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CARL FREDERICK PRUTTON
1898-1970
BY CHALMER G. KIRKBRIDE
C ARL FREDERICK PRUTTON, educator, engineer, inventor, indus-
trial executive, and philanthropist, died at the Columbia-
Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City on July 15, 1970.
He had a multitude of friends who respected and loved him.
He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 30, 1898, and was the
second of four brothers whose father ran a milk business. He
attended Purdue University as a freshman at the age of sixteen.
His economic situation, however, was so tight that he joined the
Indiana National Guard in order to have the state pay for his
Purdue military uniform.
This did not turn out as he had expected. He returned to
Cleveland during the summer vacation of 1916 and was earning
fifty-five cents per hour operating a grinding machine. He had
been on the job two weeks when he was summoned to the Mexican
border to help subdue Pancho Villa, for which he was paid $15 per
month. This did not permit him to save anything, and, when he
went back to Cleveland the following October, he could not afford
to return to college.
Subsequently, he obtained a job as a locomotive fireman on the
New York Central at $114 per month. In the fall of 1917, he
entered Case Institute of Technology part-time and kept his
locomotive fireman's job. By the fall of 1918, his savings were
sufficient to permit him to leave the railroad and enter Case
full-time.
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He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical en-
gineering in 1920, and, while serving as an Instructor at Case, he
obtained his master's degree in 1923. He received his Doctor of
Philosophy degree in physical chemistry at Western Reserve Uni-
versity in 1928.
It is apparent that, even though Carl's parents were unable to
pay his way, he was sufficiently enterprising and energetic to work
and pay for his education himself. This same spirit was always
manifested by Carl throughout the balance of his life. Those who
had the privilege of working with him never doubted this man's
ability to succeed. We always knew he would be successful at
whatever he undertook.
Carl served on the faculty of Case Institute of Technology from
1920 through 1948. He was Head of the Department of Chemistry
and Chemical Engineering from 1936 to 1948. From 1942 to 1944,
he was Chief, Process Development Branch, Office of Rubber
Director, and Consultant for the War Production Board.
From 1921 through 1941, Carl served as consultant to the Dow
Chemical Company. In the earlier years, he was involved in the
development of processes for separation of calcium and mag-
nesium chlorides brine, which matured into full-scale commercial
plants.
Later his major efforts were expended in building up and
operating a research and field development organization and
equipment for the Dowell Division. This Division required a very
special form of research organization and techniques. It included a
field development group that was tightly integrated into the com-
mercial end of the business.
Developments during Carl's years with Dowell included im-
provements in acidizing procedures, new inhibitors, plastic water
shutoff methods, bottom-hole survey equipment and procedures,
and the use of acid and other chemicals for the cleaning of scale
from industrial equipment. Dowell blazed the way in the employ-
ment of acid and other chemicals to greatly increase the productiv-
ity of oil, gas, and water wells.
In 1929, Carl became a Consultant to Lubrizol, which entailed
the beginning of research on additives at the Case Institute of
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Technology laboratories. At that time, Lubrizol was marketing only
a graphite-containing spring lubricant. No additives were being
made and sold by Lubrizol. The total additive business in the
United States was minute.
Between the years 1929 and 1951, Carl served Lubrizol in the
varied capacities of Consultant, Director, and Research Director,
while the Company assumed a leading position in the lubricant-
additive field. The use of lubricant additives in the United States
grew to over $200 million per year by the time of Carl's death.
Initial lubricant research work at Case demonstrated the effec-
tiveness of chlorine compounds in lubrication and later the syner-
gistic effect of chlorine on the action of sulfur compounds in
extreme pressure lubrication. Research centered on the fundamen-
tal mechanism of action of lubricating additives and on corrosion in
lubricating systems.
In 1944 and 1945, Carl served full time at Lubrizol in charge of
research and pilot plant development. During that period a
number of improved additives for postwar civilian markets were
developed under Carl's guidance. Several batch manufacturing
plants were converted into simplified continuous processes. Several
plants for manufacture of substitutes for unavailable chemical
intermediates were set up and operated.
The decision by our armed forces to require additive-treated
crankcase lubricants for all internal combustion military units, as
well as additive-treated gear lubricants, had made tremendous
demands on the additive manufacturers. The result of such mili-
tary use was to prove beyond all doubt the efficiency and necessity
of such materials that Carl had pioneered.
During Carl's years with Lubrizol, he led the Company in both
fundamental and applied research concurrently. The chief areas
explored were crankcase lubricant additives, gear lubricant addi-
tives, cutting oil additives, metal drawing compounds, lubricating
greases, engine fuel additives, asphalt additives, and synthetic
lubricants.
The research on lubricant additives, under Carl's leadership,
produced outstanding benefits, one of which made possible the use
of the hypoid gear by increasing the load-carrying capacity of a
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mineral oil more than tenfold. This had a revolutionary effect on
the automobile industry.
Another benefit was greatly increased life and efficiency of
Diesel engines by keeping the pistons clean, so the piston rings
remained loose and effective. Periods between engine overhauls, in
general, increased over tenfold in length. This greatly reduced
maintenance and improved reliability of performance.
