Ambrose Swasey
Encyclopedia
Ambrose Swasey was an American
mechanical engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, manager, astronomer, and philanthropist. With Worcester R. Warner
he co-founded the Warner & Swasey Company
.
Swasey was born near Exeter, New Hampshire
. He apprenticed as a machinist at the Exeter Machine Works and was afterwards employed at Pratt & Whitney
. As his career progressed he became a foreman in the gear-cutting section. He developed a new technique for making gear-tooth cutters. In 1880 he and Warner formed their eponymous firm, which quickly moved to Cleveland, Ohio
. Swasey would perform the engineering and machine development at this company.
The close friends Warner and Swasey built their homes next to each other on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, a street that was known as "Millionaire's Row".
In addition to army ordinance contracts, the firm of Warner & Swasey became notable for their work on astronomical observatories and equipment. They realized that obtaining contracts to build large astronomical observatories would provide publicity for their company.
In 1885 Swasey completed work at McCormick Observatory
on the 45-foot dome
, which was the largest in the world, and had a unique, 3 shutter design. In 1887 Swasey built the mount for the 36-inch refracting telescope
at Lick Observatory
. In 1898 he manufactured a dividing engine
for the U.S. Naval Observatory that was used to make the meridian circles. Both the building and dome of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory
were made by Warner and Swasey Co. Other observatory telescopes and components were built by the company at the Kenwood Observatory, Yerkes Observatory
, Argentia National Observatory, Denison University's Swasey Observatory, and the Case Institute Observatory.
From 1904 until 1905 he was the president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
.
Both Warner and Swasey were amateur astronomers. In 1920 they made a joint donation to the Case Western Reserve University
to fund the construction of an observatory. This was named the Warner and Swasey Observatory
in their honor, and the observatory was used for research by the Case astronomy department. The observatory maintained by the department today is still known by this name today.
Other donations made by Swasey include the Swasey Chapel at Denison University in Granville, Ohio (1924), a bandstand in Exeter by architect Henry Bacon
, (1916), and the endowment of a chair for a professor of physics at the Case School of Applied Sciences. The chimes in the chapel were included as a memorial to his wife, Lavinia Marston Swasey.
He died in Exeter. The Warner & Swasey Company he cofounded would continue until 1980, when it was acquired by Bendix Corporation
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mechanical engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, manager, astronomer, and philanthropist. With Worcester R. Warner
Worcester Reed Warner
Worcester Reed Warner was an American mechanical engineer, entrepreneur, manager, astronomer, and philanthropist. With Ambrose Swasey he cofounded the Warner & Swasey Company.-Biographical sketch:...
he co-founded the Warner & Swasey Company
Warner & Swasey Company
The Warner & Swasey Company was an American manufacturer of machine tools, instruments, and special machinery. It operated as an independent business firm, based in Cleveland, from its founding in 1880 until its acquisition in 1980...
.
Swasey was born near Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The town's population was 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county offices were moved to neighboring Brentwood...
. He apprenticed as a machinist at the Exeter Machine Works and was afterwards employed at Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney Measurement Systems
Pratt & Whitney Measurement Systems is a multinational corporation that specializes in producing high-precision measuring instruments and systems.-History:...
. As his career progressed he became a foreman in the gear-cutting section. He developed a new technique for making gear-tooth cutters. In 1880 he and Warner formed their eponymous firm, which quickly moved to Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. Swasey would perform the engineering and machine development at this company.
The close friends Warner and Swasey built their homes next to each other on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, a street that was known as "Millionaire's Row".
In addition to army ordinance contracts, the firm of Warner & Swasey became notable for their work on astronomical observatories and equipment. They realized that obtaining contracts to build large astronomical observatories would provide publicity for their company.
In 1885 Swasey completed work at McCormick Observatory
McCormick Observatory
The McCormick Observatory is one of the astronomical observatories operated by the Department of Astronomy of the University of Virginia and is situated just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia in Albemarle County on the summit of Mount Jefferson . It is named for Leander J...
on the 45-foot dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
, which was the largest in the world, and had a unique, 3 shutter design. In 1887 Swasey built the mount for the 36-inch refracting telescope
Refracting telescope
A refracting or refractor telescope is a type of optical telescope that uses a lens as its objective to form an image . The refracting telescope design was originally used in spy glasses and astronomical telescopes but is also used for long focus camera lenses...
at Lick Observatory
Lick Observatory
The Lick Observatory is an astronomical observatory, owned and operated by the University of California. It is situated on the summit of Mount Hamilton, in the Diablo Range just east of San Jose, California, USA...
