Alfred M. Moen
Alfred M. Moen (27 December 1916 – 17 April 2001) was an American inventor and founder of Moen, Inc. He invented the single-handed mixing faucet.[1]
Background
Al Moen was born in Seattle, Washington. He graduated in 1934 from Franklin High School and was a mechanical engineering student at the University of Washington.[2]
Invention
The inspiration for Al Moen's invention came in 1937 after he turned on a two-handle faucet and burned his hands. Over the next decade, Moen made several faucet designs and improvements. With the advent of World War II, he went to work as a tool designer at a military shipyard plant in Seattle. Moen could not find a manufacturer free to start production until after the war. In 1947, he persuaded Kemp Hiatt at Ravenna Metal Products of Seattle to finance and produce his latest design for a single-handled mixing faucet. Moen faucets were soon included in many homes built in the United States during the post-World War II building boom.[3][4]
Moen's invention led to the creation of Moen Inc., one of the nation's major producers of plumbing products. Al Moen served as head of the company's research and development until his retirement in 1982. He personally held some 75 patents, many of which were in fields unrelated to plumbing. Al Moen was honored by being nominated for the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Moen was named to the Kitchen & Bath Industry Hall of Fame in 1993.[5]