Inventor Name
Ruben, Samuel
Repository
Chemical Heritage Foundation
Othmer Library
315 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-873-8265
http://othmerlib.chemheritage.org
Physical Description
4.5 linear feet
Summary
Samuel Ruben was born on 14 July 1900 in Harrison, New Jersey. He developed an interest in electrochemistry at a young age; however, he had minimal formal training in the area. Though he attended college briefly, he withdrew after a short period of time, as the stress was making him physically ill. Nevertheless, he continued with home study and experimentation and soon gained confidence enough to seek employment in a laboratory setting. From 1918 to 1921, Ruben worked for the Electrochemical Products Laboratory. Beginning in 1921, he helped found a laboratory in New Rochelle, New York, which eventually became known as Ruben Laboratories, with Ruben as president for much of his life. Ruben worked on numerous projects related to the field of electrochemistry, and became a well-recognized scientist and inventor. He invented the mercury primary cell, the dry electrolyte condenser, the rectifier tube, and flexible wire with ceramic insulation. In addition, he aided in the invention of the cardio- pacemaker, by developing an appropriate battery for the device. He worked extensively with the Duracell Company on such projects as alkaline dry batteries and is credited with revolutionizing battery technology. His notable inventions earned him the Inventor of the Year Award in 1965 from the Research Institute at George Washington University. Ruben was an American Chemical Society Fellow and a member of the Electrochemical Society. He passed away in 1988. The Papers of Samuel Ruben have been divided into two series: I. Laboratory Notebooks, 1932–1984, and II. Miscellaneous, (1937–1969), 198–-1984. The laboratory notebooks, which contain notes on experiments conducted at Ruben Laboratories, comprise the vast majority of the collection (four of the four and half feet). Attached to the pages of the notebooks are pieces of metal, wire, cellophane, etc., which were used in Ruben’s laboratory experiments. Some of the pages are brittle and discolored from being in contact with these various materials. The series of miscellaneous materials consists of Correspondence (1937–1969), 1982–1984, Reports on Rectifiers, 1937, and Ruben Laboratories Project Summaries, 1983. Ruben’s work with the Duracell Company is documented within this series.
Finding Aid
http://othmerlib.chemheritage.org/search/?searchtype=a&searcharg=ruben&searchscope=5
