In The Cradle of Industry and Liberty

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Left: An early Kingsbury advertisement
touts the fact that the Niagara Falls Power
Company in Niagara Falls, New York,
was using Kingsbury bearings in its new
hydroelectric units.
News spread of the success of the fluid
film bearing and customers, including General
Electric, Allis-Chalmers, and the United States
Navy, sought out Kingsbury for his expertise
and wisdom. In 1911 the U. S. Navy Collier
Neptune was the first naval ship to test a
Kingsbury bearing and in 1917 the Navy
began using the bearings on propeller shafts
as well. By 1925 more than 700 Navy ships
were using them. Kingsbury continued to
explore ways to increase the load capacity of
bearings and developed the equalizing thrust
bearing. The utilization of a self-equalizing
system resulted in uniformly distributing the
load on the shoe (or operating) surface to
reduce uneven wear.
Headquartered in Philadelphia since its
founding, Kingsbury, Inc. is recognized
for developing the first hydraulic thrust
bearing, first horizontal pivoted-shoe journal
bearing, and first directed lubrication bearing.
Kingsbury customers receive the highest
level of engineering and technical expertise.
In addition to solving customers’ most
challenging applications and providing comprehensive
aftermarket support, it remains
on the cutting edge of research and development
with its on-site laboratory.
Customers, both existing and prospective,
receive thorough technical reviews of their
needs and are provided products to ensure
optimal results. Service and support programs
for the life of the bearing ensure
peak performance. Designed for operational
testing, the laboratory allows the fine tuning
of its designs and verifies the performance
of enhancements under a wide range of
applications and conditions.
Bottom, left: Following twenty-five years
of continuous use in the Holtwood Station
hydroelectric plant in Lancaster County,
the Kingsbury fluid film bearing was
inspected by Dr. Albert Kingsbury and
Frederick A. Allner, who eventually became
a Pennsylvania Water & Power Company
vice president. The result revolutionized the
industry as it presented only minimal wear
compared to roller bearings that required
replacement every other month.
Bottom, right: A precision Kingsbury thrust
bearing, polished and gleaming, has the
presence of sculpture. A perfect geometric
form, it can move 30,000 ton Navy ships
faster with less fuel and allows huge
turbines to spin and provide us the
electricity on which we depend.
PARTNERS IN BUILDING PHILADELPHIA
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