Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- BEI (Industrial Encoder Division) records
- Dates:
- 1971-2012
- Creators:
- Avolio, Glenn
- Abstract:
- These records contain scrapbooks, annual reports, and photographs documenting the activities of BEI's Industrial Encoder Division, based in Goleta, California (1971-2012).
- Extent:
- 4.5 Linear Feet (5 document boxes, 2 flat boxes)
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of Item], BEI (Industrial Encoder Division) records, SBHC Mss 149. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection consists of photographs and scrapbooks documenting the activities of BEI's Industrial Encoder Division, based in Goleta, California. Materials range in date from 1971 to 2012. Scrapbooks contain images, product pamphlets and promotional materials, clippings, newsletters, correspondence, and other standard organizational records from BEI (IED). In addition, the collection contains annual reports from 1980 to 2004.
- Biographical / historical:
-
BEI industrial Encoder Division (IED) was formed in 1977 in Santa Barbara, California, by Jerry Jandt, Doug McGuire and Dale Laplante, following the success of the 21-bit optical encoder used in weather satellites developed by its parent company, BEI Electronics Inc. The BEI industrical Encoder Divison (BEI IED) included a commercial absolute encoder division and a computer products division that focused on kit encoders.
In 1979 BEI IED hired Sales Manager Glenn Avolio, who developed a comprehensive product brochure and Encoder Guidebook. In 1980 BEI IED won a contract to supply 4000 encoders to the Solar One project in Barstow, California, in order to control the azimuth and elevation on the 1818 helistats which focused the sun on a tower that would heat circulating water and provide steam energy for the first major test solar electric generating facility.
Paraphrased from BEI History (https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/bei-technologies-inc) 2025 January 6
- Acquisition information:
- Collected and donated by BEI IED Sales and Marketing Manager (1979-1994) and General Manager (1994-2009) Glenn Avolio, 2024.
- Physical location:
- Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-01-16 11:30:24 -0800 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
Property rights to the collection and physical objects belong to the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at the UCSB Library. All applicable literary rights, including copyright to the collection and physical objects, are protected under Chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code and are retained by the creator and the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns.
All requests to reproduce, quote from, or otherwise reuse collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB at special@ucsb.edu. Consent is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or their assigns for permission to publish where the UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of Item], BEI (Industrial Encoder Division) records, SBHC Mss 149. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
- Location of this collection:
-
UC Santa Barbara LibrarySanta Barbara, CA 93106-9010, US
- Contact:
- (805) 893-3062