Lessons in Innovation: “The Greatest Generation”
Innovation is often forward thinking, but looking to the past can be a powerful way to spark new insight. That principle is demonstrated through the life of engineer, designer, business owner, and my great-grandfather, James Conrad Scullin. His story teaches three key lessons for designers today: build on existing ideas, serve real users, and pair smart thinking with hard work.
James was known for his hard work, and graduated from Caltech with his BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1929, the very year the Great Depression struck.
He soon found work as a mechanical designer for Hughes Tool Company. Despite the much needed financial security provided there, James desired to start his own business. In 1938, together with an old Caltech classmate Elmer Muff, the two had a thorough plan, eager and determined mindsets, and a seemingly simple but ingenious tool up their sleeves… the Greene “Speed Vise.”
Designed and patented in 1924 in Berkley CA by Ambrose E. Greene, the Greene “Speed Vise” improved the time required to adjust and set a part to be machined. James and Elmer acquired the patent and manufacturing rights and, as its new owners, founded Cardinal Machine Company.
Figure 1: The Speed Vise was an innovative tool that could change a machinist’s productivity immensely. Featuring a unique 30 degree undercut threaded rod and half nut catch mate, the vise held tight when clamped, unable to slip, and released entirely with only half a rotation of the rod. This Cardinal Drill Press SPEED-VISE brochure demonstrates that 30 degree locking feature. (Courtesy of Michael Scullin)
Innovation is not created in a vacuum. James and Elmer recognized the genius of their newly acquired device was just the tip of the iceberg. Immediate modifications, changes, and revisions were made. From penciling out on scrap paper to finished technical drawings, one innovative idea sparked another, and soon Cardinal Machine Company was manufacturing multiple variants of their Speed Vise. Quickly, the drill press speed vise line included multiple sizes and shapes to meet varying demands.
Figure 2: Cardinal Machine Company circa 1945, with James Scullin on the far left of employees. (courtesy of Michael Scullin)
They never stopped working hard, particularly when production shifted in 1942 to full war effort support. At the completion of WWII, James and Elmer continued iterating on their line of vises. Tragically, in 1947, Elmer died in an automobile accident, and James was left as sole owner of the company.
Figure 3: Bench Speed Vise Brochure. (Courtesy of Michael Scullin)
The following decade and a half left James further refining the tool line as chief draftsman and designer, including a line of Bench Vises cleverly featuring the same 30 degree undercut innovation, now internal to the thick body of the Bench Vise, and even incorporating pneumatic control. In 1966, James died suddenly, leaving his business to be run by his wife, Evelyn Beatrice. With the aid of skilled staff they ran the company for 10 more years before selling the Speed Vise lines and rights. Today, they can still be found serving machinists.
Figure 4: Example of Scrap Drawing of custom threading tool for taps to fabricate the 3-B and 6-B vis, September 1952. (Courtesy of Michael Scullin)
James’s story is compelling through both the events he lived through and by the principles revealed that are relevant to designers today.
Innovation is Not Created in a Vacuum.
James and Elmer were enabled to be successful because they discovered something valuable, and then updated, refined, redesigned, and expanded upon it. The same can be said for any design focused pursuit. I say, wear your influences on your sleeve and accept all that innovation stands on; the hard work and hundreds of thousands of hours’ worth of great minds that came before you. Put off the temptation to create from nothing and get inspired by the great design work all around.
Your Products and Designs are Meant to Serve
Nowadays, when products artificially withhold features and innovations as a cost saving tool (Anybody have a physical product that demands a monthly subscription to function?), remember that your product, while intended to be profitable, is equally intended to serve its user. Designs that meet customer needs sufficiently will always keep users engaged. James was a master machinist. His intimate knowledge and experience of the trade gave him the necessary skills and critical insight to generate dozens of useful and successful products that genuinely met their intended need.
Work Smart and Work Hard
The adage “Work Smarter, Not Harder” misses out on a truth evident in the life of James and thousands of others like him: nothing beats honest hard work, especially when done in a smart way. James had the opportunity to attend university at a time when only 3.9% of Americans had a bachelor's degree (compared to 37.5% in 2020 [1]). However, many challenges including economic collapse, a world war, and the tragic death of a close associate pushed James to continually adapt, learn, and put forward hard work and attention. Running a machine shop also required diverse skill and knowledge from many employees, all of whom worked hard in their trade. His and their success was founded in sound engineering design and reliable manufacturing techniques learned in higher education and training, therefore demonstrating how smart principles guided hard work and brought about ultimate success.
Evidently, we can look to past genius to inspire our future. There are many principles that stand the test of time but are quickly forgotten in a rapidly evolving marketplace. We would be remiss to let those principles slip through the cracks and out of our design processes. Next time you are looking for design advice, remember the story of the speed vise!
References
[1] Hanson, Melanie. "Educational Attainment Statistics." Education Data Initiative, 18 Nov. 2023, educationdata.org/educational-attainment-statistics.
To cite this article:
Scullin, Hunter. “Lessons in Innovation: ‘The Greatest Generation’.” The BYU Design Review, 3 Aug 2026, https://www.designreview.byu.edu/collections/lessons-in-innovation-the-greatest-generation.