In 1948 Carl left Case and went into business on his own as a
consultant to companies interested in research and development.
One of his clients in his new business was Mathieson Chemical
Corporation, now Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation. Carl was
employed on a part-time basis in 1948 to appraise the Corpora-
tion's research and development program.
In 1949, the Corporation acquired the business and assets of two
companies with eight plants. Carl was invited to become Vice-
President and Director of all manufacturing and of all their re-
search and engineering. Carl accepted and sold his consulting
business and went with Mathieson.
While Carl was with Mathieson, he championed the need for
industry-sponsored basic research in engineering schools. He felt
that the increased Government support of research projects could
lead to indirect or direct control by Government of a large part of
our advanced education system. He felt that the uncertainty of
Government contracts creates an unwholesome atmosphere for the
campuses.
When the Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation was formed in
1954, it moved into such remote areas of chemistry as Kraft paper,
guns, and shotgun shells. At that point Carl concluded that he was
spreading himself too thin, since he had fifteen different vice-
president titles. Furthermore, he did not believe that the best way
to build a company was to buy other companies. When his contract
expired in 1954, he terminated his connection with Olin
Mathieson.
Carl had about decided to "retire" to a part-time teaching posi-
tion when Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation (FMC) per-
suaded him to join them on a full-time basis. He did so in June
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1954. At that time the company had been in the chemical business
only a few years and conducted its operations through five differ-
. . .
ent divisions.
Carl immediately set out to consolidate the company's chemical
operations into a logical and effective organization. His study
reached into all management activities. After about eighteen
months, Carl presented the management with a plan for reorgani-
zation and consolidation of its chemical interests.
Emphasis at every level was directed toward improving efficiency
of operation and making the most effective use of the organiza-
tion's staff without regard to "how it used to be done." Much
duplication of effort and responsibility were eliminated with the
result that the company was able to reduce the personnel of the
chemical divisions by nine percent. The whole spirit of the organi-
zation changed from old-line conservatism to a new aggressive
approach.
In June 1956 Carl was elected Executive Vice-President of the
Corporation in charge of five chemical divisions. As a result of
Carl's efforts in management reorganization of chemical activities,
the Corporation received from the McGraw-Hill Publishing Com-
pany, in December 1959, the first Kirkpatrick Award for Manage-
ment Achievement in Chemical Industry. The building of a strong
technical program, fully integrated with management planning
and action, was the principal foundation on which this achievement
was based. This involved the construction of modern research
facilities and the building up of superior research and development
groups.
Carl retired as Executive Vice-President of FMC on June 30, 1960,
but continued with the firm as a Corporate Director and Consul-
tant until his death. He served as Special Assistant to the Governor
of West Virginia on Industrial Development. He served on the
Board of Directors of Commercial Solvents Corporation and
Sawhill Tubular Products, Inc. He also served on the Board of
Directors of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and on
the Board of Trustees of Clarkson College of Technology. He
rendered advisory service to many educational institutions such as
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Clarkson and Manhattan College. He also served on several com-
mittees of the National Academy of Sciences Advisory Committee
to the Office of Emergency Planning.
Carl had over 100 patents and was a prolific writer in the
scientific, technical, and trade journals. He was coauthor of the
widely used textbook, Principles of Physical Chemistry, and was an
authority whose advice was sought by educators, industrialists, and
those in Government.
He received honorary Doctor of Engineering degrees from Case
(1954), from Clarkson College (1960), and from Manhattan Col-
lege (1960~. He received honorary Doctor of Science degrees from
Marietta College ~ 1962) and from Western Reserve University
(1963~.
Carl was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in
1966. He received the Founders Award of the American Institute
of Chemical Engineers (1965), the Modern Pioneer Award of the
National Association of Manufacturers (1940), the annual Honor
Award of the Commercial Chemical Development Association
(1961), and the coveted Perkin Medal from the Society of Chemical
Industry (1961~. In November 1961 he spoke to the assembled
chemical society groups in Cleveland and received their annual
Chemical Profession Award of Merit.
Carl was active in many professional organizations. He was a
Member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the
American Chemical Society, the Society of Automotive Engineers,
the National Association of Corrosion Engineers, the Institute of
Petroleum (British), the American Petroleum Institute, the Society
of Chemical Industry, Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi, Theta Xi, and the
New York Academy of Sciences.
After retirement from FMC, Carl and his wife moved to
Coronado Pines, Florida, and he undertook with his usual vigor to
upgrade the natural beauty and appearance of the Lake Weir area.
He established a nursery, Coronado Gardens, and led this Florida
community into a long-range beautification program.
Carl is described by his widow as '`a compassionate man who was
always willing and eager to help those less fortunate than he....
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He loved young people and was untiring in his efforts to help them
get a good education."
Carl set up a scholarship fund at the Baptist Church in Candler,
Florida, whereby any young person who showed promise would
have the chance of getting a good education and of becoming a
valuable member of society.
Carl Frederick Prutton is survived by his widow, Marie; two sons,
John and Carl F., Jr.; and four daughters, Mrs. George D. Conrad,
Jr., Mrs. Robert D. Sutherland, Mrs. I. R. Small, and Mrs. I. M.
Castillo.
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