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James William Giffen

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James William Giffen

Birth	:	1 Mar 1903 Licking County, Ohio, USA
Death	:	1 Nov 1997 Palmetto, Manatee County, Florida, USA
Burial	:	Hanover Cemetery, Hanover, Licking County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.0769005, -82.2406006
Description	:	James W. Giffen always had to be No. 1, said his longtime friend and colleague Art Pierpont. It was Giffen's drive for excellence, along with his creativity, stubbornness and belief in himself, that led to his success as an inventor. The Palmetto resident, who held more than 30 patents, died Saturday. He was 94. Giffen's major achievements were in the glass industry during his 31 years at Corning Glass Works in Corning, N.Y. He invented a machine nicknamed a spinner. It uses centrifugal force to mass-produce the glass bulb funnels that go behind the screen of a television - an... Read More	James W. Giffen always had to be No. 1, said his longtime friend and colleague Art Pierpont. It was Giffen's drive for excellence, along with his creativity, stubbornness and belief in himself, that led to his success as an inventor. The Palmetto resident, who held more than 30 patents, died Saturday. He was 94. Giffen's major achievements were in the glass industry during his 31 years at Corning Glass Works in Corning, N.Y. He invented a machine nicknamed a spinner. It uses centrifugal force to mass-produce the glass bulb funnels that go behind the screen of a television - an invention that greatly reduced the cost of TVs. Bulb funnels and TV screens were round before Giffen beat his rivals in developing a rectangular funnel. The glass certainly wanted to go in a round shape, Pierpont recalled. "You can't fight Mother Nature, but we did." When a furnace malfunctioned at Corning Glass Works, leaving the glass exposed to the heat far longer than intended, a new versatile material was discovered: Pyroceram. Giffen used this material to create 3-foot-long nose cones for rockets and guided missiles. Then, after inventing a ferris wheel-like machine to mold the Pyroceram, he used the machine to produce a line of dutch ovens, platters and roasters that could be transferred from the freezer to a hot oven without cracking. One Monday morning, after days of appearing distracted and lost in thought, Giffen called his staff into his office and told them to bring their sketch pads. He also told them to lock the door. He explained his new idea, which resulted in the popular glass tableware called Corelle Livingware. In the early '70s, when Giffen was the director of machine research at Corning, Alfred University conferred an honorary doctorate of science upon him. The university noted that Giffen's work had been responsible for thousands of jobs and better products at lower prices for millions of people. At a luncheon afterward, Giffen spoke about being an inventor. "The inventor is, by nature, a rebel. He has to be, or he would never invent anything," he said. "He knows with absolute certainty that his idea will work, and he is creative enough and rebel enough and stubborn enough to hang in there and prove it. He cannot and will not accept failure." Giffen was born March 1, 1903, in Hanover, Ohio. An indifferent student, he did not attend college, but experimented on his own on the family farm. He was forced to improvise on the farm, which boasted few technological advancements at that time. He experimented with radio and motion pictures, electronics, internal combustion engines and the welding process. He received his first patent when he was too young to hold it in his own name. Hidden on his Ohio farm, he operated a ham radio on the sly and stumped the Federal Communications Commission for a long time before being caught. He was told to get a license - one of the first issued - but did not get into serious trouble. "He had a way of getting out of trouble," Pierpont said. In 1936, Giffen started a career as a toolmaker. He was hired at Corning Glass Works in 1944 and stayed with the company until his retirement in 1975. Survivors include his daughter, Lois Gibbons of Palmetto; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. A memorial service will be in Newark, Ohio. Burial will be in Hanover Cemetery in the Ohio town where he was born. Wiegand Brothers Funeral Home is in charge.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is James William Giffen's memorial?
James William Giffen's memorial is located at: Hanover Cemetery, Hanover, Licking County, USA.
When did James William Giffen death?
James William Giffen death on 1 Nov 1997 in Palmetto, Manatee County, Florida, USA
Where are the coordinates of the James William Giffen's memorial?
Latitude: 40.0769005
Longitude: -82.2406006

Family Members:

Parent

James Adams Giffen

(1850 - 1932)

Jane Cooke Giffen

(1858 - 1938)

Spouse

Dollie Marie Smith Giffen

(1903 - 1978)

Siblings

Lawrence Cooke Giffen

(1881 - 1961)

Wilma L Giffen Gault

(1885 - 1918)

Clara L Giffen

(1887 - 1958)

Jennie A. Giffen Evans

(1890 - 1978)

Sadie Letitia Giffen Van Winkle

(1892 - 1983)

Anna E. Giffen Claypool

(1896 - 1975)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Hanover Cemetery
Hanover, Licking County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0769005, -82.2406006

2. Brushy Fork Cemetery
Licking County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0433100, -82.2624800

3. Old Stone Church of Christ Cemetery
Newark, Licking County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0323400, -82.2416000

4. Pleasant Grove Cemetery
Licking County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1202800, -82.2200360

5. Smith Chapel Cemetery
Newark, Licking County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1258011, -82.2518997

6. Spring Grove Cemetery
Marne, Licking County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0477982, -82.2941971

7. Shadley Cemetery
Licking County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0356090, -82.2006960

8. Arnold Cemetery
Perry Township, Licking County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1402000, -82.2366000

9. VanVorrhis Family Cemetery
Frazeysburg, Muskingum County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0656360, -82.1565140

10. Bowling Green Cemetery
Licking County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0661011, -82.3249969

11. Pleasant Chapel Cemetery
Newark, Licking County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0359000, -82.3093200

12. Dove Cemetery
Zanesville, Muskingum County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1163250, -82.1682940

13. McGinnis Cemetery
Frazeysburg, Muskingum County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1152992, -82.1664886

14. Beulah Cemetery
Muskingum County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0153400, -82.1862500

15. Perry Cemetery
Nashport, Muskingum County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0248750, -82.1712780

16. Perryton Cemetery
Perryton, Licking County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1467018, -82.2039032

17. Oak Hill Cemetery
Newark, Licking County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0120000, -82.2923000

18. Pleasant Hills Baptist Church Cemetery
Licking County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1547980, -82.2423040

19. Nicholas Cemetery
Hickman, Licking County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1459290, -82.3072530

20. Rocky Fork Cemetery
Rocky Fork, Licking County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1508700, -82.3086200

21. Irville Cemetery
Nashport, Muskingum County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0505981, -82.1241989

22. Barnes Cemetery
Licking County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1281200, -82.3469700

23. Mount Olive United Methodist Church Cemetery
Gratiot, Licking County, USA
Coordinate: 39.9865000, -82.1929700

24. Mount Olive Lutheran Cemetery
Hopewell, Muskingum County, USA
Coordinate: 39.9862190, -82.1929330