Beckman Historical Collection

In 1955, Arnold O. Beckman and William Shockley entered business together when they established Shockley Semiconductor Laboratories as a subsidiary of Beckman Instruments, Inc. with the goal of mass producing…

In 1955, Arnold O. Beckman and William Shockley entered business together when they established Shockley Semiconductor Laboratories as a subsidiary of Beckman Instruments, Inc. with the goal of mass producing…

The paper was presented to the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce's Research Committee.

Beckman's address as incoming president of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce references major challenges, including air pollution. A list of incoming officers and directors is included, along with minor annotations in…

The report, from a committee chaired by Arnold O. Beckman, recommended that attempts to manipulate the weather be controlled and monitored by a federal agency.

The letter suggests that the Air Pollution Foundation change its focus.

Felix Chappellett (1902–1976) spent three decades as an executive with the General Petroleum Corporation and later served as the vice president of…

This letter suggests Beckman might be interested in commercial development of de Forest's new invention, a "sandwich, non-vacuous, light amplifier."

Lee de Forest states that he returned from a trip to Chicago to find his company in financial disarray. He regrets that Beckman's contracted work was continued, despite an inability to pay for it, and assures him that…

Lee de Forest states that he has "temporarily become disassociated from the activities of De Forest Television Corporation" and advises Beckman to retain any equipment currently in his possession.

Lee de Forest…

In this letter, de Forest discusses the possibility of using chemicals to fight forest fires.

Lee de Forest (1873–1961) was an inventor, most notably of Audion vacuum tubes in the early twentieth century. His serial…

Architect William Pereira writes to invite Arnold O. Beckman to a dinner in celebration of an award for the Helipot building in Newport Beach, California. The Pereira & Luckman-designed building was to be honored as one…

This letter includes a report on existing Beckman trademarks as of 1947, including information on the "acidimeter" and the point at which that instrument became known as the pH meter (1935).

The advertisement was created for publication in Service Station Management and Motor Age. It emphasizes the reliability of the Model 590 infrared exhaust analyzer, an instrument designed to detect pollutants in the…

This letter, written while Arnold Beckman was on a multi-city trip promoting his pH meter, concerns strategies for marketing the instruments and concern about the friction between a salesman and distributor.

Arnold…

Los Angeles County General Hospital nurse Mary Finlay is monitoring the oxygen levels of a prematurely born infant in an incubator, to provide just the right oxygen mixture. Too little oxygen has obvious repercussions,…

Los Angeles County General Hospital nurse Mary Finlay is monitoring the oxygen levels of a prematurely born infant in an incubator, to provide just the right oxygen mixture. Too little oxygen has obvious repercussions,…

Lyons writes to Beckman during Beckman's travels around the United States to market his new "acidimeter." This letter in particular mentions the orders rolling in following the first advertisement for the pH meter and…

From an unknown author at the Braun Corporation (and carbon copied to its president, J.A. Hartley). The author wants Aldoph Coors (the brewing magnate) to meet Arnold O. Beckman during Beckman's trip to promote his new…

Lyons thinks the new system of distribution for the Beckman pH meter will be an important change for the "industrial field." The National Postal Meter Company on the letterhead was one of Arnold Beckman's first…

Memo regarding criticisms of Regulation VII, an ordinance proposed by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce's Air Pollution Committee to control Los Angeles smog. Among the criticisms: the difference between smoke and…

Letter from Calvin Bream, Secretary of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Air Pollution Committee, asking Arnold O. Beckman to appear on a radio program discussing air pollution. This series was produced by the Air…

Call for Arnold O. Beckman to serve on the Los Angeles Air Pollution Committee, from the L.A. Chamber of Commerce president, Charles Detoy.

Highlights from a meeting about Los Angeles air pollution, which included representatives from different industries and companies, including the Pure Air Committee and the "Citizen's Committee." Attendees expressed…

This letter from then LA Chamber of Commerce president Carl Miller asks Los Angeles business and industry leaders to collaborate to fight smog.

This memo recounts a mostly off the record meeting involving members of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce about potential causes of public resistance to placing air pollution monitoring or reducing instruments in…