The Patents and Work of Erich Huzenlaub

Introduction

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Ever wonder where Uncle Ben's "Converted" Brand Rice came from? Wonder no more! Welcome to the official reference for the works of Erich Gustav Huzenlaub, inventor of "The Huzenlaub Process" which is "Converted Rice." As was common in Germany during the 1800's, Erich took the names of his father and grandfather, so his official birth certificate name was "Erich Gustav Wilhelm August Louis Huzenlaub."

Over the years, there have been various stories surrounding the beginning of Uncle Ben's Converted Rice. This website provides researchers with the links to patents, correspondence, news, documents, research and photos that commemorate the works of Erich Gustav Huzenlaub and Francis Heron Rogers, two Europeans whose contributions have been lost over time.

The most important fact that has been shrouded over time surrounds the genesis of converted rice. The story shared to date is that a man, by the name of Gordon Harwell was primarily responsible for the development of the "conversion process" found in Uncle Ben's. This is not at all true. Rather, Harwell was a Houston food broker. He was not a chemist or inventor. He attempted to utilize a pressure cooker to preserve rice, but was unsuccessful. Instead he reached out to Erich Huzenlaub in London to convince him to work in the United States. It is also not true that Harwell "started" a company called "Rice Conversion." Rice Conversion, Ltd. was actually an existing London company founded by Erich Huzenlaub. As early as 1939, Huzenlaub and his close associate, Francis Heron Rogers, maintained the Rice Conversion, Ltd. offices at 14 & 19 Leadenhall Street in London, England near the Lloyds of London Building. Huzenlaub and Rogers have numerous patents to their mutual credit (see the actual patent filings below).

In the early 1940's, Erich Huzenlaub met and formed a close association with Forrest Mars, of Mars Incorporated. Mars was on business in England and learned of Huzenlaub's invention of the "converted rice" process. The two men became business partners, eventually developing "Mars and Huzenlaub." Mars admired Huzenlaub's accomplishments with food processes and financed his move to the United States. Working well together, they developed a mutual trust. Some of their correspondence will be posted on this site via the "Erich's Documents Archive" page.

Forrest Mars and Huzenlaub worked closely together throughout the development of the company which became Uncle Ben's, the first branded rice product in the world. At the request of Mars, Huzenlaub eventually worked with Harwell, the Texas food broker. Erich Huzenlaub's U.S. rights for the "Huzenlaub Process" patent was sold to Forrest Mars, Sr., an extremely successful US businessman. Forrest was later instrumental in bringing Erich Huzenlaub to the United States. Under the direction of Mars, Uncle Ben's has become the most successful branded rice company in the world.

Huzenlaub's achievements were not relegated to the converted rice process found in Uncle Ben's Converted Rice. That is simply the accomplishment for which he is best known. Huzenlaub worked in numerous countries around the world. To that end, if you have ever worked with Erich Gustav Huzenlaub in any capacity (Germany, France, Belgium, England, USA, Australia, Philippines, Hong Kong, India, or Africa) OR if you have studied / referenced his work (scientist, university, researcher), please send a detailed email sharing your personal or research encounter to ash@ashco.tv

How has Huzenlaub's work influenced your research (past or present)? What were your experiences if you worked with Huzenlaub between 1888 and 1964? There are few people alive today that can share these stories and we thank you for your input!

We seek copies of any documents, research, citations, photos, references, stories, and other information you may have for educational purposes. All items should be emailed to ash@ashco.tv

Utilize the links to the right and the patents below when in search of accurate information about Erich Huzenlaub, Francis Rogers, or their inventions (most especially related to their creation of the converted rice process).

Known Patents of Erich Gustav Huzenlaub

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The following hyper-links access numerous known patents of Erich Gustav Huzenlaub. As of this date, only the patents listed here are available through internet searches. Most of his patents have not yet been added to the internet, as they were filed prior to 1980 and have not been converted to electronic form. The below links will take you directly to government patent filings found in numerous countries around the globe.

Reference Link: More than 20 patents from 1930 to 1955

WASHING MACHINE
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub of Berlin, Germany
Applicant: Firm Holberg & Co, GMBH
Publication Info: US1847946
Date: March 1, 1932
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

PROCEDE ET APPAREIL PERFECTIONNE POUR LE TRAITEMENT DU RIZ
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub and Francis Heron Rogers ("John")
Applicant:
Publication Info: FR828189 (France)
Date: May 11, 1938
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF CEREALS, STARCH, OR THE LIKE WITH FLUIDS OR BY HEATING
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub and Francis Heron Rogers ("John")
Applicant:
Publication Info: US2239608
Date: April 22, 1941
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

CEREAL FOOD PRODUCTION
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub
Applicant: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub
Publication Info: CA399099
Date: September 2, 1941
Official patent filing not available

VACUUM DRYING CYLINDER
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub of Brentford, England
Applicant: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub
Publication Info: US2268486
Date: December 30, 1941
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

TREATMENT OF WHEAT AND KINDRED CEREALS
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub
Applicant: Francis Heron Rogers
Publication Info: US2287737
Date: June 23, 1942
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

CEREAL AND STARCH TREATING APPARATUS
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub and Francis Heron Rogers
Applicant: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub and Francis Heron Rogers
Publication Info: CA410467
Date: February 2, 1943
Official patent filing not available

