Duschak comments on the price of the pH meter (high, but in line with comparable instruments) and inquires whether or not the "acidimeter" could be sold again after his project is finished.

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.