 Short Stories of Science and InventionA Collection of Radio Talks byCharles F. KetteringINDEXWeekly, 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) |
A Radio Talk by Charles F. Kettering One can never tell when this information will be valuable until an emergency develops. The same is equally true in a research project. Many of the apparently new and amazing things produced in the war are just new uses of old peacetime products. 
As an illustration, mechanical household refrigeration was in the
kindergarten stage before World War I. But we had been at it long
enough to appreciate the necessity for a more suitable gas. Those in
use were toxic and irritating.During this time, our Organic Chemistry Department was making laboratory experiments on new gases, along with studies on synthetic rubber and high octane fuel. When the War was over, we finished the fuel job first by putting Ethyl gas on the market. This same material is still one of the essentials in most high octane gasoline. |
