Robert Pauli Scherer Informational Designation Site
Detroit Children's Museum
67 Kirby Street in Detroit's Cultural Center
There is a Michigan Historical
Marker on this site because of an important technological development perfected
at this location by Robert Pauli Scherer, one that reduced morbidity and
mortality
rates around the world. Many people find it difficult to remember to take
medicine, or are hesitant to take medicines and drugs that taste awful.
You
can imagine the difficulties of getting young children to swallow pills that
they intensely dislike. Working in a shop in the basement of his parents'
home, Robert Scherer, at age 24 in 1930, invented or perfected a rotary die
encapsulation machine that produced soft gelatin capsules. As a result of
his invention, pharmaceutical products could be encased in a soft gelatin
capsule that people could readily swallow. Think about how often you use
such
capsule when you are sick or when you wish to improve your health or your
looks. This invention was a major step forward for the pharmaceutical industry.
Robert Scherer, in 1933, founded a corporation to produce these soft gelatin capsules. This firm rapidly became the world's leader in this industry, and eventually had plants in 12 countries. Robert Scherer, a graduate of the city's public schools, is among Detroit's most productive inventors. Prior to his death in 1960, he obtained 52 patents. His innovative machine is now in the Smithsonian in Washington.
Architect: Unknown
Date of Construction of the home: 1912
Michigan Historic Site: Listed June 15, 1984 P25239
Michigan Historical Market: Erected September 5, 1984. This marker is clearly
visible from the sidewalk on the north side of Kirby just east of Woodward.
Use in 2002. This building was occupied for many years by Detroit's Children's
Museum, but this museum moved so the Scherer house was vacant in 2002.