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National Company (NATCO) Atomic Clocks Record,
1955-1968 |
Extent and Forms of Material: 5.5 cubic feet (15 boxes; 3
oversize folders)
Creator: National Company, Inc. (NATCO)
Abstract: Records document the development of the first commercial
atomic clocks by the National Company, Inc., (NATCO) of Malden, MA., a company
known for producing specialized electronic equipment. The records include blueprints,
technical drawings and schematics, technical and research reports, instruction
manuals, photographs, and marketing materials.
Repository: Archives Center, National Museum of American History,
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; archivescenter@si.edu
; 202-633-3270; www.americanhistory.si.edu/archives
Collection Number: AC0547
Processing Note: Processed by Laura Zelasnic, August 1998;
supervised by Alison Oswald, Archivist.
© 2007 by the Smithsonian Institution. All rights reserved.
Information for users of
the collection
Conditions Governing Access: The collection
is open for research use.
Physical Access: Researchers must handle unprotected
photographs with gloves. Researchers must use reference copies
of audio-visual materials. When no reference copy exists, the
Archives Center staff will produce reference copies on an “as
needed” basis, as resources allow.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use: Copyright
held by the Smithsonian Institution. Collection items available
for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees
concerning copyright restrictions. Reproduction permission from
Archives Center: fees for commercial use.
Preferred Citation: [Title and date of item],
National Company (NATCO) Atomic Clocks Record, Archives Center, National Museum of American
History, box number X, folder number XX, digital file number XXXXXXXX
In-depth information about the collection
- Administrative/biographical history
Scope and content
System of arrangement
Acquisition information
Custodial history
Related archival materials
Related artifacts
Access points
Container listing
An atomic clock is a cesium-based frequency standard. It operates
by exposing cesium atoms to microwaves at one end of their resonant
frequencies and then counting their corresponding cycles as a
measure of time. In 1955, Louis Essen of Britain's National Physical
Laboratory and William Markowitz of the U.S. Naval Observatory
collaborated to produce the first measurement of what is now called
the atomic second. In 1967, the 13th general Conference of Weights
and Measures formally redefined the atomic second as 9,192,631,770.
The atomic second became the internationally accepted unit of
time. Atomic clocks are the most accurate of all clocks.
The first clock in 1949 was based on the microwave resonances
of the ammonia molecule. It was patented by Harold Lyons and Benjamin
F. Husten. The first commercial atomic clocks were developed at
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Research Laboratory
of Electronics under J.R. Zacharias, a protégé of
I.I. Rabi’s, circa 1955-1956 and were manufactured by the
National Company, Inc. (NATCO) of Malden, MA. NATCO, founded in
1914, was a well-respected company known for producing specialized
electronic equipment in short runs. Prototype clocks bore the
working name National Atomic Frequency Standard (NAFS). When the
first commercial product was unveiled on October 3, 1956, it bore
the trade name “Atomichron” and the model number NC-1001.
Between 1956 and 1960, fifty Atomichrons were made and sold to
military agencies, government agencies, and universities. Nine
other models followed with refinements in size, portability and
accuracy. The most radical design departure began with the NC3001
when the beam tube was placed in the horizontal position. Prices
ranged from $10,000 to $50,000.
Patents covering NATCO’s frequency standards include:
2,960,663, 2,972,115, 2,991,389, 3,258,713, 3,305,290. In 1965,
James J. Bagnall was assigned patent 3,167,772 for a Collision
Avoidance System to NATCO. It never reached production.
Although supported by research contracts by all three military
branches, especially the Army Signal Corps, NATCO failed to achieve
a lasting profitability. It was liquidated, and its patents were
acquired by Frequency Electronics in 1969.
Sources
1. PEM Drawing C43767, 1967, PEM Drawings (C38037-C43767),
1964-1967, Series 3, Components, 1955-1967, Atomic Clock Collection,
Archives Center, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American
History.
2. Forman, Paul. “Atomichron: The Atomic Clock from Concept
to Commercial Product,” in Proceedings of the IEEE,
vol. 73, p. 1181-1204, 1985.
