Brief details of the career of the founder of Brookfield Engineering Laboratories, and inventor of the dial reading viscometer, who died recently
It all began with Don Brookfield, Sr It was the summer of 1932, smack in the heart of the depression.
Brookfield was 21 years old and having just completed his studies at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), he launched a multi-faceted career that included being an inventor, corporate executive, industry leader, devoted husband, loving father and trusted mentor.
In launching his career as an inventor, Brookfield told his father "I can build a better one".
He was referring to the viscometer that he and his father Gordon Brookfield were planning to buy in order to measure the fluid and physical characteristics of synthetic resins.
Don Brookfield went to work and in 1934 sold his first working dial-reading viscometer.
Later with his father and brother Bernard, he incorporated the business and launched the Brookfield dial reading synchro-electric viscometer.
That instrument would become the standard throughout the world.
After graduating from MIT with a degree in electrochemical engineering, and while working at Gillette in Boston, Brookfield continued the development of his instrument.
He married Phyllis Brown in 1937, and in 1939 left Gillette to pursue his enterprise full time.
In those early years Brookfield sold his viscometers with free upgrades for the latest improved models.
This practice built customer confidence and a reputation of integrity, of putting the customer first.
During WWII Brookfield Engineering Laboratories was able to continue its viscometer development while making significant contributions to the war effort with such projects as the cathode at the heart of airborne radar, the coaxial connectors for radio research at Harvard and MIT, and other defence components.
After WWII the American Standard for Testing and Materials (ASTM) developed standards for viscosity measurement using the Brookfield dial reading synchro-electric viscometer.
Simultaneously, Brookfield launched an extensive marketing campaign and production expanded significantly.
New models such as the first two-speed viscometer for Firestone and a four-speed version for Georgian Kaolin (credited with making possible machine coated papers) were developed and introduced. Since that time many more instruments have been developed to meet the growing and changing needs for viscosity measurement.
In June 2002, Brookfield was among the first in its field to achieve ISO9001:2000.
Brookfield viscometers are used today in a broad range of applications, encompassing research and development and quality control.
Typical applications include adhesives, cosmetics, a wide variety of food products, inks, paints and other coatings, solvents, petroleum products, plastics and pharmaceuticals.
Brookfield has offices in the United Kingdom and Germany, operating local sales and service subsidiaries with the same high standards, expertise and local knowledge that customers have come to expect during the past seventy years.
Brookfield viscometers are also available from local distributors and representatives in more than sixty countries worldwide.
In 1998 David Brookfield was named president and Donald Brookfield Jr was named executive vice president.
Along with David and Don, the company is managed by dedicated employees and friends that have been part of the Brookfield team for many years.
On 24 May 2004 Don Brookfield Sr passed away after an extended illness.
He leaves behind a legacy that lives on.
The company and every instrument produced is a tribute to the high standard established by Don so many years ago.
The product quality, the enduring relationships, and the vision for the future find their roots in the abiding commitment to excellence that Don Brookfield initiated and that continues today.
