Inventor William B. Barnes, 88, a pioneer in the design of automotive transmissions, died Thursday morning in his Oakden Road home. Although he had been in failing health, his death was unexpected.
Born in Marianna, Ark., he graduated from high school in Helena, Ark. He then attended Purdue University, where he received two degrees in mechanical engineering. After several years of research and development in the automotive industry, he brought to Warner Gear Division of Borg-Warner Co. in Muncie (now Borg-Warner Automotive, Transmission Systems) his concept of an overdrive.
Warner Gear manufactured more than 10 million of the fuel-saving mechanical power-transmission devices over a period of nearly three decades.
In a newspaper interview in 1982, he recalled, "The overdrive principle was long established, and its substantial advantages well understood, but it was rejected in the marketplace because of noisy operation and difficult controls. I contributed a silent gearset design and automatic controls, comprising several improvements tightly protected by some 12 patents under which the manufacturer had an exclusive license.
"This design-licensing arrangement, resulting in the manufacture and sale of millions of overdrive units, brought to Warner Gear Division its period of greatest prosperity. Much of the credit for the success of the endeavor must go to the skills and diligent support of Warner Gear men in the engineering and experimental departments of 1932-1952," he said.
He was made a fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers in 1982, an honor bestowed on fewer than 1 percent of the society's more than 40,000 eligible members. Others honored as fellows at the same time as Mr. Barnes included Dwane L. Wallace, former chairman of Cessna Aircraft Co., and Eiji Toyota, president of Japan's Toyota Motor Co.
Early in his career, Mr. Barnes was affiliated with the Cadillac Division of General Motors Corp., Auburn Automobile Co., International Harvester and Schwitzer Cummins Co. After that, he set up his own business in the early 1930s, and his relationship with Warner Gear was a contractual one.
Under the name Barnes Motor Development Co. he worked with the concepts of mechanical and hydraulic power steering, non-petroleum energy alternatives and engine design to improve fuel consumption with his son, William A. Barnes.
His memberships in addition to the SAE included the Society of the Sigma Xi, a scientific research honorary, The Muncie Club, The Muncie Rotary Club and First Presbyterian Church.
He held numerous patents.
His wife, Freda Arthur Barnes, died July 2, 1986.
Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church. There will be no calling hours. Memorials may be sent to the church at 1400 W. Riverside, Muncie 47304; The Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 1001, Muncie 47305; or to any charity of the donor's choice. Meeks Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Marianna, Ark., he graduated from high school in Helena, Ark. He then attended Purdue University, where he received two degrees in mechanical engineering. After several years of research and development in the automotive industry, he brought to Warner Gear Division of Borg-Warner Co. in Muncie (now Borg-Warner Automotive, Transmission Systems) his concept of an overdrive.
Warner Gear manufactured more than 10 million of the fuel-saving mechanical power-transmission devices over a period of nearly three decades.
In a newspaper interview in 1982, he recalled, "The overdrive principle was long established, and its substantial advantages well understood, but it was rejected in the marketplace because of noisy operation and difficult controls. I contributed a silent gearset design and automatic controls, comprising several improvements tightly protected by some 12 patents under which the manufacturer had an exclusive license.
"This design-licensing arrangement, resulting in the manufacture and sale of millions of overdrive units, brought to Warner Gear Division its period of greatest prosperity. Much of the credit for the success of the endeavor must go to the skills and diligent support of Warner Gear men in the engineering and experimental departments of 1932-1952," he said.
He was made a fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers in 1982, an honor bestowed on fewer than 1 percent of the society's more than 40,000 eligible members. Others honored as fellows at the same time as Mr. Barnes included Dwane L. Wallace, former chairman of Cessna Aircraft Co., and Eiji Toyota, president of Japan's Toyota Motor Co.
Early in his career, Mr. Barnes was affiliated with the Cadillac Division of General Motors Corp., Auburn Automobile Co., International Harvester and Schwitzer Cummins Co. After that, he set up his own business in the early 1930s, and his relationship with Warner Gear was a contractual one.
Under the name Barnes Motor Development Co. he worked with the concepts of mechanical and hydraulic power steering, non-petroleum energy alternatives and engine design to improve fuel consumption with his son, William A. Barnes.
His memberships in addition to the SAE included the Society of the Sigma Xi, a scientific research honorary, The Muncie Club, The Muncie Rotary Club and First Presbyterian Church.
He held numerous patents.
His wife, Freda Arthur Barnes, died July 2, 1986.
Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church. There will be no calling hours. Memorials may be sent to the church at 1400 W. Riverside, Muncie 47304; The Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 1001, Muncie 47305; or to any charity of the donor's choice. Meeks Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Inventor William B. Barnes, 88, a pioneer in the design of automotive transmissions, died Thursday morning in his Oakden Road home. Although he had been in failing health, his death was unexpected.
