Conrad N. Lauer

Conrad Newton Lauer (1869 – 1943) was an American mechanical engineer, general manager at Day & Zimmerman, Inc., chairman of the Philadelphia Gas Works Co.,

In his native county Lauer attended public and private schools, and subsequently received his technical training under private tutors. In 1893 he started his career in the industry as clerk at the Link-Belt Company in Philadelphia, now the FMC Corporation, and worked his way up to superintendent until 1902. In those days he assisted several consulting engineers with the introduction of scientific management methods. and he later served as chairman of the board of the Philadelphia Gas Works Co.

In the 1930s Lauer was also Vice-President and Director of the United Gas Improvement Company, and a Director of the Welsbach Company, of Baldwin Locomotive Works, and of Sharp and Dohme, Inc.

In 1929 Lauer was the donor of the Hoover Medal, named after and first awarded to Herbert Hoover. In 1930 Lauer was awarded an honorary M.E. degree from the Stevens Institute of Technology. In 1932-33 he served as president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Lauer died on August 2, 1943.

Selected publications Conrad Newton Lauer. Engineering in American industry; the development of industry in these United States during one hundred and twenty years. Volume I and II. McGraw-Hill book company, inc., 1924. Conrad Newton Lauer. John Ericsson, engineer, 1803-1889, Newcomen Society American Branch, 1939. Conrad Newton Lauer. William Penn's Philadelphia--in 1840, Newcomen Society American Branch, 1940.

Selected articles Conrad N. Lauer. "The Importance of Cost-Keeping To the Manufacturer," The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 22.3 (1903): 47–57. Lauer, Conrad Newton. "Plant Engineering as a Service to Production Management." The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 119.1 (1925): 97-102.