The National Company (NATCO) Atomic Clocks Record, 1955-1968, documents the development
of the first commercial atomic clocks. Materials were generated
by the National Company, Inc. (NATCO) of Malden, MA which produced
the clocks under contract for military branches of the U.S. government
and also marketed them on a retail basis. The collection consists
of blueprints, technical drawings and schematics, technical and
research reports, instruction manuals, photographs, marketing
materials, and a stock offering prospectus for NATCO. If one blueprint,
drawing or parts list had two or more models listed, it is included
under the first model cited.
Series 1, National Company, Inc., (NATCO), 1957-1959,
consists of a stock offering prospectus, 1959, which describes
the organization of NATCO, its executives and Board of Directors,
financial condition, and products. Located in this series is a
bound volume of photographs which accompanied NATCO’s contract
bids. This volume contains photographs of a state-of-the-art machine
shop and electronics laboratory of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
A blueprint for a radio receiver— the product on which NATCO
had built its reputation—is here.
Series 2, Atomichrons, 1955-1968, contains blueprints,
original technical drawings and schematics, instruction manuals
for setup and operation, technical and research reports, photographs
and marketing materials arranged by Atomichron model from the
National Atomic Frequency System (NAFS) prototype through the
NC3701 and NC3702. The NC1001, the first commercial atomic clock,
is fully documented. Technical Memoranda and proposals (TM-) related
to particular models have been included with them. Other Technical
Memoranda and proposals are in Series 3, Components, 1955-1957,
and Series 5, Technical Memoranda and Reports, 1956-1957.
Series 3, Components, 1955-1967, contains materials
related to the development of NATCo’s Cesium Beam Tube and
other parts of the Atomichrons. It includes Technical Memoranda
(TM-), blueprints and original drawings, original notes and computations,
parts lists, and photographs. Also included in this series is
material related to the Production Engineering Measure (PEM),
1962-1967. This was a piece of equipment designed and built by
NATCO to measure the accuracy of each Cesium Beam Tube as it was
produced.
Series 4, Collision Avoidance System, 1962-1967,
consists of material related to James J. Bagnall’s patented
Collision Avoidance System, using the Cesium Beam Frequency Standard.
It includes his research report, the patent assigned to NATCO,
and proposals and reports from NATCO representatives to Air Transportation
Association conferences and meetings for 1967.
Series 5, Technical Memoranda and Reports, 1956-1967,
consists of bound and numbered (TM-) technical memoranda. These
are research reports and proposals for future research or products.
Other technical memoranda are in Series 2, Atomichrons and Series
3, Components, 1955-1967.
Series 6, Reprints from MIT, 1953-1955, contains
a bound volume of reprinted or photocopied papers which document
research developments in Cesium Beam Frequency Standards at the
time NATCO was establishing itself as a commercial producer.
The collection is arranged into six series.
- Series 1: National Company, Inc., (NATCO),
1957-1959
- Series 2: Atomichrons, 1955-1968
- Subseries 1, National Atomic Frequency System (NAF), 1956
- Subseries 2, NC1001, 1955-circa 1959
- Subseries 3, NC1001, Polaris, 1956-1958
- Subseries 4, NC2001, Militarized, 1956-1961
- Subseries 5, NC3001, Airborne, 1956-1961
- Subseries 6, NC1200, 1959
- Subseries 7, Missileborne Atomichron, 1959-1960
- Subseries 8, NC1501, 1958-1964
- Subseries 9, NC1601, Economy, 1958-1964
- Subseries 10, Tactical Frequency Standard Drawings, 1959
- Subseries 11, Tri-Service CBFS, circa 1965
- Subseries 12, NC3501, circa 1965, 1967
- Subseries 13, NC3601, Aerospace, circa 1965
- Subseries 14, NC3701, Commercial, 1964-1968
- Series 3: Components, 1955-1967
- Series 4: Collision Avoidance System, 1962-1967
- Series 5: Technical Memoranda and Reports,
1956-1967
- Series 6: Reprints from MIT, 1953-1955
Materials in this collection were donated to the Division of
Electricity and Modern Physics by Louis C. Lerner in December
1984. The bulk of the blueprints were purchased from Robert Reeves
in August, 1991.
