Tricone Drill Bit 3D Artifact

(OMC 1960.224.001)

This type of rotary drill bit was invented by Howard Hughes Sr. and patented by Howard Hughes Jr. It was used on the rotary drilling rigs. It chews away the rock and dirt by rotating around.

This story has been retold to staff of the Oil Museum and retold by Beatrice MacLachlan's children when visiting the museum.

Beatrice MacLachlan was the curator of the museum in 1960 when a big black car pulled up in front of the museum. A man wearing a long black trench coat got out of the car and entered the museum. He put the drill bit on the counter and said it should be in the museum.  He didn’t want to sign anything, but it was discovered that it was indeed Howard Hughes. The rotary drill bit was made by Hughes Tool Company, which was started by Howard's father. The company leased the drill bits and was very profitable. When Howard Sr. died, Howard Jr. took over the company and it is still in existence today as Baker Hughes.