Edward Keonjian
Inventor of the first solar-powered, pocket-sized radio transmitter Edward Keonjian was a prominent engineer, an early leader in the field of low-power electronics, the father of microelectronics. In 1954 Keonjian designed the world’s first solar-powered, pocket-sized radio transmitter. In 1959 Keonjian designed the first prototype of integrated circuit. In 1963 he organized the world’s first international symposium on low-power […]
Alexander Manoogian
Inventor of the Delta faucet In 1966 Alex Manoogian was not the first to wash his hands with too much hot water, but he was the first to think about it and find a great new concept the Delta Faucet … a one-handled faucet that mixed both hot and cold water with one gesture. And […]
Virginia Apgar
Inventor of the Apgar score for newborn Virginia Apgar was an American physician, obstetrical anesthesiologist and medical researcher, best known as the inventor of the Apgar score, a way to quickly assess the health of a newborn child immediately after birth in order to combat infant mortality. In 1952, she developed the 10-point Apgar score to assist physicians and nurses […]
Emik Avakian
Inventor of breath-operated computer Emik Avakian was an Armenian American inventor and owner of numerous patents including breath-operated computer, a mechanism that facilitates putting wheelchairs on automobiles, and a self operating robotic wheel that converts manual wheel chairs into automatic. Many of his inventions were geared towards the improvement of disabled people’s lives, and he won many awards […]
Anna Kazanjian Longobardo
Founder of Society of Women Engineers Anna Kazanjian Longobardo was the former director of the engineering firm Woodward Clyde Group and a former executive at Unisys Corp. She headed Unisys, supporting the development of military systems and weather radar systems worldwide from 1988 to 1995. She is one of the founders of the Society of Women Engineers, which […]
Cyrus Melikian
Inventor of coffee vending machines Cyrus Melikian was an Armenian-American coffee industry pioneer credited with several inventions that propelled coffee use into the American public. He is credited, along with his business partner, Lloyd Rudd, as the inventor of coffee vending machines and the first US fresh-brew machine. Furthermore, Cyrus was instrumental in several other inventions, including coffee pods, post-mix vendor icemakers, and in-machine coffee bean grinders. He initiated the Culinary Institute at Rockland Mansion in Fairmount Park. Melikian also […]
Armen Alchian
Founder of New institutional economics (NIE) Armen Albert Alchian was an American economist. He spent almost his entire career at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). A major microeconomic theorist, he is known as one of the founders of new institutional economics and widely acknowledged for his work on property rights. Early life and education Armen Albert Alchian was born on […]
Arthur H. Bulbulian
Inventor of the A-14 oxygen mask His work as a part of the Mayo Clinic Aero Medical Unit led to his being credited with the creation of the A-14 oxygen mask for the United States Air Force in 1941. The A-14 fighter pilot’s mask was frost proof, and included a microphone for radio communication, and allowed the pilot to talk and […]
Oscar H. Banker (Asatour Sarafian)
Inventor of first practical automatic transmission in cars Oscar H. Banker (born Asatour Sarafian) was an Armenian American inventor who patented a number of works, including an automatic transmission for automobiles, the needleless inoculation gun, the primary controls of the first Sikorsky helicopter, and power steering. He is considered by some as the « father of automatic transmission. » He is accredited as the inventor of the first […]
Stepan Stepanyan
Inventor of the first mobile concrete mixer on a truck chassis Stepan Stepanyan – invented in 1935 a mobile concrete mixer on a truck chassis, which gave a huge boost to the entire world construction business (US patent # 1,935,922). In 1916, Armenian inventor Stephan Stepanyan’s patent for the first concrete mixer truck was initially […]
