U.S. patent 2,589,983, another “Electrical Indicator of Mechanical Expansion,” co‑invented with Vincent J. Schaefer, is issued to Katharine Burr Blodgett.
On March 18, 1952, Katharine Burr Blodgett and Vincent J. Schaefer were granted U.S. patent 2,589,983 for an “Electrical Indicator of Mechanical Expansion.” This patent built on and refined their earlier work, contributing another design for converting minute mechanical displacements into electrical readings.
At mid‑century, industries from aviation to power generation required increasingly sensitive instruments to monitor strain, thermal expansion, and structural integrity. Blodgett and Schaefer’s indicator addressed these needs by offering a compact, reliable way to track mechanical changes in situ. The patent’s issuance demonstrated that Blodgett’s inventive activity continued well beyond her famous work on anti‑reflective coatings.
This event is significant as part of Blodgett’s broader contribution to scientific instrumentation within the GE Research Laboratory. It shows her engagement with practical engineering problems and her ability to collaborate across specialties, integrating knowledge of materials, electricity, and measurement. For women’s history, the patent underscores that Blodgett’s career was not limited to a single iconic invention; she sustained a multi‑decade portfolio of research and patents, participating fully in the industrial innovation system while remaining one of the very few women in such roles.