Chadwell O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Chad O'Connor redirects here.
Chadwell O'Connor (October 9, 1914 – September 5, 2007) was an American inventor and steam engine enthusiast. He is most remembered as the inventor of the fluid-damped camera head, an achievement for which he won an Academy Award
in 1992.
was a well-known psychometrician and pioneer in the study of aptitude testing. His mother died when he was young and his father remarried the MIT-trained architect and educator Eleanor Manning
. The family lived in Boston and O'Connor often accompanied his father to his work at the General Electric factory in Lynn, Massachusetts
where he acquired an interest in engineering. O'Connor attended the Stevens Institute of Technology
and California Institute of Technology
where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. Shortly after graduating, World War II broke out and O'Connor joined Douglas Aircraft
where he was in charge of expediting aircraft production and repair, a vital part of the war effort.
After the war, O'Connor joined Pasadena Power and Light as chief engineer. O'Connor had been interested in steam engines since he was a boy and he applied this knowledge at the power company to improve power production and incineration. In 1974, he used this experience to develop the O'Connor Rotary Combustor that burned municipal garbage to create steam for power generation. The first pilot plant was built in Japan, and in 1980 a production facility was built in Gallatin, Tennessee
, that burned 200 tons a day of municipal waste. This technology was spun out of O'Connor's company, O'Connor Engineering to a separate company that was later purchased by Westinghouse
.
O'Connor had long been fascinated with steam locomotives which he recognized were a dying breed and began photographing them. He later became involved in the refurbishment and reproduction of classic steam locomotives. He and his company recreated the drawings and reproduced copies of the Union Pacific No. 119
and Central Pacific Jupiter
locomotives that met for the driving of the Golden spike
at Promontory Summit, Utah. These reproductions were used in recreations of the event and are still operating at the Golden Spike National Historic Site
. Disney animator and steam-engine-owner Ward Kimball
painted the artwork on the No. 119. In later years, O'Connor maintained his own steam boat which he would fire up and tool around the harbor in Newport Beach, California
.
."
Disney was then shooting one of his first nature studies, The Living Desert
, and needed a way to shoot moving animals smoothly. The O'Connor head was so successful that Disney immediately ordered 10 more. This film won the first Academy Award for Documentary Feature
in 1953. O'Connor founded a part-time business in 1952 to make the heads and by 1969 it was so successful that he left the power company to work full time on camera heads and steam engines at O'Connor Engineering. O'Connor and Disney maintained a life-long friendship and business relationship. O'Connor designed the power systems for the steam launches and paddle wheelers at Disney World
in Florida.
In 1975 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented O'Connor with a Class II Scientific and Engineering Award and in 1992, they awarded him the Academy Award of Merit, the Oscar, for his work on the fluid head. In his lifetime, O'Connor received 29 US patents. Chadwell O'Connor died on September 5, 2007.
Academy Award, Scientific or Technical
Since 1931, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has given the Scientific and Technical Award, an Academy Award for scientific or technical achievements, which are presented at "a dinner ceremony separate from the annual telecast."...
in 1992.
Early life and education
Chadwell O'Connor came from a distinguished family. His father, Johnson O'ConnorJohnson O'Connor
Johnson O'Connor was an American psychometrician, researcher, and educator. He is most remembered as a pioneer in the study of aptitude testing and as an advocate for the importance of vocabulary....
was a well-known psychometrician and pioneer in the study of aptitude testing. His mother died when he was young and his father remarried the MIT-trained architect and educator Eleanor Manning
Eleanor Manning O'Connor
Eleanor Manning O'Connor was an American architect and educator passionate about the creation of decent public housing for all.-Early life and education:...
. The family lived in Boston and O'Connor often accompanied his father to his work at the General Electric factory in Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
where he acquired an interest in engineering. O'Connor attended the Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a technological university located on a campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA – founded in 1870 with an 1868 bequest from Edwin A. Stevens. It is known for its engineering, science, and technological management curricula.The institute has produced leading...
and California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. Shortly after graduating, World War II broke out and O'Connor joined Douglas Aircraft
Douglas Aircraft Company
The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
where he was in charge of expediting aircraft production and repair, a vital part of the war effort.
Steam enthusiast
Gallatin, Tennessee
Gallatin is a city in and the county seat of Sumner County, Tennessee, United States, along a navigable tributary of the Cumberland River. The population was 23,230 at the 2000 census. Named for U.S...
