Walter O. Snelling
Encyclopedia
Walter Otheman Snelling was a chemist
and explosives expert who discovered propane
and was a pioneer in the development of liquefied petroleum gas. He is often referred to as the founder of the LPG industry.
Snelling, a doctor of chemistry, studied at Harvard
, Yale
and George Washington University
. In 1907, he invented an underwater detonator
that was credited with saving the government $500,000 a year during the construction of the Panama Canal
.
In 1908, Snelling moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
to set up the office which later became the U.S. Bureau of Mines
.
by Dr. Snelling in 1910. An automobile
owner had walked into his laboratory, complaining that the gasoline he purchased was evaporating at "a rapid and expensive rate" and demanded that the government "look into the nature of these disappearing fumes." In his laboratory, Snelling built a distilling apparatus to separate the "wild gasoline" into liquid and gaseous components. The volatility of these lighter hydrocarbons caused them to be known as "wild" because of the high vapor pressures of unrefined gasoline. On March 31 the New York Times reported on Dr. Snelling's work with liquefied gas and that "...a steel bottle will carry enough [gas] to light an ordinary home for three weeks."
It was during this time that Dr. Snelling, in cooperation with Frank P. Peterson, Chester Kerr and Arthur Kerr, created ways to liquefy the liquified petroleum during the refining of natural gasoline. Together they established American Gasol Co., the first commercial marketer of propane. Dr. Snelling had produced relatively pure propane by 1911, and on March 25, 1913 his method of processing and producing liquified petroleum Gases was issued patent #1,056,845.
The first residential installation of a propane system took place in May, 1912 near Waterford, Pennsylvania
in the home of John W. Gahring, Snelling's father-in-law.
In 1913, Snelling sold his propane patent for $50,000 to Frank Phillips, the founder of Phillips Petroleum
.
The Franklin Institute
awarded Dr. Snelling the Edward Longstreth Medal in 1962 for his work.
Honorary Doctor of Science, Lehigh University
. The Snellings had seven children and lived their entire married lives in Allentown
, Pennsylvania
. The family purchased a home at the edge of the city's West Park in either 1940 or 1941, and Walter remained there until his death.
One of their sons, Richard Arkwright Snelling, was the Governor of Vermont
.
Another son, Charles Darwin Snelling, is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
(appointee of the President of the United States), a life Trustee of Cedar Crest College
in Allentown, a member of the Propane Education & Research Council and past president of the Pennsylvania Society
.
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
and explosives expert who discovered propane
Propane
Propane is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula , normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is commonly used as a fuel for engines, oxy-gas torches, barbecues, portable stoves, and residential central...
and was a pioneer in the development of liquefied petroleum gas. He is often referred to as the founder of the LPG industry.
Snelling, a doctor of chemistry, studied at Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. In 1907, he invented an underwater detonator
Detonator
A detonator is a device used to trigger an explosive device. Detonators can be chemically, mechanically, or electrically initiated, the latter two being the most common....
that was credited with saving the government $500,000 a year during the construction of the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
.
In 1908, Snelling moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
to set up the office which later became the U.S. Bureau of Mines
United States Bureau of Mines
For most of the 20th century, the U.S. Bureau of Mines was the primary United States Government agency conducting scientific research and disseminating information on the extraction, processing, use, and conservation of mineral resources.- Summary :...
.
Discovery of propane
Propane was first identified as a volatile component in gasolineGasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
by Dr. Snelling in 1910. An automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
owner had walked into his laboratory, complaining that the gasoline he purchased was evaporating at "a rapid and expensive rate" and demanded that the government "look into the nature of these disappearing fumes." In his laboratory, Snelling built a distilling apparatus to separate the "wild gasoline" into liquid and gaseous components. The volatility of these lighter hydrocarbons caused them to be known as "wild" because of the high vapor pressures of unrefined gasoline. On March 31 the New York Times reported on Dr. Snelling's work with liquefied gas and that "...a steel bottle will carry enough [gas] to light an ordinary home for three weeks."
It was during this time that Dr. Snelling, in cooperation with Frank P. Peterson, Chester Kerr and Arthur Kerr, created ways to liquefy the liquified petroleum during the refining of natural gasoline. Together they established American Gasol Co., the first commercial marketer of propane. Dr. Snelling had produced relatively pure propane by 1911, and on March 25, 1913 his method of processing and producing liquified petroleum Gases was issued patent #1,056,845.
The first residential installation of a propane system took place in May, 1912 near Waterford, Pennsylvania
Waterford, Pennsylvania
Waterford is a borough in Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,449 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Erie Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Waterford is located at ....
in the home of John W. Gahring, Snelling's father-in-law.
In 1913, Snelling sold his propane patent for $50,000 to Frank Phillips, the founder of Phillips Petroleum
Phillips Petroleum
Phillips Petroleum Company was founded in 1917 by L.E. Phillips and Frank Phillips, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Their younger brother Waite Phillips was the benefactor of Philmont Scout Ranch....
.
The Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
awarded Dr. Snelling the Edward Longstreth Medal in 1962 for his work.
Honorary Doctor of Science, Lehigh University
Personal life
In 1919, Snelling married Helen Marjorie Gahring (1901–1976) in Union City, PennsylvaniaUnion City, Pennsylvania
Union City is a borough in Erie County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Erie. In the twentieth century, there were three large chair factories, planing and grist mills, a powdered milk plant, and several furniture factories. In 1900, 3,104 people lived here, and in 1910, 3,684 people lived here. The...
. The Snellings had seven children and lived their entire married lives in Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The family purchased a home at the edge of the city's West Park in either 1940 or 1941, and Walter remained there until his death.
One of their sons, Richard Arkwright Snelling, was the Governor of Vermont
Governor of Vermont
The Governor of Vermont is the governor of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected in even numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years; Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every two years, instead of every four...
.
Another son, Charles Darwin Snelling, is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is an independent airport authority, created by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia with the consent of the United States Congress to oversee management, operations, and capital development of Washington, D.C.'s two major airports:...
(appointee of the President of the United States), a life Trustee of Cedar Crest College
Cedar Crest College
Cedar Crest College is a private liberal arts women's college in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States. During the 2006-2007 academic year, the college had 1,000 full-time and 800 part-time undergraduates and 85 graduate students...
in Allentown, a member of the Propane Education & Research Council and past president of the Pennsylvania Society
Pennsylvania Society
The Pennsylvania Society is an annual weekend retreat for Pennsylvania's politicians and business leaders held in New York City. It began during the late 19th century as a meeting of Pennsylvanians living in New York City who gathered annually beginning in 1899 to discuss events in their home state...
.