Clarence Winfred Spicer (November 30, 1875 – November 21, 1939) was an American automotive engineer and inventor, best known for the first practical design and use of the

universal joint A universal joint (also called a universal coupling or U-joint) is a joint or coupling connecting rigid shafts whose axes are inclined to each other. It is commonly used in shafts that transmit rotary motion. It consists of a pair of hinges ...

in automotive applications.

Early life and education

Spicer u-joint advert in Automobile Trade Journal 1916

Spicer was born November 30, 1875, in Edelstein, Illinois to John and Cornelia Babcock Spicer; the third of four children.Snyder, pp 11–12 The Spicer family operated a

creamery A creamery or cheese factory is a place where milk and cream are processed and where butter and cheese is produced. Cream is separated from whole milk; pasteurization is done to the skimmed milk and cream separately. Whole milk for sale has ...

and at a young age Spicer learned how to maintain the creamery equipment while helping his father. In 1891, due to the Spicer family's

Seventh Day Baptist Seventh Day Baptists are Baptists who observe the Sabbath as the seventh day of the week, Saturday, as a holy day to God. They adopt a theology common to Baptists, profess the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice, perform the conscious b ...

religion, Spicer was sent to the church's Alfred Academy in

Alfred, New York Alfred is a Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in Allegany County, New York, Allegany County, New York (state), New York, United States. The population was 4,896 at the 2020 census. The Town of Alfred has a Administrative divisions ...

to complete his education.Snyder, pp 2–3 He returned home without finishing school in 1894 to help his father with the creamery business after his father was injured in farming accident. On December 1, 1896, Spicer married Anna Olive Burdick, a fellow student at Alfred. The couple took up residence near the family dairy farm at Edelstein.Snyder, pp 3–4 In 1899, Spicer enrolled in mechanical and electrical engineering courses at

Cornell University Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...

, where he undertook the design of a motor car as a class assignment. During the design exercise, Spicer developed the design of a universal joint that was practical for automotive use. With the encouragement of his instructor, Dean Robert H. Thurston, Spicer applied for and received a patent for a practical automotive universal joint on May 19, 1903. Thurston died on October 25, 1903, and without a mentor, Spicer decided to leave Cornell during his last semester of school and start the manufacture of his universal joint design for sale to automotive manufacturers.Snyder, p 4

Career

Spicer began manufacturing his invention through an arrangement with the Potter Printing Press Company in

Plainfield, New Jersey Plainfield is a City (New Jersey), city in Union County, New Jersey, Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Nicknamed "The Queen City",

, on April 1, 1904.The Dana History Spicer incorporated the Spicer Universal Joint Manufacturing Company in May 1905 and shortened the name to

Spicer Manufacturing Company Spicer Manufacturing Company was an American manufacturer of automotive parts, including the Spicer joint, invented by Clarence W. Spicer. History Starting in April 1904, Spicer's patented joint was initially manufactured through an arrangement ...

in 1909. Nearly a century later, Spicer's company is now Dana Incorporated, with headquarters in

Toledo, Ohio Toledo ( ) is a city in Lucas County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is located at the western end of Lake Erie along the Maumee River. Toledo is the List of cities in Ohio, fourth-most populous city in Ohio and List of United Sta ...

, and worldwide automotive parts sales approaching US$10 billion per year.

Later life and death

Spicer served as a member of the Alfred University Board of Trustees from 1917 until his death in November 1939. He was a member and officer of the Society for Automotive Engineers (SAE).Snyder, p 5

Legacy

Spicer is a member of the Automotive Hall of Fame.Snyder, p 5

Notes

Citations References used * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Spicer, Clarence W. 1875 births 1939 deaths American automotive engineers Alfred University alumni Cornell University alumni