Benjamin F. Miessner papers

Benjamin Franklin Miessner was born in Huntingburg, Indiana, on July 27, 1890. Upon graduating from Huntingburg High School in 1908, Miessner enlisted in the United States (U.S.) Navy, where he was assigned to the United States Navy Electrical School in Brooklyn, New York, and received training as a wireless radio operator. He remained with the Navy until 1911, developing the “cat whisker” connector for crystal radios during that time.

In 1911, Miessner left the Navy and began work with John Hays Hammond, Jr. and Dr. Fritz Lowenstein on the development of wireless radio-controlled torpedoes. While with Hammond, Miessner also designed and constructed a device known as the “electric dog,” which could be powered and moved using light. In December of 1912, Miessner left Hammond to enroll at Purdue University, where he studied electrical engineering until 1916. While attending Purdue, Miessner published his first book, “Radiodynamics, the wireless control of torpedoes and other mechanisms,” detailing his work with Hammond on radio-controlled torpedoes.

On June 13, 1916, Miessner married Eleanor Marguerite Schulz, with whom he had two daughters, Jane Eleanor and Mary Elizabeth. Also in the summer of 1916, Miessner rejoined the U.S. Navy as an Expert Radio Aid for Aviation, where he worked under Lieutenant Edward H. Loftin on the development of radio for aircraft, which they completed by the time the United States entered World War 1 in 1917. Miessner also invented the anti-noise or directive microphone diaphragm during this period, to mitigate issues of noise conditions affecting radio reception in aircraft.

From 1918-1920, Miessner worked as a radio engineer for the Emil J. Simon Radio Manufacturing Company, where he continued his work developing aircraft radio for the Navy, as well as transoceanic receivers. In 1920, Miessner became the director of the Acoustical Research Laboratory of the Brunswick, Balke, Collender Company, where he worked on improving the acoustical performance of phonographs. Miessner left Brunswick in 1922 and joined the Multiple Electrical Products Company, where he designed the loudspeaker unit later sold by the company as the “Atlas” loudspeaker. From 1922-1925, Miessner served as a Consulting Engineer for Wired Radio, Inc., where he worked in the development of broadcasting over electrical power lines.

From 1925-1926, Miessner served as the president of the Miessner Radio Corporation, during which time he developed a new alternating current radio receiver which greatly reduced the “hum” generated by radios. From 1926-1927, Miessner served as the chief engineer for Garod Corporation. After leaving Garod Corporation, Miessner founded his own company, Miessner Inventions, Inc., where he continued to develop and patent improvements in radio and electronics, especially electronic musical instruments, until his retirement in 1959.

Throughout his career, Miessner received over 200 patents in the United States and abroad. He pioneered developments in Alternating Current (A.C.) radios, directional microphones for aircraft and submarines, electronic musical instruments, phonography, and radio dynamics. Miessner also wrote numerous articles, lectures, and books on his research, including “Radiodynamics, the wireless control of torpedoes and other mechanisms” (1916) and “On the early history of radio guidance” (1964).

Miessner was the recipient of several awards, including the De Forest Audion Award for inventive achievement in radio and electronics in 1963, and the Distinguished Service Award from the Boys Club of America in 1964. Miessner’s hometown of Huntingburg honored his career and accomplishments with a “Ben Miessner Day” celebration on September 9, 1963.

Benjamin F. Miessner passed away on March 25, 1976 in Miami, Florida.