Alfred M. Moen

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Alfred M. Moen (born December 27, 1917 in Seattle , † April 17, 2001 in Destin (Florida) ) was the inventor of the single-lever mixer .

As a mechanical engineering student at the University of Washington (which he did not graduate) he worked on the side in a car repair shop in 1937 to be able to pay his tuition fees. When he wanted to wash his hands at night before going home, he scalded his hand on the usual two-valve tap. He then started thinking about a mixer tap.

His first design was a double valve fitting with a cam to control the two valves , but potential manufacturers were not impressed. He made several other designs between 1940 and 1945, but during the Second World War there was no manufacturer who could start production. Moen later worked as a toolmaker at a naval shipyard in Seattle. In 1947 he was able to persuade Ravenna Metal Products to finance and produce his latest design. His product was first sold in San Francisco for $ 12  .

The invention led to the founding of Moen Inc. in North Olmsted , Ohio, which today employs 3500 people and is one of the world's largest manufacturers of fittings. There he was head of the research and development department until he retired in 1982.

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personal data
SURNAME Moen, Alfred M.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American inventor of the single lever mixer
DATE OF BIRTH December 27, 1917
PLACE OF BIRTH Seattle
DATE OF DEATH April 17, 2001
Place of death Destin (Florida)