. In 1898 he manufactured a dividing engine
Dividing engine
A dividing engine is a device specifically employed to mark graduations on measuring instruments.-History:There has always been a need for accurate measuring instruments...
for the U.S. Naval Observatory that was used to make the meridian circles. Both the building and dome of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory
Dominion Astrophysical Observatory
The Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, located on Observatory Hill, in Saanich, British Columbia, was completed in 1918 by the Canadian government. Proposed and designed by John S...
were made by Warner and Swasey Co. Other observatory telescopes and components were built by the company at the Kenwood Observatory, Yerkes Observatory
Yerkes Observatory
Yerkes Observatory is an astronomical observatory operated by the University of Chicago in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. The observatory, which calls itself "the birthplace of modern astrophysics," was founded in 1897 by George Ellery Hale and financed by Charles T. Yerkes...
, Argentia National Observatory, Denison University's Swasey Observatory, and the Case Institute Observatory.
From 1904 until 1905 he was the president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is a professional body, specifically an engineering society, focused on mechanical engineering....
.
Both Warner and Swasey were amateur astronomers. In 1920 they made a joint donation to the Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
to fund the construction of an observatory. This was named the Warner and Swasey Observatory
Warner and Swasey Observatory
The Warner and Swasey Observatory is the astronomical observatory of Case Western Reserve University. Named after Worcester R. Warner and Ambrose Swasey, who built it at the beginning of the 20th century, it was initially located on Taylor Road in East Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
in their honor, and the observatory was used for research by the Case astronomy department. The observatory maintained by the department today is still known by this name today.
Other donations made by Swasey include the Swasey Chapel at Denison University in Granville, Ohio (1924), a bandstand in Exeter by architect Henry Bacon
Henry Bacon
Henry Bacon was an American Beaux-Arts architect who is best remembered for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. , which was his final project.- Education and early career :...
, (1916), and the endowment of a chair for a professor of physics at the Case School of Applied Sciences. The chimes in the chapel were included as a memorial to his wife, Lavinia Marston Swasey.
He died in Exeter. The Warner & Swasey Company he cofounded would continue until 1980, when it was acquired by Bendix Corporation
Bendix Corporation
The Bendix Corporation was an American manufacturing and engineering company which during various times in its 60 year existence made brake systems, aeronautical hydraulics, avionics, aircraft and automobile fuel control systems, radios, televisions and computers, and which licensed its name for...
.
Awards and honors
- The crater SwaseySwasey (crater)Swasey is a small lunar crater that lies along the eastern limb of the Moon. It lies near the southeastern edge of the Mare Smythii, to the west of the walled plain Hirayama...
on the MoonMoonThe Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is named after him, as is the asteroidAsteroidAsteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
992 Swasey992 Swasey992 Swasey is an asteroid, a minor planet orbiting the Sun. It was discovered by Otto Struve in 1922 at the Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, USA. It is named after Ambrose Swasey of the Warner & Swasey Company, which built the 82-inch telescope named after Struve at McDonald...
. - At CWRU, the chair of "Ambrose Swasey Professor of Physics" was named for his endowment. (Lawrence M. KraussLawrence M. KraussLawrence Maxwell Krauss is an American theoretical physicist who is professor of physics, Foundation Professor of the School of Earth and Space Exploration, and director of the Origins Project at the Arizona State University. He is the author of several bestselling books, including The Physics of...
was named to this position in 1993.) - In 1932 he was awarded the Franklin MedalFranklin MedalThe Franklin Medal was a science and engineering award presented by the Franklin Institute, of Philadelphia, PA, USA.-Laureates:*1915 - Thomas Alva Edison *1915 - Heike Kamerlingh Onnes *1916 - John J...
. - In 1936 he was awarded the Hoover MedalHoover MedalThe Hoover Medal is an American engineering prize.It has been given since 1930 for "outstanding extra-career services by engineers to humanity"...
. - Swasey was a member of the United States National Research CouncilUnited States National Research CouncilThe National Research Council of the USA is the working arm of the United States National Academies, carrying out most of the studies done in their names.The National Academies include:* National Academy of Sciences...
. - In 1982 Swasey was elected to the Machine Tool Hall of Fame of the American Precision MuseumAmerican Precision MuseumAmerican Precision Museum founded by Edwin Albert Battison in 1966 is located at 196 Main Street, Windsor, Vermont in a building which was once home to the Robbins & Lawrence Armory company. The museum is home to the largest collection of historically significant machine tools in the United States...
.