Armand G. Winfield
Armand Gordon Winfield (1919–2009) was an American artist, plastics engineer, inventor, and educator. He impacted the field of plastics with his work in embedded plastics, synthetic stone, and reinforced plastics, which were used in everything from jewelry to architectural materials. Winfield published over 300 works and obtained 7 patents. His papers and plastic artifacts have been collected by the University of New Mexico Library Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections,{{Cite web |title=Collection: Armand G. Winfield Papers {{!}} New Mexico Archives Online |url=https://nmarchives.unm.edu/repositories/22/resources/4507 |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=nmarchives.unm.edu}} the Special Collection Research Center at the Syracuse University Libraries, the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, the Museum of Design in Plastic (MoDiP) at the Arts University Bournemouth, and the National Museum of American History Archives Center. Winfield's legacy includes his dedication to education, and he was quoted as stating, "The only thing of permanence is the passing of knowledge from one generation to another."
Education
Winfield graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1941 with a B.S. degree in geology. He also pursued graduate studies at the University of New Mexico, State University of Iowa, and Washington University (St. Louis).{{Cite web |date=n.d. |editor-last=Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries. |title=Armand G. Winfield Papers (MSS 538) - Biographical Information |url=https://nmarchives.unm.edu/repositories/22/resources/4507 |access-date=April 27, 2023 |website=New Mexico Archives Online}}
Career highlights
- Developed a technique for embedding items in acrylic.{{Cite news |last=Pulkka |first=Wesley |date=January 18, 2002 |title=Curious Creator |pages=8 |work=Albuquerque Journal |issn=1526-5137}}
- Along with his brother, Rodney, he founded Winfield Fine Art In Jewelry, in New York, NY (1944-1947).{{Cite web |last=Modip |date=2016-11-23 |title=Museum of Design in Plastics: Winfield Fine Art in Jewellery |url=http://museumofdesigninplastics.blogspot.com/2016/11/winfield-fine-art-in-jewellery.html |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Museum of Design in Plastics}}
- Produced Crystopal, a decorative plastic made from glass fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester cured with styrene, at Crystopal Ltd. in Hazardville, CT during the 1960s.{{Cite news |date=July 23, 1963 |title=New Form of Plastic Art Being Produced By Staff Of Company On Abbe Rd |volume=84 |pages=1 |work=Thompsonville Press |issue=12 |url=https://collections.ctdigitalarchive.org/islandora/object/430002:33055#page/1/mode/2up |access-date=April 27, 2023}}
- Established Armand G. Winfield, Inc., an international plastics consulting firm, and consulted for 30 years (1964-1994).
- Developed cultured/engineered stones including synthetic granite and marble.{{Cite book |last=Winfield |first=Armand G. |title=Chapter 11. Casting. in Tool and Manufacturing Engineers Handbook Knowledge Base |publisher=Society of Manufacturing Engineers |year=1998 |location=Southfield, MI, USA |oclc=41175042}}
- Developed low cost reinforced plastic housing for developing countries with CARE and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.{{Cite news |last=Brewer |first=Steve |date=November 19, 1995 |title=UNM INSTITUTE FOUNDER SHARES PASSION FOR PLASTIC |pages=A1 |work=Albuquerque Journal |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/323769610 |access-date=April 27, 2023|id={{ProQuest|323769610}} }}
- Developed light weight fiber reinforced plastic sets for the Metropolitan Opera.{{Cite news |last=Antosiewicz |first=Frank |date=2003 |title=Winfield collection on display at NPE before entering museum |volume=15 |pages=26 |work=Plastics News |issue=17 |issn=1042-802X}}
- Designed and constructed 13 pavilions and exhibits for the 1964 New York World's Fair.{{Cite web |title=Winfield, Armand Gordon - The Plastics Collection |url=https://plastics.syr.edu/xtf/view?docId=eac/4547.eac.xml;query=;brand=plastics |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=plastics.syr.edu}}
- Taught and lectured at over 40 colleges and universities including Yale School of Art (1960-61), Pratt Institute Industrial Design Department (1964-70), and University of Massachusetts Lowell (1978-81).{{Cite web |title=Preliminary to the Armand G. Winfield Papers |url=https://sova.si.edu/record/NMAH.AC.1271?s=0&n=10&t=C&q=Plastics+industry+and+trade&i=1 |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=sova.si.edu}}
- Elected to the Plastics Pioneers Association (1983).
- Founded the Training and Research Institute for Plastics at the University of New Mexico in 1993.
- Named a Fellow of the Society of Plastics Engineers in 2000.{{Cite news |last=Toner |first=James P. |date=October 2000 |title=Society of plastics engineers honors news fellows |volume=56 |pages=79–80 |work=Plastics Engineering |issue=10 |url=https://www.4spe.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=4771 |access-date=October 20, 2022 |issn=0091-9578}}
Patents and trademarks
- Winfield, A. G. Impact Absorbing Laminate and Articles Fabricated Therefrom. US 3,816,234. 1974.
- Winfield, A. G.; Winfield, B. L. Reinforced and Insulating Building Panel. US 3,819,466. 1974.
- Winfield, A. G.; Winfield, B. L. Abrasion Resistant Impact Absorbent Animal Stall Floor and Wall Covering. US 4,333,981. 1982.
- Rede, H.; Winfield, A. G.; Winfield, B. L. Apparatus for Preservation of a Leather Glove. US 4,565,287. 1986.
- Carter, N. A.; Winfield, A. G. Insulated Window Shade Assembly. US 4,625,786. 1986.
- Aguirre, J. A.; Winfield, A. G.; Dennett Jr., J. G. Self-defense/Attack Device. US 4,739,990. 1988.
- DeForest, J. I.; Kaplan, C. D.; Winfield, A. G. Body Lotion Applicator With Applicator Head Pivotally Mounted on Tubular Extension Arm. US 5,240,339. 1993.
- Crystolume Trademark Announcement. Official Gazette of the US Patent Office, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, Vol. 798, January 1964, p.775.
References
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External links
- [https://library.syracuse.edu/digital/guides/w/winfield_ag.htm Armand G. Winfield Papers] and [https://plastics.syr.edu/xtf/search?brand=plastics&collection=plastics&objectType=Artifact&keyword=winfield artifacts] at Syracuse University
- [https://www.modip.ac.uk/search?search=armand+g.+winfield+cast+acrylic Cast acrylic jewelry] manufactured by Winfield Fine Art is pictured on the MoDiP website.
- [https://digitalcollections.syr.edu/plastics-collection/materials Crystopal] artifacts are pictured on the Syracuse University website and were recently studied by Raman spectroscopy.{{Cite journal |last1=Boyden |first1=Mary N. |last2=Hicks |first2=Courtney K. |last3=Korter |first3=Timothy M. |date=May 2023 |title=Non-Destructive Identification and Characterization of Crystopal, A Novel Mid-Twentieth Century Plastic |journal=Heritage |language=en |volume=6 |issue=5 |pages=4102–4119 |doi=10.3390/heritage6050216 |issn=2571-9408 |doi-access=free }}
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Category:Polymer scientists and engineers
Category:Franklin & Marshall College alumni
Category:University of New Mexico alumni
Category:University of Iowa alumni
Category:Washington University in St. Louis alumni
Category:University of Massachusetts Lowell faculty