The collection was transferred from the Division of Electricity
and Modern Physics to the Archives Center in February, 1996.
Materials related to MIT staff and departments who were involved
in NATCO’s Atomic Clock projects also can be found in the
Historical Collections at the MIT Museum (http://web.mit.edu/museum/)
and in the Institute Archives and Special Collections (http://libraries.mit.edu/archives/)
of the MIT Libraries in Cambridge, Mass.
Artifacts related to this collection are located in the Division
of Information, Technology and Communication at the National Museum
of American History.
Subjects/Topical:
Airplanes—Collision avoidance—1950-1970
Atomic clocks
Clocks and watches—1950-1970
Cold War—1950-1970
Frequency standards—1950-1970
Inventions—1950-1970
Military-industrial complex—Massachusetts—Cambridge
Patents—1950-1970
United States –Air defenses—Military—1950-1970
Subjects/Names:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology—1950-1970
Form/Genre:
Blueprints—20th century
Manuals—1950-1970
Photographs—1940-1970
Reports—1940-1970
Technical drawings
| Box |
Folder |
|
| |
|
SERIES
1: NATIONAL COMPANY, INC. (NATCO), 1957-1959 |
| 1 |
1 |
Prospectus, 1959 |
| |
2 |
National Company [Work]
Experience, 1959 |
| |
3 |
AN/WRR-2 Receiver
Blueprint, 1957 |
| |
|
SERIES
2: ATOMICHRONS, 1955-1968 |
| |
|
Subseries
1, National Atomic Frequency System (NAFS), 1956 |
| |
4 |
Blueprints (A17120-B17709),
1956 |
| |
5 |
Blueprints (C16001-D16488),
1956 |
| |
|
Subseries
2, NC1001, 1955-circa 1959 |
| |
6 |
Blueprints (A15696-A17802),
1955-1957 |
| 2 |
1 |
Blueprints (A15942-A27531),
1955-1957 |
| |
2 |
Blueprints (B15942-B17148),
1955-1957 |
| |
3 |
Blueprints, (B17155-B17265),
1955-1957 |
| |
4 |
Blueprints (B17266-B25265),
1956-1957 |
| |
O/S Folder 1 |
Blueprints (B20285-B22545),
1957-1959 |
| 2 |
5 |
Blueprints, (C16224-C20014),
1955-1957 |
| |
6 |
Blueprints, (D17063-D17950),
1955-1957 |
| 3 |
1 |
Blueprints, (E1708-E17919),
1955-1957 |
| 15 |
1 |
Drawings (20285 and
22545), 1959 |
| |
O/S Folder 1 |
Drawing D17117, 1955-1956 |
| 3 |
2 |
Beam Tube Assembly
Manual, 1957 |
| |
3 |
Instruction Manuals,
1957 |
| 3 |
4 |
Photographs, 1957 |
| |
5 |
Short-Term Stability
Study, Final Report, circa 1959 |
| |
|
Subseries
3, NC1001, Polaris, 1956-1958 |
| |
6 |
Proposal, TM-144,
1956 |
| |
7 |
Interim Report, 1957 |
| |
8 |
Interim Development
Report, 1958 |
| |
O/S Folder 3 |
NC1106 Blueprint (C29888),
1960 |
| |
|
Subseries
4, NC2001, Militarized, 1956-1961 |
| 3 |
9 |
TM-110, Proposal,
1956 |
| 4 |
1 |
Blueprints (A18014-A29846),
1959 |
| |
2 |
Blueprints (B25141-B32015),
1959 |
| |
O/S Folder 2 |
Drawings (B26508-B34828),
1958-1961 |
| 4 |
3 |
Blueprints (C25313-C27783),
1959 |
| |
4 |
Blueprints (C28464-C32728),
1959 |
| |
5 |
Blueprints (D25300-D31961),
