month in royalties. By 1918 he decided the leasing business had greater opportunity and bought a machine shop in Coalinga. He left the contact drilling business and concentrated on finding ways to improve drilling tools. He patented those improvements and began selling the tools to other drillers. Baker formed other businesses. With his brother Aaron formed the Future Success Oil Company, with Carl as president and Aaron as secretary, with USD$100,000 of capital on May 3, 1913. His business interests included farming and oil production companies. When he needed a better base of operations for the company he moved back to Los Angeles and bought a yard on Slauson Avenue. In 1921 he started working on an improved and simplified dump bailer, and also a cement retainer. At the same time the Long Beach Oil Field was discovered and with that Baker returned to the Los Angeles area. Death and legacy Carl Baker, Sr. died in Whittier, California in 1957 at the age of 85. Baker Oil Tool Company and Hughes Tool Company merged in 1987 to form Baker Hughes Incorporated. By then both were global oilfield service leaders with many innovative product lines. Patents Baker received more than 150 U.S. patents in his lifetime. A few of the early patents that Baker received included: "Drilling Bit", patented December 22, 1903 "Gas Trap for Oil Wells", patented August 25, 1908 "Well Casing Shoe", patented November 11, 1913 "Plug for Well Casings", on November 18, 1913 "Pump-Plunger", on June 23, 1914 "Shoe Guide for Well Casings", on November 16, 1920 References External links R. C. Baker. - R.C. Baker Museum. 1872 births 1957 deaths American businesspeople in the oil industry People from Coalinga, California People from Shasta County, California People from Purcellville, Virginia