Background
He grew up in Montana and southern California.
He grew up in Montana and southern California.
Vickers was always interested in machinery and mechanics and was a self-taught master machinist. He served in World War I in France with the United States Army Signal Corps, where he learned about the first generations of electronics and radio. Returning to southern California after the war, he founded Vickers Manufacturing Company, later to be called Vickers Incorporated.
Initially his company was principally engaged in general mechanical and machining work.
The famous author and sportsman Zane Grey once came to his shop to have a large salt water fishing reel repaired.
Grey decided that the young Harry Vickers was a man with a future, and offered to arrange for him to be tutored in calculus and other engineering disciplines at night by professors from the University of Southern California. Vickers mechanical ability in combination with his electronic and engineering training formed the basis for his ability to invent, test and manufacture his early hydraulic innovations, which included the first hydraulic power steering system.
He went on to invent numerous key components fundamental to the rapid growth of the fluid power industry, including his most famous innovation, the balanced vane pump. Vickers Incorporated. grew steadily, eventually moving its headquarters to Detroit to be closer to its major automotive and industrial customers.
With the advent of the depression, Vickers approached Frederick J. Fisher (one of the Fisher Brothers of Fisher Body, the principal supplier of automobile bodies to General Motors) to invest in his company to help it survive.
They agreed that Vickers, Incorporated. would merge with the Sperry Corporation, (of which the Fisher Brothers had principal control) and operate as a subsidiary called Sperry Vickers, with Harry Vickers as President. As the start of World World War II approached, both Sperry Corporation and Sperry Vickers became vital suppliers to the builders of virtually every type of weapon and support system, from aircraft and ships to tanks and transport equipment. Vickers many contributions to his country and global industry placed him in the company of many of the greatest individuals of his era.
MacArthur continued in that role in the merged company.
Vickers later assumed the Chairman"s role subsequent to MacArthur"s retirement. He served as the last president of Sperry Corporation between 1952 and 1955.
He then served, in the successory title, as the first president of Sperry Rand Corporation from 1955 to 1965. He also, during this time, served as the first Chief Executive Officer of Sperry Rand Corporation between 1955 and 1967.
He then served as chairman of Sperry Rand Corporation between 1965 and 1967.
When he retired in 1967, he was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the 56th largest company in the United States.