Luther George Simjian
Encyclopedia
Luther George Simjian(January 28, 1905 in Turkey
– October 23, 1997) was an Armenian-American inventor of numerous devices and owner of over 200 patents.
n parents, Luther Simjian grew up in Antep
, Turkey, but was separated from his family after the Armenian Genocide
, when he had to flee first to Beirut
, later Marseille
. In 1920 he emigrated to the USA, where he found shelter with relatives in New Haven, Connecticut
. Beginning at the age of 15, he worked there as a photographer. He gave up his initial plans of studying medicine when he was engaged as a laboratory photographer by the Yale School of Medicine
. Later, in 1928, he became director of their photography department, and invented several machines such as a projector for microscope images.
In 1934 Simjian moved to New York City
, where he invented a self-posing portrait camera, with which the photographed person could see and optimize their own image in a mirror before the photo was actually taken. In order to manufacture and distribute the camera, which became a success for use in department stores, he founded the company Photoreflex. Years later, after selling the invention and the trade name, the company was renamed Reflectone, a name drawn from another of Simjian's inventions, a kind of cosmetic chair with movable mirrors, where one could see their own body from all perspectives.
In 1939 Simjian had the idea to build the Bankmatic Automated Teller Machine
, probably his most famous invention. Despite the scepticism of the banks, he registered 20 patents for it and developed a number of features and principles that can still be found in today's ATMs, including their name. He finally persuaded the City Bank of New York, today Citibank
, to run a 6-month trial. The trial was however not continued — surprisingly not due to technical insufficiencies, but to lack of demand. It seems the only people using the machines were a small number of prostitutes and gamblers who didn't want to deal with tellers face to face, Simjian wrote. Hence Simjian missed out on not only the commercial success, but also the fame associated with inventing the ATM. This credit is often attributed to John Shepherd-Barron
(who invented the first true electronic ATM) and Donald Wetzel
(who directed a 5 million US-$ project to build upon Shepherd-Barron's invention in the late 1960s).
Simjian gained commercial success during World War II
with another invention, his Optical Range Estimation Trainer, a kind of simple flight simulator, made from mirrors, light sources and miniature airplanes, used to train US military pilots in estimating the speed and distance of airplanes. Simjian sold over 2000 of these devices. Today's successor of Reflectone (after a number of mergers and acquisitions), CAE
, is still making its money with flight simulation and control technology.
Simjian founded several other companies in the following years and invented a number of very different devices and technologies, e. g. a teleprompter
, medical ultrasound devices, a remote-controlled postage meter
, a golf simulator and a meat tenderizer. He never ceased inventing in his laboratories in Fort Lauderdale. At the age of 92, he got his last patent on a process for improving the sound of wood for musical instruments, seven months before his death in 1997.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
– October 23, 1997) was an Armenian-American inventor of numerous devices and owner of over 200 patents.
Biography
The Son of ArmeniaArmenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n parents, Luther Simjian grew up in Antep
Gaziantep
Gaziantep , Ottoman Turkish: Ayintab) previously and still informally called Antep; ʻayn tāb is a city in southeast Turkey and amongst the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. The city is located 185 kilometres northeast of Adana and 127 kilometres by road north of Aleppo, Syria...
, Turkey, but was separated from his family after the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
, when he had to flee first to Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, later Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
. In 1920 he emigrated to the USA, where he found shelter with relatives in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
. Beginning at the age of 15, he worked there as a photographer. He gave up his initial plans of studying medicine when he was engaged as a laboratory photographer by the Yale School of Medicine
Yale School of Medicine
The Yale School of Medicine at Yale University is a private medical school located in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. It was founded in 1810 as The Medical Institution of Yale College, and formally opened its doors in 1813....
. Later, in 1928, he became director of their photography department, and invented several machines such as a projector for microscope images.
In 1934 Simjian moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he invented a self-posing portrait camera, with which the photographed person could see and optimize their own image in a mirror before the photo was actually taken. In order to manufacture and distribute the camera, which became a success for use in department stores, he founded the company Photoreflex. Years later, after selling the invention and the trade name, the company was renamed Reflectone, a name drawn from another of Simjian's inventions, a kind of cosmetic chair with movable mirrors, where one could see their own body from all perspectives.
