Robert G. Chamberlain Numerical Control Collection
name: label: Creator
content: Chamberlain, Robert G.
label: Names
content: National Machine Tool Builders Association. Numerical Controls Committee.
topic: label: Topic
content: Machine tools -- Numerical control -- Programming
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: This collection was donated to the Archives Center of the National Museum of American History by Mr. Chamberlain in February 1995.  The three reports in series seven were donated by Mr. Chamberlain in March 1997.
creator: label: Creator
content: Chamberlain, Robert G.
setName: label: See more items in
content: Robert G. Chamberlain Numerical Control Collection
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Robert G. Chamberlain graduated in 1949 from Iowa State University with a degree in mechnanical engineering; he later did graduate work towards an MBA in finance at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.  In 1954 he went to work for Giddings & Lewis, Inc., a Wisconsin machine‑tool builder.  Chamberlain became involved in the early development of technology and processes for the computer‑programmed control of heavy machinery, known in the industry as numerical control (NC).  In fact, he was one of the first numerical control programmers in the United States.  Chamberlain rose through the ranks to management level at Giddings & Lewis, holding successive positions as Vice President of Information Systems, Vice President and General Manager of the Giddings & Lewis Electronics Company, Group Vice President‑‑Industrial Products, and Executive Vice President‑‑Industrial Products.  Before his retirement in 1983, he also served on the firm's Board of Directors.  Chamberlain was also a very active member and officer of several professional societies in the NC field, including the national Machine Tool Builders Association and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.  In addition, Chamberlain is the author of several articles on numerical control of machine tools, computer‑assisted manufacturing, information systems, and quality assurance.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 3.5 Cubic feet (8 boxes)
label: Extent
content: 2 Motion picture films
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1954-1984
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0527
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Motion picture films
label: Type
content: Photographs
label: Type
content: Slides (photographs)
label: Type
content: Lectures
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: Collection arranged into 6 series. Chronologically arranged.
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by Don Darroch, April 13, 1995.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- Phototransparencies -- 1950-2000
label: Genre/Form
content: Slides (photographs) -- 1950-2000
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- 1950-2000
label: Genre/Form
content: Lectures -- 1950-2000
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Chamberlain's review of his work in the field of numerical control is detailed in his personal "Recollections of a Pioneer Numerical Control Programmer," which comprises Series 1.  This is a roughly chronological summary of his career, presenting his major work experiences and accomplishments at Gidding & Lewis from his initial employment there in 1954 through his retirement in 1983, along with some post‑retirement free‑lance work.  Major technological problems and challenges that Chamberlain encountered are described, together with the changing roles he played at Giddings & Lewis as he was promoted or shifted from position to position.  Several important foreign trade missions in which Chamberlain participated, including a 1979 trip to China, are also described.
 
Series 2 of the collection includes numerous speeches and articles that Chamberlain gave or wrote over a period of more than 20 years on the subject of numerical control of manufacturing operations.  They relate to the use of computers in controlling machine tools and to problems of ensuring accuracy in metal cutting and forming operations under computer controls.  These are arranged in chronological order.
 
From 1963 to 1973, Chamberlain was intimately involved in the work of the Numerical Controls Committee of the National Machine Tool Builders Association (NMTBA).  Records of this group found in Series 3 of the collection document the expanding use of numerical control technology.  They include projects to increase the accuracy of numerically‑controlled machining operations and to standardize the computer language used in such operations.
 
Series 4 of the collection documents an official trade mission to China in which Chamberlain participated (1979), as well as his meetings with French numerical control industry colleagues in the U.S. (1971) and in France (1980).
 
Series 5 of the collection consists of slides used to illustrate some of Chamberlain's lectures.  Series 6 contains 2 reels of film about Giddings & Lewis' development of numerical control technology.  Series 7 consists of two Giddings and Lewis reports on programming the Numericord system and one proposal to the Atomic Energy Commission entitled "Project Prometheus," ca. 1968.