Felix P. Caruthers Papers
name: label: Creator
content: Caruthers, Felix P.
label: Former owner
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Engineering and Industry
topic: label: Topic
content: Inventions -- 1950-2000
label: Topic
content: Machine-tool industry
label: Topic
content: Automation -- 1950-1990
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Collection transferred by Division of the History of Technology, National Museum of American History, Engineering and Industry Collections.,12th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20560.,Transfer.,ACNMAH 812; Nonacc. No. 2002.3050.
creator: label: Creator
content: Caruthers, Felix P.
setName: label: See more items in
content: Felix P. Caruthers Papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: Papers, mostly technical, relating to Caruthers' development of automated machine tools. The papers include technical reports and notes; schematics for specific inventions including diagrams, graphs, photographs and plans bound together; patents and related correspondence; operators' manuals; copies of papers delivered by Caruthers at engineering events; and assorted trade literature.
bioghist: label: Biographical/Historical note
content: Felix P. (Phil) Caruthers was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. (ca. 1915) and took an early interest in radio, constructing his own transmitter at age nine.  He continued this interest, obtaining an advanced-class amateur license.  After graduating Princeton University (BSEE 1938) Caruthers joined EBASCO Services, specializing in long-distance high-voltage utility systems.

After Pearl Harbor, Caruthers enrolled in a course at Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute specializing in radio wave analysis and pulse techniques which predated radar.  When the instructor was called to a government assignment, Caruthers took over his place and completed the course.  He then volunteered in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to a program under Sperry Gyroscope Co.  which was developing night fighter aircraft and radar.  Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, Caruthers was put in charge of all plants producing this equipment.  Later, he was assigned to work on antennas and other components of radar equipment.

On his return to civilian life, Caruthers joined Thomson Equipment Co. as vice president and chief engineer, producing precision machined products and metal toys.  Later, the firm's output shifted to machine tools, which Thomson not only manufactured but also designed, introducing new concepts of machine control.

In 1968 Caruthers organized Caruthers & Associates, Inc., consultants to various industrial firms, and also served as Director of Engineering of Industrial Control Equipment for the Bendix Corporation.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1 Cubic foot (4 boxes)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1952-1984
custodhist: label: Ownership and Custodial History
content: Mr. Caruthers donated the papers to the Museum's Division of Engineering and Industry in 1984.
label: Custodial History
content: The collection was transferred to the Archives Center in 2002.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0812
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Patents
label: Type
content: Charts
label: Type
content: Technical notes
label: Type
content: Photographs
label: Type
content: Technical reports
label: Type
content: Lectures
label: Type
content: Correspondence
label: Type
content: Diagrams
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: 1 series.
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by Don Darroch and Robert Harding, undated.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Patents -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Charts
label: Genre/Form
content: Technical notes
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Technical reports
label: Genre/Form
content: Lectures
label: Genre/Form
content: Correspondence -- 1950-2000
label: Genre/Form
content: Diagrams
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents note
content: This collection consists largely of bound copies of technical manuals, providing information on automatic machine control equipment, including its operation, servicing and parts.  The papers include technical reports and notes; schematics for specific inventions including diagrams, graphs, photographs and plans bound together; patents and related correspondence; operators' manuals; copies of papers delivered by Caruthers at engineering events; and assorted trade literature.  Published materials include a book co-authored by Caruthers.  A partial personnel history of F. P. Caruthers is included together with his hand-written notebooks.