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Short Stories of Science and Invention

A Collection of Radio Talks by
Charles F. Kettering

INDEX

Weekly, from September 1942 to July 1945, Charles F. Kettering gave five-minute intermission talks about Science and Invention during the radio broadcasts of the General Motors Symphony of the Air.

Kettering invented the first automobile self-starter, and for 31 years directed a research laboratory for General Motors.

These radio talks are a fascinating legacy from the mind of a prolific inventor. The obvious anachronisms now add a historical perspective of the war-time period in which they were written.

These web pages now preserve some of the most popular stories for a new generation to read The text and art come from a General Motors booklet of selected talks. (Reprint, March 1959)

9. Energy From the Sun
A Radio Talk by Charles F. Kettering

     Recently when I mentioned the important part rubber played in the war, I was not unmindful of the equally great contribution petro­leum made to our air and motor transportation.

Firelight     Petroleum was first developed to produce kerosene for home lighting. Before that time only very wealthy people could afford to stay up after dark. And New England whalers sailed the seven seas to get sperm oil for lamps. People laboriously hand-­dipped candles, and Lincoln read by the light of a rude fire­place. So important was the need for oil that in looking for sources which could supply kerosene, petroleum was found quite satisfac­tory. But the quantity was small and uncertain.

     Edwin Drake, a former conductor on the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, came to Titus­ville, Pennsylvania, to search for oil. He had a new idea - instead of col­lecting oil in small quantities, wher­ever he could find it, he intended to drill an oil well. After many failures he finally struck oil, and August 1859 dated the beginning of a new me­chanical age. Drake's enterprise had started a great new industry.

     Three years after the first success­ful well, two million barrels of oil a year were being produced. Inciden­tally, we now use more than this amount every day.


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