August Schrader was an enterprising German immigrant who set up a shop dealing in rubber products in Manhattan. In 1845 he began supplying fittings and valves for rubber products made by the Goodyear Brothers. These included air pillows and life preservers. His original shop was at 115 John Street in Manhattan. Schrader was a maker of daguerreotype apparatus. Shortly thereafter he went into partnership with Christian Baecher, a brass turner and finisher. After watching divers at work at a nearby jetty, Schrader sought to improve the diving helmets in use at the time. In 1849, he created a new copper helmet. Later his interest in diving led to him to design an air pump. Around 1890, after reports of English cyclists' success using pneumatic tires, August Schrader saw the need for a bicycle tire valve. By 1891, he produced the Schrader valve. The Schrader valve was his most popular invention, and is still used today. August’s son, George, is generally credited with the experimental work that resulted in the valve's creation. Later in 1896, Schrader patented the tire valve cap. Soon after, tire valves for automobiles were introduced.
