|
There are not many specimens from Geo. W. Richardson Rule Works, but his design style and short period of doing business is uniquely Americana, and deserves his own gallery. |
 Manual signed by the Inventor: George W. Richardson Jan 11, 1910, "To Mr. Bronlow, with compliments of the builder Geo, W, Richardson, Chicago, Illinois".
|
|
A letter of endorsement from George Richardson to The International Correspondence Schools, of Scranton, PA Dated April 5, 1920. Donated by Chris Spannbauer, Barre, VT. George mentions being able to own a "Winton Six" automobile. An ad from 1914 shows what this car looked like.
|
 Richardson Death Notice, 1940 |
Note: There has been much speculated about the relationship between Richardson and Gilson,
as both companies used at one time the "Be Wise" owl on the back of their manuals.
In the above endorsement to I.C.S., George mentions that he was able
to retire after selling his company,which had to be before the 1920 date. He
is obviously writing this endorsement after the sale in order to promote
his slide rule design for the new owners. Richard A. Gilson, son of of the
founder of Gilson Slide Rule Company, states in a letter to Bobby Feazel
(published by Oughtred Society Vol. 2, No. 2, 1993) that they made an 11" Richardson
straight rule for I.C.S. The only conclusion, therefore is that Gilson Slide Rule
Company purchased Richardson Rule Works prior to 1920. Both Richardson and Gilson were
family owned and run businesses, having created slide rules different from what was being
produced at the time. They would have been like minded and kindred spirits. George W. Richardson died
September 21, 1940, his obituary in the Chicago Tribune listed the same address was his business in 1911. I estimate he died at 75 years of age, having retired at 54 when he sold his business around 1919. This would put his birth around 1866. He was a veteran of the Spanish-American War of 1898 and ended his Naval service, soon thereafter, as a Chief Electrician, beginning his formal education at 33. He married Clara Knief. He had a son, Harold K. Richardson and a grand daughter Lynn Clair (Richardson).
|
Complete Obituary Page
