Robert Scofield Condon Engineering Papers
name: label: Creator
content: Condon, Robert B.
label: Creator
content: Condon, Robert Scofield, 1896-1973 (engineer)
label: Names
content: Continental Can Co.
label: Names
content: Fibre Can Machinery Corp. (Rutland (Vt.)
topic: label: Topic
content: Pencil sharpeners
label: Topic
content: Engineers -- 1920-1980
label: Topic
content: Pencil pointers
label: Topic
content: Mechanical engineering -- 1920-1980
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Collection donated by Robert Condon November 5, 1991.
creator: label: Creator
content: Condon, Robert B.
label: Creator
content: Condon, Robert Scofield, 1896-1973 (engineer)
setName: label: See more items in
content: Robert Scofield Condon Engineering Papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: A collection of correspondence, photographs, and copies of patents issued to inventor Robert Scofield Condon.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Robert Scofield Condon, born in Bloomington, Illinois, March 5, 1896, attended Bloomington, Ill., Normal School, and was a schoolteacher for several years to earn money for college tuition; he was graduated as a mechanical engineer from the University of Illinois, 1924.  He married Catherine Behren in 1924, but she died in 1958.  Condon was employed by the Kearney & Trecker Corp., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1924-1929, then the Gleason Gear Works, Rochester, New York, 1929-1936.  He was one of eighty engineers when he joined the engineering department of the Gleason Gear Works, but was one of only two remaining in 1934.  The Condons spent fifteen years in Rutland, Vermont (1936-1946), where he was a founder of the Fibre Can Machinery Corp., which was later sold to the Continental Can Co.  He was employed by the Continental Can Corp. from 1946 to 1960 (the Rutland plant closed in the early 1950s, but Condon continued working for the firm in other locations).  After his retirement in 1960, he continued to work on projects and did consulting work.  His last project was the small "Marvel" pencil pointer (sharpener).  Documents in the papers bear the name and address, "Robert S. Condon Laboratories, 112 Cindy Lane, Berlin, Connecticut 06037."

Condon's second wife was Ilza de Souza.  He died on April 22, 1973, leaving his son, Robert B. Condon, and two grandchildren.*  The professional papers in this collection apparently were in Robert S. Condon's possession until his death, when his son acquired them and donated them to the Smithsonian in 1991.

* An obituary appeared in the Bennington Banner, April 26, 1973.  The donor provided notes from this obituary, with additional biographical material and a collection inventory
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 3 Cubic feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1924-1973
custodhist: label: Custodial History
content: All materials apparently in author's personal collection until his death, when they become the property of his son, the donor.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0428
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Professional papers
label: Type
content: Photographic prints
label: Type
content: Photographs
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is divided into six series.

Series 1: Correspondence, 1936-1942, 1961-1962

Series 2:  Patents, 1931-1973

Series 3: Subject Files, 1955-1965

Series 4:  Bills and receipts, 1946-1948

Series 5: Articles, 1924-1927

Series 6: Photographs, 1945
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by David Haberstich, 1994.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Professional papers -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographic prints
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- Black-and-white negatives -- Acetate film
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- 20th century
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The approximately 3 cubic feet of material contain copies of patents issued to Robert Scofield Condon for pencil lead pointers, pencil sharpeners, milling machines, gear cutting machines, and similar devices, as well as correspondence related to the patents from the United States Patent Office and with attorneys.  Photographs depict Condon designs and inventions.  The collection includes a very interesting example of Condon's actual pencil sharpener attached to a photograph, showing the pencil sharpener in use.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Objects accompanying these archival materials were acquired by the Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (now Division of Work and Industry) , also donated by the inventor's son.