Inventor and benefactor Alex Manoogian

The photograph shows Alex Manoogian, an Armenian inventor, businessman and benefactor. His simple solution, the single-handle water tap, is used all over the world today. In the photograph he sits at a desk with a gold-coloured single-handle tap on it.

Manoogian’s first large orders were for Henry Ford, who told him: “Young man, you are going to go far.” In 1929 Manoogian founded his own company, Masco Corporation, which within a few years became a large international company. Today the company has an annual turnover of about 11 billion dollars and produces more than one million taps a month.

For many years Alex Manoogian was president of the Armenian General Benevolent Union; he taught Armenian and served his people throughout his life.