Joseph Boyer
Joseph Boyer | |
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Born | Joseph E. Boyer c. 1848 |
Died | (aged 82) |
Joseph E. Boyer (c. 1848 – October 24, 1930) was an American
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Boyer_Machine_Circa_1890.jpg/220px-Boyer_Machine_Circa_1890.jpg)
Boyer was President of the J. Boyer Machine Co. in
Joseph Boyer, then President of the American Arithmometer Company, was quoted as saying:
There was Burroughs with his great idea, greater than any of us could fully appreciate, and with his meager capital of $300. Long before the first model was actually begun his money was gone. But as his resources dwindled, his courage grew. I used to leave him at his bench in the evening and find him still there in the morning.
When the first machine proved a failure, Burroughs made another model. Finally, the third model seemed to meet his standards. He could make it perform mathematical wonders, so a lot of 50 machines was made. However, when untrained operators ran the machines, they got the most amazing results. People began to question Burroughs' judgment and doubt his ability.
Everyone but Burroughs was ready to quit. Yet the inventor himself was undaunted, demonstrating his contempt for imperfection by tossing the 50 machines, one by one, out of a second-story window. Then he began work on a new model. Night after night he worked feverishly, 24 hours a day, 34 hours at a stretch. Then, at last, the wonderful governor that has made the machine foolproof was invented. Burroughs was jubilant. His machine was perfect. His faith had been justified.[4]
Boyer died of pneumonia in Detroit.[5]
References
- New York Times
- ^ Hancock, Michael. "Burroughs Adding Machine Company". X-Number World. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- ^ "Burroughs Adding Machine". History of Computers. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- ^ "W. S. Burroughs". Burroughs Adding Machine Company. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- ^ "Milestones". Time. November 3, 1930. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
External links
- Joseph Boyer profile via Harvard Business School
- Joseph Boyer at Find a Grave