Name/Title
Baker, Charles, Inventor, Friction HeatEntry/Object ID
9999.BHF.233Scope and Content
Baker, Charles, Inventor Friction Heat
St. Joseph News-Press January 8, 2014 Alonzo Weston has an article about honoring our heroes. Mr. Baker invented a unique heating system. The New York Times published his invention in its March 27, 1904 edition.
Mr. Baker lived in the Wyatt Park area in St. Joseph, Missouri. His friction heater worked sort of like a complicated hot water heater. The heat was produced by some sort of friction and used a series of air and water chambers to produce and transport steam or hot water by means of pipes and radiators to its destination. Hot water radiation and steam radiation connected to one system which allowed the user to change from hot water to steam boiler instantly. It heated radiators in half the time of other hot water radiators in use at the time.
Mr. Baker's invention created a new factory for St. Joseph called The Friction Heat and Boiler Co. The offices were at 611 Francis. The business employed 50 laborers. The company had $136,000 in capital stock, no mere pittance at the time. Mr. Baker sat on the board of directory.
St. Joseph News-Press May 8, 1904 is news story about a new factory for St. Joseph. C.S.L. Baker is said to have solved the problem of cheap heat. A factory which will employ 30 skilled mechanics and perhaps half as many more unskilled laborers is to be built in St. Joseph within the next ninety days to manufacture friction heaters . Charles Baker is the inventor.
A photocopy of the article from the New York times March 27, 1904 has the story about Charles Baker's invention of being able to produce heat and power without combustion. He has worked twenty-three years to complete it. The heater may be used for producing heat or power. The same heater may be used for either low pressure or high pressure steam. The limitations which apply to ordinary steam boilers are not applicable to the friction heater.
There is a photocopy of a picture of Charles Baker in this folder.
Baker, Charles Invented Heat Without Fuel. St. Joseph News-Press March 3, 1906 photocopy: there is an article about Charles Baker. The first shipment of machines is ready for Idaho mines. Charles lived at 2616 Locust. The machine by the disturbance of molecules in metal will generate five horse power steam from the use of constant energy of three horse power. The invention will cheapen the cyanide process of gold mining, reduce the cost of heating trains, and the amount of coal necessary to run locomotives and heat building at a low cost.
There is a picture of the house where he lived in the news article.Collection
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Black Inventions, Friction Heat, Black History, Black InventorsRelationships
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Person or Organization
Charles BakerPerson or Organization
Weston, Alonzo
