Clessie Cummins Founder of Cummins Incorporation

Biography of Clessie Cummins

Early Life

Clessie Cummins founder of Cummins Incorporation was born on 27^th of December, 1888 in southern Indiana. He didn’t spend his life in only one area where he was born. He lived in several towns because of his father’s shifting of jobs. Due to these changing of areas he was unable to get formal education. He was not educated at a higher level. He was just eighth grade passed boy.

Starting of Career

As he had no formal education, so he started his carrier as a farm boy in the rural area of Indiana. But after sometime he was sent to a banker in 1920s with the name William Irwin in Indiana’s Columbus. He worked for him as his driver and mechanic.

Interest in Automobile Engineering Works

He was not educated but he has great interest in developing and innovating new things in field of engines and automobiles. This interest is greatly shown from his steam engine which he created earlier in his carrier before 1900. He created that engine from a shell of shotgun.

This interest was practically gone into automobile field when he got jobs in the field of automotive companies in 1906 and later years. He did so many jobs ranging from a machining stint to inspection person.

Founder of Cummins Inc.

During his stay at the job of mechanic and driver of a banker in Indiana, he was also attached to automobiles. His boss identified his potential of producing some good quality engines. That was the reason that his boss invested a handsome amount of money on Cummins project. After all he opened an engine producing company with the name of Cummins Engine Co. in 1919.

His boss was not sure about the profits but despite of this he invested a large amount of money into his company. At the time of foundation of this company he introduced his first engine under the license of R.M. Hvid Co. His first engine was a 4.5 kW, 6 horsepower engine which was specially designed for farm use.

As it was only made for harvesting purpose, that was the reason that his boss’s hope for profits was not strong. Farmers bought those engines only at the time of harvesting and returned back after that period.

At the time of its foundation it was named as Cummins Engine Co. but this name was not much famous as it became famous with the name of Cummins Inc.

Cummins Inc.

Cummins Inc. is a multinational company of the United States of America in the field of engines and related items. This company designs engines, manufactures them and also indulged in the distribution of those engines. It’s headquarter is based in Columbus, Indiana, the United States. This company is involved mostly in business to business transactions, as it provides engines to the companies all-around the world. It sells its products to almost 190 countries throughout the world by more than 6 thousand contractors and dealers.

Later Life

He remained the Chairman of this company for many years. In 1955 he left his own created company and retired from the post of its Chairman. After leaving the company, fortunately he hold some important patents of the company and by utilizing those he founded Cummins Enterprises Company in the same year but after sometime he went on to do the job for the Allison Engine Company located in California.

He remained attach with the innovating works of engines for the rest of his life. He tried to solve the problems of brakes of longer vehicles. After some hard work and research he designed compression release engine brake. He got the patents for it also but that was sold under the Jake Brake name. At present day it still sells with the same name.

Death

He died on 17^th August, 1968. Throughout his life he was awarded with 33 United States patents for his inventions.