Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Economy

Doc Sportello

(7,962 posts)

1. There's one earlier pivotal player in the creation of Silicon Valley most don't know about

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Wed Feb 2, 2022, 02:01 PM

Feb 2022

His name is Arnold Beckman, the inventor of the pH meter and through him and his companies, many other scientific and medical inventions. Beckman was a former academic who founded a company before WWII that became one of the top manufacturers of lab and medical equipment. Today it's called Beckman Coulter.

Beckman, who eventually amassed a $400M fortune in the 1980s, became the most influential investor in Shockley Semiconductor. Shockley, who oversaw the invention of the transistor but gets too much credit for it, was a Cal Tech grad and wanted to put his new company in Pasadena. Beckman knew about the new research park in Palo Alto and wanted the company there. Beckman of course got his way.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

1 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Behind the 'power law': How a forgotten venture capitalist kick-started Silicon Valley [View all] mahatmakanejeeves Feb 2022 OP

There's one earlier pivotal player in the creation of Silicon Valley most don't know about Doc Sportello Feb 2022 #1