The Pocket pH meter allowed pH readings to be taken in the field, in a laboratory, or at any site, without needing to send samples back to a laboratory and a more stationary instrument.

Arnold Beckman invented his first pH meter in 1934 at the request of a chemist from the California citrus industry, who needed an accurate way to measure the acidity of his product. The resulting instrument kicked off rapid development not only of Beckman Instruments, Inc. but also of the electronic scientific instrument industry.