Born in Marianna, Ark., he graduated from high school in Helena, Ark. He then attended Purdue University, where he received two degrees in mechanical engineering. After several years of research and development in the automotive industry, he brought to Warner Gear Division of Borg-Warner Co. in Muncie (now Borg-Warner Automotive, Transmission Systems) his concept of an overdrive.
Warner Gear manufactured more than 10 million of the fuel-saving mechanical power-transmission devices over a period of nearly three decades.
In a newspaper interview in 1982, he recalled, "The overdrive principle was long established, and its substantial advantages well understood, but it was rejected in the marketplace because of noisy operation and difficult controls. I contributed a silent gearset design and automatic controls, comprising several improvements tightly protected by some 12 patents under which the manufacturer had an exclusive license.
"This design-licensing arrangement, resulting in the manufacture and sale of millions of overdrive units, brought to Warner Gear Division its period of greatest prosperity. Much of the credit for the success of the endeavor must go to the skills and diligent support of Warner Gear men in the engineering and experimental departments of 1932-1952," he said.
He was made a fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers in 1982, an honor bestowed on fewer than 1 percent of the society's more than 40,000 eligible members. Others honored as fellows at the same time as Mr. Barnes included Dwane L. Wallace, former chairman of Cessna Aircraft Co., and Eiji Toyota, president of Japan's Toyota Motor Co.
Early in his career, Mr. Barnes was affiliated with the Cadillac Division of General Motors Corp., Auburn Automobile Co., International Harvester and Schwitzer Cummins Co. After that, he set up his own business in the early 1930s, and his relationship with Warner Gear was a contractual one.
Under the name Barnes Motor Development Co. he worked with the concepts of mechanical and hydraulic power steering, non-petroleum energy alternatives and engine design to improve fuel consumption with his son, William A. Barnes.
His memberships in addition to the SAE included the Society of the Sigma Xi, a scientific research honorary, The Muncie Club, The Muncie Rotary Club and First Presbyterian Church.
He held numerous patents.
His wife, Freda Arthur Barnes, died July 2, 1986.
Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church. There will be no calling hours. Memorials may be sent to the church at 1400 W. Riverside, Muncie 47304; The Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 1001, Muncie 47305; or to any charity of the donor's choice. Meeks Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Marianna, Ark., he graduated from high school in Helena, Ark. He then attended Purdue University, where he received two degrees in mechanical engineering. After several years of research and development in the automotive industry, he brought to Warner Gear Division of Borg-Warner Co. in Muncie (now Borg-Warner Automotive, Transmission Systems) his concept of an overdrive.
Warner Gear manufactured more than 10 million of the fuel-saving mechanical power-transmission devices over a period of nearly three decades.
In a newspaper interview in 1982, he recalled, "The overdrive principle was long established, and its substantial advantages well understood, but it was rejected in the marketplace because of noisy operation and difficult controls. I contributed a silent gearset design and automatic controls, comprising several improvements tightly protected by some 12 patents under which the manufacturer had an exclusive license.
"This design-licensing arrangement, resulting in the manufacture and sale of millions of overdrive units, brought to Warner Gear Division its period of greatest prosperity. Much of the credit for the success of the endeavor must go to the skills and diligent support of Warner Gear men in the engineering and experimental departments of 1932-1952," he said.
He was made a fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers in 1982, an honor bestowed on fewer than 1 percent of the society's more than 40,000 eligible members. Others honored as fellows at the same time as Mr. Barnes included Dwane L. Wallace, former chairman of Cessna Aircraft Co., and Eiji Toyota, president of Japan's Toyota Motor Co.
Early in his career, Mr. Barnes was affiliated with the Cadillac Division of General Motors Corp., Auburn Automobile Co., International Harvester and Schwitzer Cummins Co. After that, he set up his own business in the early 1930s, and his relationship with Warner Gear was a contractual one.
Under the name Barnes Motor Development Co. he worked with the concepts of mechanical and hydraulic power steering, non-petroleum energy alternatives and engine design to improve fuel consumption with his son, William A. Barnes.
His memberships in addition to the SAE included the Society of the Sigma Xi, a scientific research honorary, The Muncie Club, The Muncie Rotary Club and First Presbyterian Church.
He held numerous patents.
His wife, Freda Arthur Barnes, died July 2, 1986.
Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church. There will be no calling hours. Memorials may be sent to the church at 1400 W. Riverside, Muncie 47304; The Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 1001, Muncie 47305; or to any charity of the donor's choice. Meeks Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
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