Hospitals - Who Is Charles F. Kettering?
"A man must have a certain amount of intelligent ignorance to
get anywhere with progressive things." -Charles F. Kettering
Charles F. Kettering was a "screwdriver and pliers" inventor
who, even today, continues to impact all aspects of our society. The world-recognized
Delco Products Division of General Motors Corporation was first created
by Charles Kettering and Edward Deeds. At his death in 1958, Kettering was
a co-holder of more than 140 patents and possessed honorary doctorates from
nearly 30 universities. Kettering believed strongly in the combination of
hard work, ingenuity and technology to make the world a better place, as
a sample of his "Ketteringisms" reveals.
Kettering Inventions
- Electric cash register
- Electric auto ignition and self-starter for automobiles first appeared
on the 1912 Cadillac. Within a few years, Delco produced a complete starting,
ignition and lighting system that is credited with the phenomenal rise
of the automobile industry.
- Spark plug
- Freon for refrigerators and air conditioners. Ridgeleigh Terrace, Kettering's
residence in Dayton, was the first air conditioned home in America.
- Leaded gasoline
- Quick drying paint for automobiles
- Safety glass
- Portable electric generator
- Four-wheel brakes
- Automatic transmission
- Electric railway gate
- First synthetic aviation fuel
In 1945 Charles Kettering and Alfred Sloan established the Sloan-Kettering
Institute for Cancer Research in New York City.