1959 |
| 5 |
1 |
Blueprints (E26452-E31052),
1959 |
| |
2 |
Blueprints (J32008-J32727),
1959 |
| 15 |
2 |
Drawings (B26508-B34828),
1959 |
| 5 |
3 |
Beam Tube Assembly,
Evaluation & Test Procedures, 1960 |
| |
4 |
Atomic Beam Frequency
Standard Final Report, 1955-1957 |
| |
5 |
Semi-final Report,
1958 |
| |
6 |
Instruction Manual,
circa 1959 |
| 6 |
1-2 |
NC2001-2011, Instruction
Manuals, circa 1959 |
| |
3 |
Final Report, 1961 |
| |
4 |
Range Measurement
with Two Atomic Beam Oscillators, 1957 |
| |
5 |
TM-432, Proposal to
Measure Directly the Phase Error in an Atomic Beam Resonance
Tube, circa 1960 |
| 6 |
6 |
TM-520, Proposal to
Investigate and Eliminate Distortions in the Cs 133 Resonance
of the NC2001 Cesium Beam Tube, 1963 |
| |
|
Subseries
5, NC3001, Airborne, 1956-1961 |
| |
7 |
Blueprints (A24357-A28476),
1959 |
| |
8 |
Blueprints (A28502-A32730),
1959 |
| 7 |
1 |
Blueprints (B18009-B32717),
1959 |
| 15 |
3 |
Drawings (B26520-B34858),
1958-1961 |
| 7 |
2 |
Blueprints (C22347-C27749),
1959 |
| |
3 |
Blueprints (C27773-C33597),
1959 |
| |
4 |
Blueprints (D25434-D28438),
1959 |
| |
5 |
Blueprints (D28926-D32724),
1959 |
| 8 |
1 |
Blueprints (E27564-E53595),
1959 |
| |
2 |
Blueprints (J28434-J29995),
1959 |
| |
3 |
Completion Report,
DR 1277, 1956 |
| |
4 |
Instruction Manual,
1959 |
| |
5 |
Oscillator Handbook,
circa 1959 |
| |
6 |
TM-474, Final Report,
1961 |
| 15 |
3 |
NC3011, Drawings (
B34389-B34441), 1961 |
| |
|
Subseries
6, NC1200, 1959 |
| 9 |
1 |
Blueprints (A25466-D37180),
1959 |
| |
2 |
Instruction Manual,
circa 1959 |
| |
3 |
NC1201 Oscillator-Comparator
Manual, circa 1959 |
| |
4 |
NC1200 & 1201 Transistorized
Frequency Standard Manual, 1959 |
| |
5 |
NC1251A Auxiliary
Frequency Standard Manual, 1959 |
| |
|
Subseries
7, Missileborne Atomichron, 1959-1960 |
| |
6 |
Detail Drawings, 1959 |
| |
O/S Folder 2 |
Harmonic Generator
Drawings, 1959 |
| |
O/S Folder 2 |
Cross-Section Drawings,
circa 1959 |
| 15 |
4 |
Drawings (Notes J31998),
circa 1959 |
| |
4 |
Sketches, circa 1959 |
| |
4 |
Blueprint, Layout
No. 3-X-288 Multiplier Module B-2-3-4, circa 1959 |
| |
4 |
Drawings (Notes J31998),
1959 |
| 15 |
4 |
Beam Tube Cross-Sections,
1959 |
| |
O/S Folder 2 |
Oscillator Drawings,
1959 |
| |
O/S Folder 2 |
Harmonic Generator
Drawings, 1959 |
| 9 |
7 |
Technical Proposal,
Lockheed Missiles, circa 1959 |
| |
8 |
Technical Proposal
For Missileborne Atomichron v. 2, circa 1959 |
| |
9 |
TM-438, Missleborne
Atomichron Frequency Standard, 1960 |
| |
10 |
TM-453, Beam Optics
for MBA Tube, 1960 |
| |
|
Subseries
8, NC1501, 1958-1964 |
| |
11 |
Blueprints (B25432-C33985),
1958-1960 |
| 15 |
5 |
Drawings (B29931-B38097),
1959-1964 |
| |
O/S Folder 1 |
Blueprints (C38104-C38107),
1964 |
| |
O/S Folder 1 |
Blueprints (D34816-D38132),
1961-1962 |