In 1939 Simjian had the idea to build the Bankmatic Automated Teller Machine
Automated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
, probably his most famous invention. Despite the scepticism of the banks, he registered 20 patents for it and developed a number of features and principles that can still be found in today's ATMs, including their name. He finally persuaded the City Bank of New York, today Citibank
Citibank
Citibank, a major international bank, is the consumer banking arm of financial services giant Citigroup. Citibank was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York, later First National City Bank of New York...
, to run a 6-month trial. The trial was however not continued — surprisingly not due to technical insufficiencies, but to lack of demand. It seems the only people using the machines were a small number of prostitutes and gamblers who didn't want to deal with tellers face to face, Simjian wrote. Hence Simjian missed out on not only the commercial success, but also the fame associated with inventing the ATM. This credit is often attributed to John Shepherd-Barron
John Shepherd-Barron
John Adrian Shepherd-Barron, OBE was a Scottish inventor, who pioneered the development of the cash machine, sometimes referred to as the Automated Teller Machine or ATM.-Early life:...
(who invented the first true electronic ATM) and Donald Wetzel
Donald Wetzel
Donald C. Wetzel is an American engineer, known for holding the USA patent to the automatic teller machine.Born in New Orleans, Louisiana he graduated from Jesuit High School and got a...
(who directed a 5 million US-$ project to build upon Shepherd-Barron's invention in the late 1960s).
Simjian gained commercial success during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
with another invention, his Optical Range Estimation Trainer, a kind of simple flight simulator, made from mirrors, light sources and miniature airplanes, used to train US military pilots in estimating the speed and distance of airplanes. Simjian sold over 2000 of these devices. Today's successor of Reflectone (after a number of mergers and acquisitions), CAE
CAE (company)
CAE Inc. is a leading provider of simulation technologies, modelling technologies and integrated training services to airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and defense customers worldwide. The company has annual revenues in excess of CAD $1.6 billion, with manufacturing operations and training...
, is still making its money with flight simulation and control technology.
Simjian founded several other companies in the following years and invented a number of very different devices and technologies, e. g. a teleprompter
Teleprompter
An autocue is a display device that prompts the person speaking with an electronic visual text of a speech or script. Using a teleprompter is similar to the practice of using cue cards...
, medical ultrasound devices, a remote-controlled postage meter
Postage meter
A postage meter is a mechanical device used to create and apply physical evidence of postage to mailed matter. Postage meters are regulated by a country's postal authority; for example, in the United States, the United States Postal Service specifies the rules for the creation, support, and use...
, a golf simulator and a meat tenderizer. He never ceased inventing in his laboratories in Fort Lauderdale. At the age of 92, he got his last patent on a process for improving the sound of wood for musical instruments, seven months before his death in 1997.
USPTO Links
- http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=0&f=S&l=50&co1=AND&d=PALL&s1=%22Simjian%3B+Luther+G%22.INNM.&Page=Prev&OS=IN/%22Simjian;+Luther+G%22&RS=IN/%22Simjian;+Luther+G%22 Listing of patents with Inventor attributed to Luther G Simjian.
- http://patimg2.uspto.gov/.piw?docid=US002930296&PageNum=4&IDKey=A36F56A31B67&HomeUrl=http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2%2526Sect2=HITOFF%2526p=3%2526u=%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-bool.html%2526r=122%2526f=G%2526l=50%2526co1=AND%2526d=PALL%2526s1=%252522Simjian%25253B%252BLuther%252BG%252522.INNM.%2526OS=IN/%252522Simjian;%252BLuther%252BG%252522%2526RS=IN/%252522Simjian;%252BLuther%252BG%252522] March 29, 1960 - Apparatus For Collecting An Article For Deposit
- http://patimg2.uspto.gov/.piw?docid=US002941187&PageNum=3&IDKey=097382D78125&HomeUrl=http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2%2526Sect2=HITOFF%2526p=3%2526u=%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-bool.html%2526r=120%2526f=G%2526l=50%2526co1=AND%2526d=PALL%2526s1=%252522Simjian%25253B%252BLuther%252BG%252522.INNM.%2526OS=IN/%252522Simjian;%252BLuther%252BG%252522%2526RS=IN/%252522Simjian;%252BLuther%252BG%252522]June 14, 1960 - Apparatus And Method For Determining The Character Of A Document
External links
- Inventor of the Week Archive - MIT: Picture of Simjian in article
- Photoreflex web site