Reuben C. Baker

Reuben "Carl" Baker
Reuben "Carl" Baker in 1919
Born
Reuben Carlton Baker

(1872-07-18)July 18, 1872
Purcellville, Virginia U.S.
DiedSeptember 29, 1957(1957-09-29) (aged 85)
Whittier, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Founder of Baker Hughes, inventor, businessman
Known forPioneering inventions in the oil industry
Spouse
Minnie Myrtle Zumwalt
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(m. 1897; died 1947)​
ChildrenThelma Ellen Baker (daughter)
Reuben Carlton Baker Jr. (son)

Reuben Carlton "Carl" Baker, Sr.[1] (July 18, 1872 – September 29, 1957[1]) was an American oil industry drilling pioneer. He established Baker Oil Tools in 1907 after developing a casing shoe that revolutionized cable tool drilling. In 1903, he introduced the offset bit for cable tool drilling to enable casing wells in hard rock and in 1912 the cement retainer that allowed casing to be cemented in the wells. Baker further improved the process with the float shoe in 1923. Having only a third grade education, he obtained more than 150 patents on oil drilling tools.[2] Baker Oil Tools merged with Hughes Tool Company in 1987 to form Baker Hughes Incorporated.

  1. ^ a b California Death Records. - California Department of Health Services Office of Health Information and Research.
  2. ^ "Carl Baker, Oil Pioneer, Dies", Petroleum Week, 5: 32, 1957