A Brief History of Bearings

So, what do Arvis, Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo all have in common?

Well… bearings, of course!

The history of bearings and everything that comes with it is surprisingly fascinating, yet relatively undocumented. This article explores the bearing history of one of the world’s most important machine elements, tracing its development over thousands of years while highlighting what we at Arvis are all about.

Believe it or not, bearings are much older than many people think. In fact, our directors here at Arvis are among the few things that don’t predate the first use of a bearing – they may even joke that they predate the invention of the wheel!

During the early stages of civilisation, as communities and tribes began to form, people discovered that placing rolling logs beneath heavy objects made them easier to move. This rudimentary form of a roller bearing marks one of the earliest milestones in the evolution of bearings, paving the way for thousands of years of engineering innovation.

Ancient Bearings:

The Ancient Egyptians, renowned for their pyramids, sphinxes and pharaohs, are also closely associated with some of the earliest examples of ancient bearings. There is considerable speculation about whether bearings were used during the construction of the pyramids. However, illustrations found inside the tomb of the Egyptian ruler Djehutihotep depict massive stone blocks being transported on sledges using liquid-lubricated runners, which would today be recognised as plain bearings.

It is not until around 40 BC that we find the earliest recorded evidence of a rolling element bearing. At Lake Nemi, just south of ancient Rome, archaeologists discovered the remains of a Roman ship featuring a wooden ball bearing supporting a rotating table – an important milestone in ball bearing history.

Further advancing the history of bearings, Leonardo da Vinci incorporated roller bearing concepts into many of his engineering designs, including his famous helicopter sketches around 1500 AD. Legend even has it that the Mona Lisa never smiled because Leonardo preferred talking about bearings rather than romance!

The ancient world used early bearing concepts to transport heavy loads efficiently and to support structures that required rotational movement. Galileo, famous for his experiments at the Leaning Tower of Pisa, also contributed to how bearings developed by producing one of the earliest descriptions of fixed ball or cage-mounted ball bearings during the seventeenth century.

One of the first practical applications of this concept appeared in horologist John Harrison’s H3 marine timekeeper. Although initially limited to small movements, the design was later incorporated into Harrison’s regulator clocks.

The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution across Britain and Europe accelerated the evolution of bearings. Bearings became an essential component in machinery, allowing equipment to operate more efficiently and reliably.

The first bearing patent was awarded to British inventor Philip Vaughan of Carmarthen, whose innovative design incorporated a ball running along a groove within an axle assembly. Throughout bearing history, bearings have been manufactured from a wide range of materials, including ceramic, sapphire, glass, steel, bronze and other engineering metals.

In 1883, German inventor Friedrich Fischer established the first independent bearing company and is widely regarded as the “father of ball bearings” for his contribution to modern bearing manufacturing.

The War Effort

Nearly half a century later, bearings became strategically important during the Second World War. Ball bearings and the machinery required to manufacture them were among the most sought-after industrial assets.

They played a critical role in tanks, machine guns, submarines, and countless other military applications. Historians note that Sweden’s bearing industry supplied approximately 58% of Nazi Germany’s bearing requirements and 31% of Britain’s, making bearing production a vital strategic resource.

Recognising the importance of these facilities, Allied forces targeted major German bearing factories, particularly those in Schweinfurt. A significant Anglo-American bombing raid in February 1944 aimed to disrupt ball bearing production and weaken Germany’s industrial capability.

The Arvis Evolution

As the saying goes, all roads lead to Rome. In many ways, the history of bearings eventually leads to the creation of Criptic Arvis in 1981.

From our home in Thurmaston, England, Arvis has continued to build upon centuries of bearing innovation, supplying high-quality bearing solutions while contributing to the next chapter in the continuing evolution of bearings.