This site was created in memory of Forest K. Wetmore. Elaine W. Ford,
Principal of the Raymond E. Shaw Elementary School from 1999-2006, is the
daughter of Forest K. Wetmore. Thank you to all who donated to create this
site, which will provide links to the world of Technology and Engineering for
many children.
BIOGRAPHY
FOREST K. WETMORE
1916-2005
Forest worked with American Wire Rope Company – a division of US Steel - from
1940 to 1980 in New Haven, Connecticut. He was involved in creating many
technological and engineering components and processes that would benefit so
many.
For the US Navy he helped develop the capability and techniques used to make
a special stainless steel wire rope for use in submarine location and
rescue. The rope could go down 2 miles in the ocean with a camera attached,
yet would twist less then 1 foot. As you may know, any weight put at the end
of a long rope or wire typically spins wildly. Forest came up with a process
that alternated the twist in the rope to achieve great stability.
Forest also helped develop stone cutting wire rope with increased cost-
efficiency. It incorporated lubricant with diamond chips, and was used to
cut and polish granite in one process. Previously, cutting and polishing
required two separate processes, using more expensive blades and more time.
He was responsible for manufacturing wire rope used along highways before
guard rails, and smaller fine core wire rope products used in aircraft
controls before the development of electronic controls.
Forest worked on manufacturing the cables (which were made into cable
bundles) used to suspend the bridge deck for the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in
New York and other suspension bridges around the world. He also manufactured
arresting cables that were used on aircraft carriers. The landing planes
used a hook to catch the cable that was used to bring the planes to a halt
during landing.
During WWII, Forest worked with Yale University to help improve the
capability of high altitude bombers by enhancing the pressurization system in
the cabin to keep the pilots from blacking out with the bends. Forest
volunteered to work with them and test the process.
He implemented the use of computers (IBM Mainframes) when computers first
started to be used in Industry. His talents, dedication and work ethics were
commendable and recognized by many in the steel/wire rope industry.
Forest and his wife, Margaret, lived in Hamden, CT where they raised their
six children: David, Maureen, Kevin, Barbara, Elaine and Paul.
