Martin Frederick Christensen
| Martin Frederick Christensen | |
|---|---|
| Born |
March 26, 1849 Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Died | October 10, 1915 (aged 66) Akron, Ohio |
| Nationality | Danish |
| Occupation | Inventor, businessman |
| Children | 2, Charles Frederick Christensen and Jessie Christensen |
Martin Frederick Christensen (March 26, 1849 – October 10, 1915) was a Danish inventor and businessman. He is most known as the inventor of an automated machine that could manufacture glass marbles and founder of M.F. Christensen and Son Company.
Martin F Christensen was born in Denmark on March 26, 1849. He immigrated to the United States in 1867 at the age of 18. After his arrival in America, he began working in the drop-forge steel industry making various items such as tools and knives. In 1880, he settled in Akron, Ohio with his wife Catherine.
Little is known about Martin's family. He had a wife, Catherine, and two children, Jessie and Charles. Martin eventually went into business with his son when he started the Martin F. Christensen and Son Company.
At age 50, Martin invented a machine that created spherical metal ball-bearings. He applied for a patent on March 7, 1899 and the patent was published on September 5, 1899. The machine is called an "apparatus for making small metallic spheres" in U.S. Patent No. 632336. He quickly sold 80% of the patent for $25,000, and retained the last 20% to be able to collect royalty payments. This machine, referred to as "The Christensen Ball Rolling Machine", proved unsuccessful due to many engineering and mechanical flaws.
On December 19, 1902, Martin F. Christensen filed U.S. Patent No. 802495A, for a machine that made spherical bodies or balls. The patent was published on October 24, 1905. The first machine-made marbles were created in a barn behind Christensen's house, which led to a manufacturing facility. This machine could only round one marble at a time.
In 1903, Christensen and his 25-year-old son, Charles Frederick, established the M.F. Christensen and Son Company in Akron. Harry Heinzelman, who had worked for the Navarre Glass Marble and Specialty Company, was hired as the company's glass master. Heinzelman was paid 70 cents per 1000 marbles, which was 20 cents more than the average worker for similar performance at that time. By 1910, up to 10,000 marbles were being rolled per day by 33 employees. Each employee, working 10 hours per day, would make $5 for the day as a result. This was considered a good wage for the day.
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