John Herbert Van Deventer (April 24, 1881 – March 5, 1956) was an American
engineer, inventor,
trade journal editor, and writer on
engineering,
management, and
accounting
Accounting, also known as accountancy, is the measurement, processing, and communication of financial and non financial information about economic entities such as businesses and corporations. Accounting, which has been called the "languag ...
. In the field of accounting Van Deventer contributed to the theory of
discounted cash flow
The discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis is a method in finance of valuing a security, project, company, or asset using the concepts of the time value of money.
Discounted cash flow analysis is widely used in investment finance, real estate devel ...
.
[ Robert H. Parker (2013). ''Papers on Accounting History.'' p. 43] During
World War I he served as editor-in-chief of the ''
American Machinist
The ''American Machinist'' is an American trade magazine of the international machine industry, machinery industries and most especially their machining aspects. Published since 1877, it was a McGraw-Hill title for over a century before becoming a ...
''.
Biography
Born in
Paramus, New Jersey to John Cornelius Van Deventer and Eliza Jane King, Van Deventer was educated as
mechanical engineer. In 1903 he obtained his degree in mechanical engineering from Sibley College,
Cornell University,
["John Van Deventer Dies at Peach Lake." in ''The Putnar County Courier, Carmel N.Y.'' 1956] with the dissertation, entitled "Mechanical Refrigeration: A Comparison of the Theories and Results of Several Systems."
Van Deventer started his career in industry. In 1905 he became superintendent of production, and cost manager, at the pump factory
Goulds Manufacturing Company in Seneca Falls. In 1907 he moved to the Buffalo Forge company, where he became general superintendent and factory manager.
In 1915 Van Deventer joined the Engineering Management Company, where he became associate editor of the ''
American Machinist
The ''American Machinist'' is an American trade magazine of the international machine industry, machinery industries and most especially their machining aspects. Published since 1877, it was a McGraw-Hill title for over a century before becoming a ...
,'' of ''
Industrial Management
In economics, industrial organization is a field that builds on the theory of the firm by examining the structure of (and, therefore, the boundaries between) firms and markets. Industrial organization adds real-world complications to the perfe ...
,'' and of ''Industry Illustrated.'' From 1917 to 1919 he was Editor-In-Chief of the ''
American Machinist
The ''American Machinist'' is an American trade magazine of the international machine industry, machinery industries and most especially their machining aspects. Published since 1877, it was a McGraw-Hill title for over a century before becoming a ...
,'' and from 1921 to 1926 president of the Engineering Management Company. In 1927 he moved to the
McGraw Hill Publishing company, where he started as consulting editor. There he was editor for ''The Iron Age'' from 1930 to 1940, and editorial director from 1939 to 1946. The last three years he was also Business Papers Industry. In 1950 he retired.
Furthermore Van Deventer was a member of the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is an American professional association that, in its own words, "promotes the art, science, and practice of multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences around the globe" via "continuing ...
, and of the New York Business Publishing association, where he was chairman in 1923/24 and president in 1924/25.
Selected publications
* Van Deventer, John H.
Handbook of Machine Shop Management'' McGraw-Hill book Company, Incorporated, 1915.
* Van Deventer, John H.
Success in the small shop' (1916, 2nd ed. 1918).
* Van Deventer, John Herbert, et al. ''Manufacture of artillery ammunition.'' McGraw-Hill Book Company, Incorporated, 1917.
* Van Deventer, John H.
Making the small shop profitable'' (1918).
* Van Deventer, John H.
Industrial management's Cost control committee plan; detailed instructions for its organization and operation'' 1922.
Articles, a selection:
* Van Deventer, John H.
Planning production for profit; tested and selected methods of planning production" Engineering magazine Company(1921).
* Van Deventer, John H. "What Ford is doing and how he does it." ''Industrial Management'' 64 (1922): 130.
Patents
* 1911.
US Patent 996169' for Rotary engine.
* 1912.
US Patent 1026887' for rotary engine.
* 1912.
US Patent 1046687' for rotary engine.
* 1913.
US Patent 1070087' for metallic packing.
* 1918.
US patent 1276454' for an equipment-index.
* 1931.
US Patent 1808695' for walking toy.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Deventer, John Herbert.
1881 births
1956 deaths
American industrial engineers
American technology writers
Cornell University College of Engineering alumni