| |
O/S Folder 1 |
Unnumbered Cross-Section,
circa 1964 |
| 9 |
12 |
TM-504, Short Term
Stability Measurement, 1961 |
| |
13 |
NC1501 & NC1511, Instruction
Manual, 1961 |
| |
|
Subseries
9, NC1601, Economy, 1958-1964 |
| |
14 |
Blueprints (A2448-C29179),
1959 |
| |
O/S Folder 1 |
Blueprints (C36380-C36499),
1962-1963 |
| |
O/S Folder 1 |
Blueprints (D36447-D36501),
1962-1963 |
| 15 |
6 |
Drawings, (B25448-B36509),
1958-1963 |
| 9 |
15 |
NC1601 (M) Instruction
Manual, circa 1960 |
| |
16 |
Cesium Beam Tube Studies,
1962-1964 |
| 10 |
1 |
Contract, 1963 |
| 15 |
8 |
Subseries
10, Tactical Frequency Standard Drawings, 1959 |
| |
|
Subseries
11, Tri-Service CBFS, circa 1965 |
| 10 |
2 |
TM-634, Proposal,
v.1, circa 1965 |
| |
3 |
TM-634, Proposal,
v.2, circa 1965 |
| |
4 |
Photographs, circa
1965 |
| |
|
Subseries
12, NC3501, circa 1965, 1967 |
| |
O/S Folder 3 |
Blueprint (C43694),
1967 |
| 10 |
5 |
Photographs, circa
1965 |
| |
|
Subseries
13, NC3601, Aerospace, circa 1965 |
| |
6 |
Photographs, circa
1965 |
| |
7 |
Specifications, circa
1965 |
| |
|
Subseries
14, NC3701, Commercial, 1964-1968 |
| |
8 |
Blueprints (A44252-D44251),
1967 |
| |
O/S Folder 3 |
Blueprints (C43656-C43663),
1967 |
| 10 |
9 |
Assembly Beam Tube,
1967 |
| |
10 |
Preliminary Technical
Manual, circa 1968 |
| |
11 |
Preliminary Technical
Manual, (incomplete), circa 1968 |
| |
12 |
Specifications, 1968 |
| |
13 |
Photographs, circa
1968 |
| |
O/S Folder 3 |
NC3702, Drawing 38059,
1964 |
| |
O/S Folder 3 |
Blueprint (C43666),
1967 |
| |
|
SERIES
3: COMPONENTS, 1955-1967 |
| 11 |
1 |
RPD Blueprints (B15971-B15979),
1955 |
| |
2 |
TM-219, Cesium Beam
Tube Design Information, 1957 |
| |
3 |
Beam Tube Optics For
Offset and Conventional Designs, 1957 |
| |
4 |
[Beam Tube] Magnetic
Measurement Data, J. Mackowiack, 1957-1958 |
| |
5 |
TM-307, Method of
Matching and Compensating the RF Structure of the Beam Tube,
1958, Constance W. Franklin |
| |
6 |
[Summary and Notes
on 13 Topics], circa 1958, Constance W. Franklin |
| |
7 |
TM-435, Notes on the
Design and Testing of the Temperature Compensator for the
24" and 72" Cesium Beam Tubes, 1960 |
| |
8 |
Detail Drawing, Airborne
and Missleborne Beam Tubes, circa 1960 |
| |
9 |
Cesium Beam Resonator
(6201CBR) Photographs, 1967 |
| |
10 |
PEM Quarterly Reports,
1963-1964 |
| |
11 |
PEM Quarterly Reports,
1965-1967 |
| 12 |
1 |
PEM Parts List, 1965 |
| |
O/S Folder 3 |
PEM Blueprints (C38037-43767),
1964-1967 |
| |
O/S Folder 3 |
17" PEM Model Drawings,
unnumbered, 1964 |
| |
O/S Folder 2 |
PEM Blueprints (E39972),
1965 |
| |
O/S Folder 2 |
PEM Blueprints (D36505-D41155),
1965 |
| 12 |
2 |
PEM Assembly Blueprint
(J39092), 1965 |
| 15 |
7 |
PEM Drawings (B36449-B40086),
1962-1965 |
| 12 |
3 |
PEM Acceptance Test
Procedure, 1965 |
| |
4 |
PEM Acceptance Test
