Carlin was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 1, 1915. He graduated from Brooklyn College with an AB degree, and received his MA from the State University of New York in Albany. After holding a number of positions as both a teacher and radio technician, he developed the program for radio engineering for the Signal Corps at Fort Monmouth, where he taught until July 1943. His interest in radio engineering led to early development work in ultrasonic testing, first at the Radiation Laboratory at MIT and then at Sperry Products, where he developed the first commercial ultrasonic pulse tester. At Sperry, he worked with pioneering Ultrasonics designer, Floyd Firestone.
In 1949, Carlin wrote the first book in English on this new technology, Ultrasonics (McGraw-Hill; 2nd edition, 1960). He also published numerous articles on ultrasonic applications, eventually earning over 50 patents for his work on ultrasonic circuitry. His work on high-frequency sound imaging led to the development of new medical imaging equipment, including the first ultrasonic scanners (used originally for scanning the brain), humidifiers, cleaners, and whistles. He pioneered industrial uses of high-frequency sound, both for material testing and for welding.
Through the '60s, Carlin increasingly worked on medical equipment design. In 1969, he became president and co-owner of OEM Medical, Inc., a maker of oxygen-therapy equipment, where he designed the first disposable humidifers and oxygen masks. He retired in 1980.
In 1986, Carlin was honored by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History when the original prototype for his ultrasonic brain scanner was made a part of its permanent collection on medical imaging. In 1988, he participated in a symposium on the history of Ultrasound in Medical Imaging in Washington.
Besides his achievements as an inventor and engineer, Carlin had a lifelong interest
in drawing and painting. His watercolors were shown in several amateur exhibitions.
Carlin is survived by his wife of fifty-two years, Vivian F. Carlin, a published
author on gerontology, three sisters, and two sons, Robert Carlin of Lexington, NC,
a musician and folklorist, and Richard Carlin of Glen Ridge, NJ, an author and editor.
Richard Carlin
"I am the son of Benson Carlin, the author of ULTRASONICS (McGraw-Hill, 1949; 1960), the first book in English on this technology; my father recently died and I wanted to share this news with members of the ultrasonics community, also to learn more myself about the history of ultrasonics in medicine, which was the area my father was most active. If you can't reach me by e-mail (sometimes a problem), please call 212-654-8414 or fax 212-654-4745 to give me more information about your journal and how I can submit the obituary information to you. Thank you."
Richard Carlin
Editor for Schirmer Books
Email: Richard_Carlin@Prenhall.com
Rolf Diederichs 01. Aug 1996, info@ndt.net