Inventor. Co-founded the Victor Talking Machine Company. Many years later it was known as RCA Victor. He made popular the dog, named Nipper, who was part of the advertising of the company, with a dog listening to a voice. He also invented a magnetic torpedo and a reflecting balloon, which would stay in the water as a locater. Leon was the first person to put a horn on a phonograph, which later showed the dog Nipper, a famous photo and recognized around the world. He patented the zoom lens for motion pictures and had the first patent for color motion pictures. Leon had over fifty patents. He made devices for special effects such as the illusion of flames surrounding an actor and making appearing or disappearing ghosts. In 1918, he produced the movie, Cupid Angling, America's first feature length color film in which Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford made guest appearances. He invented the snap cigarette lighter with a spring control, which when hitting the flint and steel, ignited the wick. His son took the process and started the Douglass Lighter Company in San Francisco. He was the father of six children, two who died in 1935. Was married to Victoria Adams, a descendant of the two Adams Presidents. His huge mansion in Menlo Park, California, was sold in 1945, to the Menlo School.
Inventor. Co-founded the Victor Talking Machine Company. Many years later it was known as RCA Victor. He made popular the dog, named Nipper, who was part of the advertising of the company, with a dog listening to a voice. He also invented a magnetic torpedo and a reflecting balloon, which would stay in the water as a locater. Leon was the first person to put a horn on a phonograph, which later showed the dog Nipper, a famous photo and recognized around the world. He patented the zoom lens for motion pictures and had the first patent for color motion pictures. Leon had over fifty patents. He made devices for special effects such as the illusion of flames surrounding an actor and making appearing or disappearing ghosts. In 1918, he produced the movie, Cupid Angling, America's first feature length color film in which Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford made guest appearances. He invented the snap cigarette lighter with a spring control, which when hitting the flint and steel, ignited the wick. His son took the process and started the Douglass Lighter Company in San Francisco. He was the father of six children, two who died in 1935. Was married to Victoria Adams, a descendant of the two Adams Presidents. His huge mansion in Menlo Park, California, was sold in 1945, to the Menlo School.
Bio by: Karen Mickel Bennett
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