Procedure, NC6201CBR, Cesium Beam Resonator, 1967 |
| |
5 |
PEM Final Report,
1967 |
| |
6 |
General Purposes Blueprints,
1959 |
| |
7 |
TM-621, Operational
Considerations for Driving Crystal Oscillator for APFS, circa
1962 |
| |
8 |
Stability Computation
Notebook for Tri-Service Crystal Oscillator, 1965 |
| |
9 |
Assembly Blueprints
(D111-158-D44458), 1966 |
| |
10 |
Specifications, 1966 |
| |
11 |
Calibrator Blueprint
& Parts List [Electron Multiplier], 1962 |
| |
12 |
General Description
of 60 Degree Electron Multiplier, undated |
| |
13 |
Effect of Noise on
an Oscillator Controlled by a Primary Reference, Bagnall,
undated |
| |
14 |
Specifications for
Processes and Materials, 1960 |
| |
15 |
Temperature Compensator
for Airborne and Signal Corps, 1960 |
| |
16 |
Parts Lists, NC2001,
2021, 1200, 1501, 1601, 3001, 3011--1960-1963 |
| |
17 |
Parts List [Unidentified],
circa 1965 |
| 13 |
1 |
Unassigned Blueprints,
1959-1967 |
| |
O/S Folder 1 |
ASD Blueprints (C40321
& C41135), (D38984), 1965 |
| |
|
SERIES
4: COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM, 1962-1967 |
| 13 |
2 |
James J. Bagnall Paper,
1962 |
| |
3 |
James J. Bagnall Patent,
1965 |
| |
4 |
Air Transport Association,
Memos and Reports, 1967 |
| |
5 |
NATCO Proposals and
Reports, 1967 |
| |
6 |
NATCO Trip Reports,
1967 |
| |
|
SERIES
5: TECHNICAL MEMORANDA AND REPORTS, 1956-1967 |
| |
7 |
TM-124, Molecular
Beam Oscillator for Frequency Control, 1956 |
| |
8 |
TM-311, Carbon Monoxide
Frequency Standard, 1959 |
| |
9 |
TM-419, Magnetohydrodynamic
Effects, 1960 |
| |
10 |
TM-425, Magnetic Resonance
and Possible Applications in Biophysics and Medicine, circa
1960 |
| |
11 |
TM-429, Ultrasensitive
Mass Spectrometer |
| |
12 |
TM-439, Processing
of Cesium, 1960 |
| |
13-14 |
TM-446, Isochron Study,
Final Report, 2 vols., 1960 |
| |
15 |
TM-458, Advanced Techniques
for Frequency Standards, circa 1960 |
| 14 |
1 |
TM-460, Precision
Frequency and Time Measurement Techniques, circa 1960 |
| |
2 |
TM-461, Investigation
of a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Oscillator, circa 1960 |
| |
3 |
TM-462, Time and Frequency
Requirements for ARDC Division Systems Programs Offices, circa
1960 |
| |
4 |
TM-465, Application
of Universal Frequency Control Systems to Aerospace Vehicles,
circa 1960 |
| |
5 |
TM-500, Investigation
of Coupled Electron and Nuclear Spin Systems, circa 1961 |
| |
6 |
TM-525, Tactical Atomic
Clock and Frequency Standard, circa 1961 |
| |
7 |
TM-697, Atomic Clock
for Satellite Operation, circa 1962 |
| |
8 |
Study and Investigation
of an Improved Proton Maser Antenna, 1966 |
| |
9 |
TM-964, Portable,
Tactical CBFS, circa 1967 |
| |
|
SERIES
6: REPRINTS FROM MIT, 1953-1955 |
| |
10 |
Reprints and photocopies
of articles re: Atomic Clocks, 1953-1955 |
|
