Photographs from the Bendix Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer Collection
Scope and Content
This collection consists of photographs documenting the creation, production, and marketing of the Bendix Corporation’s flagship analytical instrument, the Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (TOFMS), predominately dating from the 1960s and 1970s. Photographs of different models of the TOFMS and its various component parts, including mass sequencers, cell sample inlet systems, respiratory gas analyzers, and magnetic electron multipliers, make up the bulk of the collection, with a small subset of photographs devoted to gas chromatographs. By and large, the photographs are staged publicity images used for advertising and manuals and only a few photographs capture the instruments in use in a laboratory setting. Photographs of the Bendix Corporation and sales booths of competing companies at the 1973 PITTCON round out the collection.
Dates
- Creation: 1959-1973
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1970
Creator
- Bendix Corporation (Organization)
- McGinnis, Patrick F. (Person)
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes and the collection is open to the public.
Copyright Information
To obtain reproductions and copyright information, contact: reproductions@sciencehistory.org
Background Note
The Bendix Corporation was founded in South Bend, Indiana in 1924 by Vincent Bendix and initially specialized in the manufacture of automobile brake systems. In 1928, Bendix acquired the Eclipse Machine Company of Elmira, NY and, as the company subsequently expanded its business to aviation products, rebranded itself as the Bendix Aviation Corporation in 1929. By the 1950s, Bendix was a leading manufacturer and supplier of automotive components, housebuilding products, and other equipment, including scientific instrumentation. Bendix’s flagship scientific product was the Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (TOFMS), which dominated the market until newer instruments like the quadrupole mass spectrometer eventually eclipsed the TOFMS. The company reverted to the name Bendix Corporation in 1960 and became a subsidiary of Allied Corporation in 1983; in turn, Allied Corporation subsequently merged with Honeywell in 1999.
Extent
320 Photographic Prints (3 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Photographs documenting the creation, production, and marketing of the Bendix Corporation’s flagship analytical instrument, the Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (TOFMS).
Custodial History
Collected by Patrick McGinnis during his time working at the Bendix Corporation.
Acquisition Information
Separated from the Bendix Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer Collection 1952-1993 (bulk 1960-1980); Gift of Patrick McGinnis, 2010.
Digitized Materials
A portion of this collection has been digitized and is available online in our Digital Collections: https://digital.sciencehistory.org/collections/g445cd19z
Condition Description
Material is in good condition.
Processing Information
Processed by Bertha Adams in 2010. Object identification numbers were assigned to individual photographs.
Subject
- Bendix Corporation (Organization)
- Title
- Photographs from the Bendix Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by Hillary S. Kativa and encoded into EAD by Melanie Grear.
- Date
- 2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Revision Statements
- 8/28/2023: Digitized Materials note added.
Repository Details
Part of the Science History Institute Archives Repository
315 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia PA 19106 United States
215.873.8265
215.873.5265 (Fax)
reference@sciencehistory.org