products, in this case microcircuits.

This photograph is part of a series of marketing images used to demonstrate the small size of Helipot products.

A ruler provides a sense of scale for the microcircuit.

This photograph is part of a series of marketing images used to demonstrate the small size of Helipot products.

This photograph is part of a series of marketing images used to demonstrate the small size of Helipot products. "Cermet" refers to ceramic metals.

This photograph is part of a series of marketing images used to demonstrate the small size of Helipot products.

Voltage regulators maintain a constant voltage level in electrical devices.

This photograph is part of a series of marketing images used to demonstrate the small size of Helipot products.

This image was likely used as a reference for the arrangement of Beckman/Helipot voltage regulator microcircuits on a circuit board.

This photograph is part of a series of marketing images used to demonstrate the small size of Helipot products.

Resistor ladders are electrical circuits made from repeating units of resistors.

Voltage regulators maintain a constant voltage level in electrical devices. This photograph is part of a series of marketing images used to demonstrate the small size of Helipot products.