Earle S. MacPherson

Earle Steele MacPherson ( born July 6, 1891 † 1960) was an American engineer and inventor of the patented MacPherson strut front axle. Especially in German-speaking countries, the name is often written also (incorrectly) as Earl S. McPherson.

Life

MacPherson initially worked for the U.S. car companies Chalmers, Liberty and Hupmobile, before he went to General Motors in 1934. There he was chief designer for the Chevrolet Light Car Project. During this time, he had the idea, shock absorber and coil spring to unite with the stub axle and to create a space-saving and affordable suspension principle. This idea met with his employer GM 's approval. It should not be incorporated into the new models. MacPherson then left GM and went in 1947 to rival Ford 's idea was patented by Ford on September 26, 1949 and later ( depending on the source even before) in the French Ford Vedette used in the British Ford Consul, as the front axle.

1952 MacPherson was senior engineer in the company headquarters in Detroit. His last project was the participation in the construction of self-supporting Lincoln and Continental, the largest ever passenger car with this type of construction. When they appeared in 1958, MacPherson was already retired.