Bendix Corporation
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Knorr Bremse (2008-present) | |
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Website | https://www.bendix.com/en/ |
Bendix Corporation is an American manufacturing and
It was also well known for the name Bendix, as used on home clothes washing machines in the mid-20th century, but those were produced by a partner company that licensed their name.
History
Early history
Founder and inventor
Automotive
In 1956, Bendix introduced Electrojector, a multi-point electronic fuel injection system, which was optional on several 1958 models of automobiles built by Chrysler.[5][6][7]
In the 1960s, Bendix automotive brakes blossomed with the introduction of fixed-caliper disc brakes and the "Duo-Servo" system (which became, virtually, a de facto world standard for drum brakes). During the 1960s, Bendix also dabbled in bicycle hardware, producing a reliable, totally self-contained, 2-speed "Kick-Back" planetary rear axle with coaster braking. Also, just as reliable, was the Bendix "Red Band" and "Red Band II" single speed coaster brake hub. followed by the Bendix "70" and Bendix "80" hub. Considered one of the best hubs on the market, at the time.
When
Starting in the 1950s or before, Bendix Pacific designed, tested, and manufactured hydraulic components and systems, primarily for the military. In the same facility, avionics and other electronic hardware was designed, manufactured, and documented in technical manuals. Much of this operation was relocated to a new facility in
Bendix Scintilla manufactured MIL SPEC electrical connectors of many styles. Criteria were met for hostile and non-hostile environments that provided seals against liquids and gasses.
In 1971, Bendix introduced the world's first true computerized ABS (anti-lock) system on Chrysler's 1971 Imperial. Production continued for several years. Under its present ownership by Honeywell, Bendix continues[when?] to manufacture automotive brakes and industrial brakes for a wide variety of industries.[8] In 2014, Honeywell sold the Bendix trademark for automotive brakes in the US, to MAT Holdings.[9]
Many Bendix automotive, truck and industrial brakes sold in the United States used asbestos as late as 1987.[10] Bendix's current parent, Honeywell, continues to deal with numerous lawsuits brought as a result of asbestos-containing Bendix brand brakes.[11]
Mass spectrometer
A collaboration between
Radiological Dosimetry
Bendix manufactured Radiological Dosimeters for Civil Defense during the cold war, they also made a Family Radiation measurement kit for home use, which included a CDV-746 dosimeter and a CDV-736 Rate meter, which looked like a dosimeter.
Dosimeters manufactured by Bendix for the Office of Civil Defense included: CDV-138; CDV-730; CDV-736-Ratemeter; CDV-740; CDV-742, the version most commonly used by Civil Defense; and CDV-746.
The Dosimeters measured in Roentgens an hour, which is the standard measurement for ionising radiation.
'Dashaveyor' Automated Guideway Transit
In the late 1960s Bendix purchased the rights to the
Avionics, military and government
In 1929 Vincent Bendix branched out into aeronautics and restructured the company as "Bendix Aviation" to reflect the new product lines.[13][14][15]
Bendix Aviation was founded as a holding company for the assets of Delco Aviation Corporation, Eclipse Machine Company, Stromberg Carburetor Company, and other aircraft accessory manufacturers.[16]
Bendix supplied aircraft manufacturers with all types of
The Bendix Corporation sponsored the famous Bendix continental air race which started in 1931, and is known for the Bendix Trophy. The competition was a transcontinental U.S. point-to-point race meant to encourage the development of durable, efficient aircraft for commercial aviation. Civilians were barred from the race in 1950. The last race took place in 1962.
During World War II Bendix made nearly every ancillary instrument or equipment for military aircraft.[citation needed] The Bendix radio division was established in 1937 to make radio transmitter/receivers for aircraft and other types of avionics. During the war Bendix manufactured about 75% of all avionics in US aircraft.[citation needed] During and after the war Bendix made radar equipment of various types.
Bendix ranked 17th among United States corporations in the value of wartime production contracts.[17]
One product made by Bendix was a Land Mine Detecting set for the
In the 1950s, Bendix and its successors managed
In 1956, the computer division of Bendix Aviation introduced the Bendix G-15, a mini computer which was the size of two tall filing cabinets. The company sold about 400 of these at prices starting at below US$50,000. The Bendix computer division was taken over in 1963 by Control Data Corporation, which continued to support the G-15 for a few years.
The chief designer of the G-15 was
The company was renamed to Bendix Corporation in 1960. During the 1960s the company made ground and airborne telecommunications systems for
In January 1963, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) released a report stating that the "most likely abnormality" to have caused the crash of American Airlines Flight 1 on March 1, 1962, was a short circuit caused by wires in the automatic piloting system that had been damaged in the manufacturing process. CAB inspectors had inspected units at a Teterboro, New Jersey, Bendix Corporation plant and discovered workers using tweezers to bind up bundles of wires, thus damaging them. The Bendix Corporation issued denials, stating that the units underwent 61 inspections during manufacture, in addition to inspections during installation and maintenance work, and insisted that had the insulation on the wires been breached at some point, it would have been detected and the unit replaced.
Bendix also made the fuel system for the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.[citation needed]
Marine
During World War II, Bendix was contracted to make engine order telegraphs for the United States Navy.[20]
Washing machines and name licensing
Although popularly connected to
In 1937, Bendix Home Appliances was the first company to market a domestic automatic washing machine.[21] The 1937 Bendix Home Laundry[22] was a front-loading automatic washer with a glass porthole door, a rotating drum and an electrically driven mechanical timer. The machine was able to autofill, wash, rinse and spin-dry. Initially the lack of any vibration damper meant that the machine had to be secured firmly to the floor. The machine also lacked an internal water heater.
