Family Biographies - Franklin B. Bristol II

At 28 years old, Franklin II was much younger than his brothers and may have also been the youngest subject in the three-volume set. 

Papa's biography notes that he obtained a degree in Industrial Electronics Engineering, which was a relatively new and exciting field at that time. According to my father (Franklin III), Papa's background in both mechanical and electrical engineering allowed him to work closely with Uncle Will on many of his inventions during that period. Unlike his brothers, Papa also had the opportunity to work with Uncle Will on the innovative development of movies with sound at his recently incorporated WHB Talking Picture Corporation. After Uncle Will's death in 1930, although the talking picture efforts were discontinued, Papa was able to continue working on various inventions and Bristol Company products.

Franklin B. Bristol II

(March 10, 1901 – October 30, 1997)

Early Life

Franklin Benjamin Bristol, general manager of the William H. Bristol Talking Picture Corporation of Waterbury, was born in Naugatuck, Connecticut, March 10, 1901, the son of Franklin B. Bristol and Cora F. (Russell) Bristol. His father, for whom he is named, was a well-known resident of Naugatuck who became vice president of The Bristol Company of Waterbury when it was founded by William H. Bristol, his brother, in 1889. He is descended from Henry Bristol, who came from England, and was one of the first settlers of New Haven colony, and his great grandfather, Hiel Bristol, was the first of the family to settle in Naugatuck. His grandfather, Benjamin Hiel Bristol, one of the sterling citizens of Naugatuck of his time, was associated with his two sons in founding The Bristol Company.

Education

Franklin B. Bristol, the subject of this biography, was educated in the Naugatuck grammar schools and Naugatuck high school, with two years at the Gunnery school at Washington, Connecticut. He then entered Pratt Institute and was graduated in 1923, following a course in electrical engineering, with the degree of I. E. E.

Career

After leaving Pratt Institute, he entered the plant of The Bristol Company and for approximately two years devoted his attention to the development of radios. In 1925 he took up the work of developing talking moving pictures for the William H. Bristol Talking Picture Corporation and the success which has been attained by the "Bristolphone," an instrument which synchronizes sound with motion pictures, invented by his uncle, Professor William H. Bristol, the "Bristolphone" has been brought to a state of high perfection in the complete motion picture plant and laboratory under the management of Franklin B. Bristol and is being used by many theatres in various parts of the country with a constantly increasing field being developed. Mr. Bristol is a member of the Kiwanis club and of the Congregational church of Naugatuck.

Family

October 5, 1923, he was married to Phyllis Hampson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip H. Hampson of Waterbury, at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Two children have been born of the union, Franklin B. Bristol, Jr., and Nancy Bristol.

Residence

Mr. Bristol's residence is at 25 Kenilworth street (see previous post here) and his business address, the William H. Bristol Talking Picture Corporation, Waterbury, Conn.