Inventor Name
Burton, William and Humphreys, Robert
Repository
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History
Archives Center
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
202-633-3270
http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives
Physical Description
0.5 cu. ft. : 3 boxes
Summary
Photographs of refineries, flow charts, lab notebooks, and other materials relating to the Burton-Humphreys oil cracking process. Amoco Company scientists William Burton and Robert Humphreys patented the Burton-Humphreys process in 1912. This thermal cracking process doubled the yield of gasoline from crude oil while improving the octane rating. It proved to be of great advantage during World War I, and is credited with avoiding a gasoline shortage.
Finding aid
https://sova.si.edu/record/NMAH.AC.1102