By the time the USA entered World War II, 330,000 units had been sold. Production resumed in 1946 and reached 2,000,000 by 1950.[23]
Bendix Home Appliances was sold to Avco Manufacturing Corporation,[24] which was resold to Philco in 1956.[25]
Home electronics
Bendix first manufactured domestic radios and phonographs for the retail market after WWII as an outgrowth of its production of aircraft radios. In 1948 Bendix started to sell car radios directly to Ford and other auto manufacturers. From 1950 to 1959, Bendix made television sets. Production of radios for the retail trade grew quickly in the 1950s, but stopped quickly in the 1960s when Ford, General Motors and Chrysler started producing their own radios.
Recent history
Since 2002, Bendix has been a subsidiary of Knorr-Bremse.[26] In February 2020, Bendix announced that it would be moving its headquarters from Elyria, Ohio to Avon, with an expected opening date for its new facility of November 2021.[27]
Mergers
In the decades between 1970 and 1990, Bendix went through a series of mergers, sales and changes with partners or buyers including
In 1982 under CEO
In 2002 Knorr-Bremse took over the commercial vehicle brake business from Honeywell, and Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems became a subsidiary of Knorr-Bremse.
In popular culture
In the 1960s and 1970s, Archie Comics ran comic-strip ads for Bendix brakes for bicycles featuring Archie Andrews and his friends.[29][30][31]
See also
- Bendix drive
- Ernest L. Webster, formed Startomatic Company, which was leased to Bendix
- Michael Blumenthal
- William Agee
- Mary Cunningham
References
Footnotes
- Vincent Bendixacquired the license to manufacture Perrot's shoe-brake patents.
Notes
- Baltimore Sun. 20 September 1968.
- ^ US patent 1125935, Vincent Bendix, "Starter for Engines", issued 1915-01-26
- ISBN 9780898658736.
- ^ Bendix Brakes, History Archived 2012-03-02 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Bendix Electrojector Brochure, dated 12-56, Title: "Electronic Fuel Injection For Passenger Cars"
- ^ The News-Palladium, Title: "Fuel Injection For Cars Built By Bendix", September 19, 1956, page7
- ^ New Chrysler Fuel System Is Introduced Chicago Daily Tribune September 29, 1957 page A9
- ^ "Bendix Brakes official website". Archived from the original on 2010-03-06. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ "MAT to acquire Bendix trademark". Tire Business. 2015-08-13. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
MAT Holdings Inc. [...] is acquiring from Honeywell International Inc. the exclusive license for the Bendix trademark for automotive braking products sold in the U.S.
- ^ Independent Laboratory testing of Bendix brakes purchased in 1987 [dead link]
- ^ Lehman Brothers study relating to asbestos liabilities of numerous companies, including Honeywell on page 9
- ^ Jones, Mark. "Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry". American Chemical Society. Retrieved 19 Nov 2019.
- ^ "1929: Bendix Building, 1206 South Maple Avenue in Los Angeles for the Bendix Aviation Corporation". Water and Power Associates. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ "History". Bendix Building. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ Sinco, Luis (May 6, 2003). "The Bendix Building sign is relit as part of an effort to restore signs in the Historic Wilshire Neon Corridor. The neon sign is one of the largest in downtown Los Angeles". Getty Images.
Los Angeles Times
- ^ "Bendix Forms Aviation Firm". St Petersburg Times. 21 April 1929. p. 2. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ Peck, Merton J. & Scherer, Frederic M. (1962). The Weapons Acquisition Process: An Economic Analysis. Harvard Business School. p. 619.
- ^ Leyden, CJ (1957). "Bendix-Friez Wrist Depth Gauge". NEDU-Evaluation-9-57. United States Navy Experimental Diving Unit Technical report. Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2013-05-16.
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(help)CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Blockwick, TN (1950). "Determination of the Potentialities of the Bendix, MSA and Cousteau-Gagnon Demand Breathing Appliances for Descents to 400 Feet and the Measurement of the Amounts of Gas Required for the Various Depths". NEDU-RR-5-50. United States Navy Experimental Diving Unit Technical report. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-16.
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(help)CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Marine Surplus Seller, Issues 13-22". Google Books. United States Maritime Commission. 1946. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
- ^ "US2165884A - Cleaning textile and similar materials - Google Patents". Retrieved 2019-06-17.
- ^ "LIFE - Google Books". 1937-11-22. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
- ^ "LIFE - Google Books". 1950-04-24. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
- ^ "Obituaries - Judson S. Sayre". The New York Times. May 12, 1986. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
- ^ "Bendix Sale by Avco to Philco Affirmed". New York Times. 1956-11-14. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
- ^ "Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems". Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ "550 jobs leaving Elyria as Bendix opens new, multi-million dollar brake plant in Avon". WOIO. 26 February 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- ^ "Bendix Logo: Design and History". FamousLogos.us. Retrieved 2011-08-18.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Archie Gets All the Brakes" (Comic Ads #53), ComicVine
- ^ Bicycle Museum of America, Flickr Hive Mind[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Comic Books Uncovered," Garage Sale Finds, August 19, 2015
Bibliography
External links
- GMnext.com: Bendix Aviation Corporation — on General Motors wiki
- Bendix Aviation Corporation and Your Business! – Michiana Memory Digital Collection
- Bendix Aviation Equipment Service Guide – AirCorps Library(subscription required)
- Bendix Appliances homepage (bad link)
- Popular Mechanics: "Certificate of Brake Test Made Automatically by Small Recorder" (April 1936) – portable brake testing unit developed and sold by Bendix in the 1930s.
- Bendixline (1957–1958, 1962–1964) – Digitized copies of the Bendix Products Division newsletter
- Bendix: First Fifty Years in South Bend – Michiana Memory Digital Collection