Gordon E. Hines
Encyclopedia
Gordon Eugene Hines was an inventor of hard-bearing balancing machine
s and other balancing technologies.
Gordon Eugene Hines was born in Chicago, Illinois to Mabel (McMillan) and Rufus Hines who were originally from Nova Scotia
, Canada
. His father and his uncle, Robert Hines (father of Gerald D. Hines
), emigrated to the United States
when jobs became scarce in Canada. His mother and sister both died when he was four, and his father later married Margaret Morrison who helped raise him.
Following graduation from William Howard Taft High School (Chicago)
in 1948, he enlisted in the United States Army
. He continued serving in the Army Reserve while attending the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where he completed a B.S. in Liberal Arts & Sciences in 1956. While in Chicago he was secretary of the Wilson
YMCA, bike raced in Chicago’s Kenosha Park, sang professionally with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chorus, and was active in Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. He married Mavis Offner on November 15, 1958.
Hines began his career working for Al Bagge and Ralph T. Buscarello at Electronic Dynamic Balancing Company (EDBCO), selling Stewart-Warner driveshaft balancing machines to the automotive industry. Based on feedback from customers, Hines made requests to Stewart-Warner for modifications to the machine design, but the company did not respond quickly enough so he started modifying the machines on his own before selling them. In November, 1965 Hines and Al Bagge were co-awarded a patent for automatic centering of parts.
In 1964, Hines moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan
with his family, that now included three daughters, so that he could have his own Stewart-Warner sales territory. In 1968 he incorporated Balance Technology, Inc. While with Balance Technology, Hines was awarded 4 more patents.
In 1979, Hines left Balance Technologies and started his second company, Hines Industries. His first office space at Hines Industries was a work area he built in his garage. During the next 17 years, Hines was awarded or co-awarded 17 more patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office(Inventor: Hines, Gordon). The first two of which relate to new ideas for hard-bearing balancing machines. Hines Industries is still owned by the Hines family and headquarters are located at 793 Airport Blvd. in Ann Arbor.
Hines was an avid private pilot, a member of Measure For Measure Men’s Chorus, Cantata Singers, and Barbershop Quartet and played volleyball and ice hockey regularly until he was 70. Hines died on November 18, 2007.
Balancing Machine
A balancing machine is a measuring tool used for balancing rotating machine parts such as rotors for electric motors, fans, turbines, disc brakes, disc drives, propellers and pumps. The machine usually consists of two rigid pedestals, with suspension and bearings on top supporting a mounting...
s and other balancing technologies.
Gordon Eugene Hines was born in Chicago, Illinois to Mabel (McMillan) and Rufus Hines who were originally from Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. His father and his uncle, Robert Hines (father of Gerald D. Hines
Gerald D. Hines
Gerald D. Hines is the founder and chairman of Hines, a privately held real estate firm with its U.S. headquarters located in Houston, Texas, and its European headquarters located in London....
), emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when jobs became scarce in Canada. His mother and sister both died when he was four, and his father later married Margaret Morrison who helped raise him.
Following graduation from William Howard Taft High School (Chicago)
William Howard Taft High School (Chicago)
William Howard Taft High School is a high school located at 6530 West Bryn Mawr Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, in the Norwood Park neighborhood. It is run by the Chicago Public Schools . It is perhaps most famous as being the high school attended by Jim Jacobs, the writer of Grease. Jacobs used Taft...
in 1948, he enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He continued serving in the Army Reserve while attending the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where he completed a B.S. in Liberal Arts & Sciences in 1956. While in Chicago he was secretary of the Wilson
Wilson
- People :* Wilson * Woodrow Wilson , 28th President of the United States* Wilson Francisco Alves , often only Wilson, Brazilian footballer of Brazil and Vasco da Gama* Harold Wilson, UK Prime Minister 1964-70, 1974-6...
YMCA, bike raced in Chicago’s Kenosha Park, sang professionally with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
Chorus, and was active in Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. He married Mavis Offner on November 15, 1958.
Hines began his career working for Al Bagge and Ralph T. Buscarello at Electronic Dynamic Balancing Company (EDBCO), selling Stewart-Warner driveshaft balancing machines to the automotive industry. Based on feedback from customers, Hines made requests to Stewart-Warner for modifications to the machine design, but the company did not respond quickly enough so he started modifying the machines on his own before selling them. In November, 1965 Hines and Al Bagge were co-awarded a patent for automatic centering of parts.
In 1964, Hines moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
with his family, that now included three daughters, so that he could have his own Stewart-Warner sales territory. In 1968 he incorporated Balance Technology, Inc. While with Balance Technology, Hines was awarded 4 more patents.
In 1979, Hines left Balance Technologies and started his second company, Hines Industries. His first office space at Hines Industries was a work area he built in his garage. During the next 17 years, Hines was awarded or co-awarded 17 more patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office(Inventor: Hines, Gordon). The first two of which relate to new ideas for hard-bearing balancing machines. Hines Industries is still owned by the Hines family and headquarters are located at 793 Airport Blvd. in Ann Arbor.
Hines was an avid private pilot, a member of Measure For Measure Men’s Chorus, Cantata Singers, and Barbershop Quartet and played volleyball and ice hockey regularly until he was 70. Hines died on November 18, 2007.