Notable people · Business · Inventor
James F. Lincoln
Painesville-area-born brother of John C. Lincoln who joined Lincoln Electric in 1907, became general manager (1914) and president (1928-54). He held 20 patents and built the company's incentive bonus system (1934), making it a leading arc-welding maker.
At a glance
- Born
- 1883-05-14
- Died
- 1965-06-23
- Education
- Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, to 1907, Electrical engineering (awarded 1926)
- Known as
- Business, Inventor
- Organizations
- Lincoln Electric
Life story
James F. Lincoln was born near Painesville in 1883 and studied electrical engineering at Ohio State. Typhoid fever made him leave in 1907; he received his degree in 1926.
He joined his brother's Lincoln Electric as a salesman in 1907, became general manager in 1914 and was president from 1928 to 1954, then chairman.
He held 20 patents and helped make arc welding dependable and commercially viable. He wrote three books on incentive pay and industrial economics.
During World War II the company faced a House inquiry and a price-adjustment order; Lincoln was acquitted of tax charges. He died in 1965.
Timeline
- 1883-05-14: Born near Painesville (Painesville, OH) source
- 1907: Joins Lincoln Electric as salesman (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1908: Marries Alice Patterson (OH) source
- 1914: Becomes general manager (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1926: Receives Ohio State degree (Columbus, OH) source
- 1928: Becomes president (to 1954) (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1942-05: House Naval Affairs Committee inquiry (Washington, DC) source
- 1965-06-23: Dies (OH) source
What James is known for
- General manager 1914, president 1928-1954 of Lincoln Electric
- 20 patents; arc welding made commercially viable
- Lincoln Incentive Management System (bonus plan 1934)
- 20 patents
- Three books on incentive management
- Lincoln Electric presidency 1928-1954
Inventions and firsts
- Lincoln Electric welding innovations (1895-1934)
Family
- brother: John C. Lincoln
- wife: Alice Patterson
- wife: Jane White
Ohio places
Where James F. Lincoln was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.
- Born: Painesville, Lake County ZIP 44077 · Painesville · Lake County
- Worked: Cleveland, Cuyahoga County ZIP 44114 · Cleveland · Cuyahoga County
Myths and corrections
- Disputed: Sources differ on when James Lincoln took over management of Lincoln Electric: 1913 or 1914.
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. Medium: the main facts were confirmed, but some details (often an address or ZIP code) were not.
- James F. Lincoln (Encyclopedia of Cleveland History) dates, near Painesville, roles, 20 patents
- Lincoln Electric Co. (Encyclopedia of Cleveland History) brother John, management from 1913, 1934 bonus plan, died 1965