, that burned 200 tons a day of municipal waste. This technology was spun out of O'Connor's company, O'Connor Engineering to a separate company that was later purchased by Westinghouse
Westinghouse Electric (1886)
Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997...
.
O'Connor had long been fascinated with steam locomotives which he recognized were a dying breed and began photographing them. He later became involved in the refurbishment and reproduction of classic steam locomotives. He and his company recreated the drawings and reproduced copies of the Union Pacific No. 119
Union Pacific No. 119
The No. 119 was a 4-4-0 steam locomotive which made history as one of the two locomotives to meet at Promontory Summit during the Golden Spike ceremony commemorating the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad.No...
and Central Pacific Jupiter
Jupiter (locomotive)
The Jupiter was a 4-4-0 steam locomotive which made history as one of the two locomotives The Jupiter (officially known as Central Pacific Railroad #60) was a 4-4-0 steam locomotive which made history as one of the two locomotives The Jupiter (officially known as Central Pacific Railroad #60) was...
locomotives that met for the driving of the Golden spike
Golden spike
The "Golden Spike" is the ceremonial final spike driven by Leland Stanford to join the rails of the First Transcontinental Railroad across the United States connecting the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads on May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory...
at Promontory Summit, Utah. These reproductions were used in recreations of the event and are still operating at the Golden Spike National Historic Site
Golden Spike National Historic Site
Golden Spike National Historic Site is a U.S. National Historic Site located at Promontory Summit, north of the Great Salt Lake in Utah.It commemorates the completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad where the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad met on May 10, 1869...
. Disney animator and steam-engine-owner Ward Kimball
Ward Kimball
Ward Walrath Kimball was an animator for the Walt Disney Studios. He was one of Walt Disney's team of animators known as Disney's Nine Old Men.-Career:...
painted the artwork on the No. 119. In later years, O'Connor maintained his own steam boat which he would fire up and tool around the harbor in Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
.
The fluid head
It was O'Connor's fascination with photographing steam locomotives that led to his best known invention. As he tried photographing moving trains, he became annoyed by the jerkiness of the pictures. To solve this problem he developed a silicon-filled platform that interfaced between the tripod and the camera to allow smooth panning and tilting of the camera. He still viewed this as a hobby and shot more than 100,000 feet of film on the waning days of steam locomotives. One day in 1952 while filming near Glendale California another steam enthusiast tapped him on the shoulder and asked to look through the view finder. The man seemed to know his way around cameras so O'Connor gave him a look. The man was so impressed that he asked if O'Connor could make more for him. O'Connor agreed but said it would take time as he built them in his garage. The man said, "But I need it right away. Oh, by the way, my name is Walt DisneyWalt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
."
Disney was then shooting one of his first nature studies, The Living Desert
The Living Desert
The Living Desert is a 1953 American nature documentary film which shows the everyday lives of the animals of the desert of the southwestern United States. The movie was written by James Algar, Winston Hibler, Jack Moffitt and Ted Sears. It was directed by Algar, with Hibler as the narrator...
, and needed a way to shoot moving animals smoothly. The O'Connor head was so successful that Disney immediately ordered 10 more. This film won the first Academy Award for Documentary Feature
Academy Award for Documentary Feature
The Academy Award for Documentary Feature is among the most prestigious awards for documentary films.- Winners and nominees:Following the Academy's practice, films are listed below by the award year...
in 1953. O'Connor founded a part-time business in 1952 to make the heads and by 1969 it was so successful that he left the power company to work full time on camera heads and steam engines at O'Connor Engineering. O'Connor and Disney maintained a life-long friendship and business relationship. O'Connor designed the power systems for the steam launches and paddle wheelers at Disney World
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt...
in Florida.
In 1975 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented O'Connor with a Class II Scientific and Engineering Award and in 1992, they awarded him the Academy Award of Merit, the Oscar, for his work on the fluid head. In his lifetime, O'Connor received 29 US patents. Chadwell O'Connor died on September 5, 2007.
External links
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- Golden Spike National Historic Site
- OConnor Engineering
- Replica Jupiter and 119 Locomotives
- Eric Miller, 1946 Inventor & Patent Holder of the Fluid Head