Before we get into Walter Snelling‘s many game-changing innovations, let me highlight upfront the immense breadth of his impact as a 20th century inventor and chemical engineering pioneer:
- Developed the first commercially viable propane system adopted globally – powers everything from vehicles to heat to cooking
- Patented over 179 inventions spanning explosives, oil refining, photography and beyond
- Created key technologies improving safety across mining, construction, transport sectors
- Advised top levels of U.S. government (Dept of War, Atomic Energy Commission) on science/technology policy
Simply put, Snelling was one of most influential – yet surprisingly little-known – scientific minds of his era. Now that we‘ve set the stage, let me walk you through the details of this prolific inventor‘s fascinating life and work.
Cultivating Brilliance Through Family of Achievers & Advanced Training
Born in Washington D.C. on December 13, 1880, Walter Snelling grew up as the son of a patent lawyer father Walter S. Snelling and law/medicine graduate mother Alice L. Hornor. From a young age, dinner conversations focused on law, science and technological progress – likely catalyzing his intellectual curiosity. Exceling in sciences at preparatory school, Snelling pursued a B.S. in Chemistry at George Washington University in 1904 followed by a second B.S. focused on chemical engineering from Harvard in 1905.
| Year | Institution | Degree Earned |
|---|---|---|
| 1904 | George Washington University | Bachelors of Science in Chemistry |
| 1905 | Harvard University | Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering |
| 1907 | George Washington University | Doctorate of Philosophy in Chemistry |
Under the mentorship of renowned physical chemist Dr. Charles Munroe, Snelling wrote his PhD thesis on "pyroxylin explosions" while tackling complex questions around chemical reactions under heat and ballistic pressure. This graduate training and access to prominent networks laid the foundations for his later explosives innovations.
An Elite Government Scientist Rising Fast to Leadership
Immediately after completing his doctorate in 1907, Snelling began working as a chemist for the U.S. Geological Survey based out of Washington D.C. Just two years later, he transferred roles to become the Chemist-in-Charge at the government‘s new explosives testing laboratory in Pittsburgh – founded in the aftermath of devastating mine explosions like the 1907 Monongah mining disaster. Tasked with investigating the root causes and developing safety solutions, one of Snelling‘s first inventions came in the form of an underwater detonator significantly improving construction safety for the hardship-plagued Panama Canal project. Government reports suggest this new device saved upwards of $500,000 annually in reduced risks and accidents.
Beyond hands-on lab testing, Snelling also demonstrated keen leadership ability. In 1910, he was recruited away from federal service as the first dedicated Research Consultant and Chemist for the private firm Trojan Powder Company. Just seven years later, corporate leadership appointed him as overall Director of Research in 1917 – placing him in charge of innovation initiatives across this prominent firm supplying explosives worldwide.
Prolific Innovator Patenting Extensively Across Industries
Now in a director role with immense resources at his disposal, Snelling rapidly accelerated development of new technologies patented under his name and licensed through Trojan Powder. Let‘s analyze the extent of productivity as an inventor throughout his illustrious career:
- By retirement in 1954 = Held 134 patents
- By formal retirement from consulting in 1961 = Total of 179 patents granted
- Subjects covered: explosives, ordnance, seismic signaling, photography, oil refining, and propane development among others
But Snelling‘s most revolutionary innovation altering global landscape requires special attention…
Igniting the Propane Industry – From Garage Discovery to Commercial Fuel
The year was 1910 shortly after Snelling had transitioned to Trojan Powder. Unexpectedly, an angry automobile owner burst into his lab frustrated that gasoline was evaporating out of his vehicle‘s fuel tank so quickly. As Snelling investigated the baffling phenomena, chemical analysis revealed the evaporating gases to be propane, butane and other lightweight hydrocarbons.
Rather than dismissing the observation as a minor car issue, Snelling pursued the lead with scientists‘ curiosity regarding propane‘s underlying potential. Could this volatile gas solve emerging needs for portable fuel alternatives? Over the next decade his R&D uncovered methods to cheaply distill and compress propane from manufacturing byproducts into portable canisters and pipeline distribution systems.
Seeing early applications for heating, Snelling helped install America‘s inaugural commercial propane system in 1919 for Trojan Powder‘s facility. The rollout was a game-changing success – slashing operating costs while delivering previously impossible portability and precision. As awareness of propane grew through papers and industry partnerships, global adoption ignited across transportation, electricity generation, cooking, lighting, refrigeration and residential construction. Today over 27 million tonnes are consumed annually in the U.S. alone as this hidden gem became a ubiquity of modern existence.
|| Year | Propane Milestone |
|-|-|-|
|1910| Initial Discovery | Snelling analyzes evaporated gasoline, detects propane & buttane mixture |
|1919| First Commercial System| Trojan Powder adopts propane heating/production furnished by Snelling |
| 1920-1940 | Early Adoption Era | Propane sees rising use in industry, agriculture and residential |
| 1940-1960 | Widespread Diffusion | Propane broadly popular as vehicle fuel, construction heating, cooking etc|
| 2023 | Present Usage | ~27 million tonnes consumed in United States annually|
And while propane stands above the rest, it‘s important to note Snelling maintained this unrelenting inventiveness improving products as diverse as underwater explosives, oil refining, atomic energy, photography and more over his lifetime.
Balancing Brilliance with Family Life
Beyond scientific pursuits, Snelling invested considerable time with his spouse Helen Marjorie Gahring (m. 1919) and seven children. Helen grew up locally having met Walter through her father‘s business as an early propane equipment purchaser. Accounts suggest the couple were devoted partners through 46 happy years until Helen‘s passing in 1976.
Of their seven children, the most publicly accomplished was Richard who became Governor of Vermont while son Charles chaired the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority overseeing Ronald Reagan Airport among others. One can only imagine the intellectually stimulating dinner conversations in the Snelling household!
Recognition Arrives After Lifetime Achievements
While Snelling‘s innovations quickly advanced industries worldwide, personal fame and recognition accumulated gradually over his long career. Some prominent awards and honors bestowed include:
- 1962 – Edward Longstreth Medal, Franklin Institute for propane development
- 1965 – Honorary Doctor of Science, Lehigh University recognizing cumulative advancements
After nearly 60 years steering the future through prescient chemical innovations, Snelling passed away at his Pennsylvania home on September 10, 1965. Helen joined him 11 years later as they now rest having inspired the talents of countless beneficiaries across the globe.
Legacy Powering the World…With Occasional Explosions!
So next time you‘re barbequing burgers or gassing up your RV with propane, take a moment to recall Walter Snelling‘s brilliance gifting this versatile fuel to humanity! For myself as a chemical engineer, I‘m in awe of how one individual operating with such humility could alter the trajectories of so many later careers and technologies we now take for granted.
Beyond propane alone, Snelling managed to crack open new realms around synthetic photography, seismic analysis, petrochemicals and explosives engineering still pushing boundaries today. Were he still alive, perhaps we‘d have cracked nuclear fusion or mastered interstellar travel by now! Though likely he would simply be tinkering away modestly in some lab, unaware of how those ideas might once again revolutionize.
So here‘s to you Walter Snelling – may your explosive creativity continue igniting lightbulbs for generations to come! Please reach out if you have any other hidden scientific geniuses I should cover next!
