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Frank Fowler Loomis (April 2, 1854 – September 19, 1936) was an American engineer and inventor who worked for the Akron, Ohio fire department. He developed the city's fire alarm and control system, and built the world's first police van.
Frank F. Loomis | |
|---|---|
 Frank Fowler Loomis in 1915 | |
| Born | April 2, 1854 |
| Died | September 19, 1936 (aged 82) Akron, Ohio |
| Occupation(s) | Electrical and mechanical engineer |
| Known for | Inventing the first police van |
| Notable work | Fire alarm and control system |
Life
editLoomis was born in Akron, Ohio on April 2, 1854, as the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Loomis. He attended Akron Public Schools until his father's death in January 1862, later living with an uncle in Wadsworth for the next seven years. In 1869, Loomis worked at Merrill's Pottery for a year, and became a volunteer fireman in the Akron fire department that same year. He later learned the blacksmith's trade before becoming a minuteman at a steamer in 1870.[1] He slept at the fire station and worked as a street vendor during the day. His first job at the fire department was as a telephone operator and would sound the alarm to get volunteers in case of a fire.[2]
Loomis married on July 10, 1879, to Barbara Grad, in Akron.[1]
In 1874, Loomis and another engineer developed and deployed four telegraph fire alarm boxes. These were placed at key businesses throughout the city of Akron. The system was in need of updates and further improvements, but the city would not fund it. Loomis, another engineer, and the fire chief purchased wire from a defunct telegraph line to make these improvements. It was soon realized that the operator could not give an accurate signal while under the influence of a fire. Loomis then developed an alarm box that worked by turning a crank which then automatically gave the correct signal. In 1885, he was granted a patent for an alarm box[3] that worked by breaking glass and pulling a lever which opened the box and in turn sent out an automatic signal.[4] Loomis was promoted to city engineer in January 1881.[1]
The success of the fire alarm system led to Loomis designing a similar system for the police patrol cars in 1885.[7] It was first developed with a telegraph key, but was later improved with the addition of a telephone.[8] In the late 1890s, Loomis began developing a horseless carriage for the police department.[9][10][11] In 1899, it became the world's first motorized police patrol car.[8][12][13][14] Loomis of E. York Street in Akron was the inventor of this car.[15]
Loomis retired in 1910[16] and established the eponymous "Loomis Award" for fire service and heroism. It was originally established by his idea in 1936 and in the first 50 years only three firefighters received the award.[17] Loomis later died on September 19, 1936.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c Perrin 1881, p. 736.
- ^ a b "Loomis Funeral Wednesday; Called 'Rel Akron Builder'". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. September 21, 1936. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com
.
- ^ US patent 323435A, Frank Fowler Loomis, "Fire-alarm-telegraph box", published 1885-08-04, issued 1885-08-04
- ^ "An Inventive Akron Fireman's Improvement In Boxes". The Summit County Beacon, page 1. Akron, Ohio. August 12, 1885 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Akron's only original police patrol". The Akron Beacon Journal, page 13. Akron, Ohio. May 11, 1907 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Clipping from Akron Evening Times". Akron Evening Times. April 7, 1915. p. 3.
- ^ "Calling the Wagon". The Akron Beacon Journal, page 5. Akron, Ohio. February 25, 1893 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ a b "Romance In Career of Man Who Built World's First Auto Patrol and Akron's Signal System / Frank F. Loomis Tells of the Struggle to Get Fire and Police Signal System Here". Akron Evening Times, page 3. Akron, Ohio. April 7, 1915 – via Newspapers.com .
Mr. Loomis designed and built the first automobile patrol ever put into service.
- ^ "Akron Is In The Lead / First Automobile Patrol Wagon Will Soon Be In Operation". The Akron Beacon Journal, page 9. Akron, Ohio. October 21, 1899 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Works All Right". The Akron Beacon Journal, page 8. Akron, Ohio. November 24, 1899 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "The Police Wagon". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. June 20, 1999. p. 135 – via Newspapers.com .
Planning began 100 years ago this month on the vehicle that was destined to become the first automobile patrol wagon in the world.
- ^ "First in the World". The Akron Beacon Journal, page B003. Akron, Ohio. January 18, 2010 – via Newspapers.com .
First in the world. After rebuilding from two more fires, the Collins Buggy Co. made history in 1899 when it built the body for the world's first motorized police wagon. City electrician Frank Loomis designed the 5,500-pound, battery-powered vehicle, which had a seating capacity for 12.
- ^ Nichols, Kenneth (March 23, 1967). "Old News On Patrol". The Akron Beacon Journal, page 66. Akron, Ohio – via Newspapers.com .
that the first motorized police patrol wagon in the world roamed Akron streets from 1899 to 1904.
- ^ "First in the World". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. January 6, 1900. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com .
First In the World... Akron's Automobile Patrol Wagon
- ^ "Recollections". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. April 30, 1934. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "F. F. Loomis has Retired". The Akron Beacon Journal, page 1. Akron, Ohio. February 1, 1910 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ Carney, Jim (September 19, 1986). "Akron firefighters get valor awards". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 46 – via Newspapers.com .
Bibliography
edit- Perrin, William Henry (1881). History of Summit County. Baskin & Battey.