TREATMENT OF CEREALS PRIOR TO FLOUR MILLING
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub and Francis Heron Rogers
Applicant: Huzenlaub and Rogers
Publication Info: US2358250
Date: September 12, 1944
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF RICE AND OTHER CEREALS
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub and Francis Heron Rogers
Applicant:
Publication Info: US23582451
Date: September 12, 1944
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

SEPARATEUR DE GRAINS A FLOTATTION
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub and Francis Heron Rogers
Applicant:
Publication Info: FR911793
Date: July 19, 1946
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

PROCESS OF ENRICHING CEREAL GRAINS WITH NATURAL VITAMINS
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub
Applicant: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub
Publication Info: US2412153
Date: December 3, 1946
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

PROCEDE ET APPAREIL POUR LE TRAITEMENT DES CEREALES DESTINEES A L'ALIMENTATION
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub and Francis Heron Rogers
Applicant:
Publication Info: FR938049
Date: September 2, 1948
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

PROCESS OF ENRICHING THE ENDOSPERM OF CEREAL GRAINS WITH NATURAL VITAMINS
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub
Applicant: Mars and Huzenlaub, Inc. of Chicago, Il. USA
Publication Info: US2472426
Date: June 7, 1949
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

PROCESS OF EXTRACTING AND PRESERVING THE ORIGINAL FLAVORS AND FOOD VALUE OF FRUIT JUICES
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub
Applicant: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub
Publication Info: US2517569
Date: August 8, 1950
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

PROCESS FOR ALTERING FLAVOR OF CEREALS
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub and Francis Heron Rogers
Applicant: Mars and Huzenlaub, Inc. of Chicago, Il. USA
EC: A23L2/04
Publication Info: US2539999
Date: January 30, 1951
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

VACUUM DRYING CYLINDERS, PARTICULARLY FOR GRAIN
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub and Francis Heron Rogers
Applicant: Mars and Huzenlaub, Inc. of Chicago, Il. USA
Publication Info: US2547393
Date: April 3, 1951
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

VERFAHREN UND EINRICHTUNG ZUR BEHANDLUNG VON GETREIDEKORN OD DGL
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub and John Heron Rogers
Applicant:
Publication Info: DE895093 (Germany)
Date: October 29, 1953
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

PROCESS FOR TREATMENT OF CEREALS
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub and Francis Heron Rogers
Applicant: Mars and Huzenlaub, Inc. of Chicago, Il.
Publication Info: US2555235
Date Filed: March 23, 1945
Date Approved: May 29, 1951
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

PROCESSES OF ENRICHING THE ENDOSPERM OF CEREAL GRAINS WITH NATURAL VITAMINS
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub
Applicant: Mars and Huzenlaub, Inc. of Chicago, Il. USA
Publication Info: CA475894
Date: August 7, 1951
Official patent filing not available

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF GRAINS
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub and Francis Heron Rogers
Applicant: Converted Rice, Inc.
Publication Info: US2598915
Date: June 3, 1952
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

PROCESS FOR TREATMENT OF CEREALS
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub and Francis Heron Rogers
Applicant: Converted Rice
Publication Info: CA500497
Date: March 9, 1954
Official patent filing not available

PROCESS AND MEANS FOR THE TREATMENT OF CEREALS AND FOOD
Inventor: Erich Gustav Huzenlaub and Francis Heron Rogers
Applicant: Converted Rice
Publication Info: CA501625
Date: April 20, 1954
Official patent filing not available

E LASTICHE LAGERUNG FUR SPINDELGEHAUSE VON SPINNEREIMASCHINEN
Inventor: Fink Heinrich and Erich Gustav Huzenlaub
Applicant: SKF Kugellagerfebriken GMBH of Germany
Publication Info: AT198659B
Date: July 25, 1958
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)

MOUNTING FOR A SPINDLE BASE OF A SPINNING AND TWISTING SPINDLE IN A TEXTILE MACHINE
Inventor: Fink Heinrich and Erich Gustav Huzenlaub
Applicant: SKF Kugellagerfebriken GMBH of Germany
Publication Info: CH341418
Date: September 30, 1959 - ERICH INCLUDED ONLY IN SWISS & GERMAN FILINGS
View the official patent filing online (Requires Adobe PDF)
This patent was also filed and published in the following countries:
Germany #DE1025767 - view official document (PDF)
United States #US2872774 (A1) - view official document (PDF)
Great Britain #GB805642 (A) - view official document (PDF)
France #FR1144809 (A) - view official document (PDF)
Belgium #BE546255 (A) - view official document (PDF)
Nederlands #NL91853C (C) - view official document (PDF)

Miscellaneous

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Link to it!: Utilization of infrared heating for sterilization
Comment: U.S. Pat. No. 2,517,569

Link to it!: Method for deoxygenating food products

Link to it!: Vitamin Enrichment of Rice Grains
(requires access)
Reference Comment: Huzenlaub, E.G. 1953. Process for vitamins in rice. British Patent 552510

US PATENT OFFICE

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Needless to say, the European Union obliterates the United States when it comes to efficiently utilizing the internet to organize patent data. The US patent website appears to have been created (and maintained) by a committee of web developers trained only in the art of confusion.

Nevertheless, click HERE to see a list of patents where Erich Huzenlaub's work is referenced. Unfortunately in this link, there are also other references to technological patents that are unrelated to Erich Huzenlaub (but the US Patent Office website does not let one parse those out!). Also unfortunately, the US has opted to use an outdated version of QuickTime to display patent filings as opposed to Adobe PDF. In most cases therefore, the data will not even appear on your screen. With that stated, I must again thank the European Union for its good work on the EU patent search website.