This month marks the 60th anniversary of the first commercial laser sold, the Raytheon model LH-1 pulsed ruby laser. From Laser Focus magazine of June 15, 1966:
"... when a radically new type sensor - the laser - was first demonstrated in May, 1960, Raytheon's corporate executives quickly initiated a laser R&D program that became operative in August of the same year. As a consequence of this fast reaction to an emerging new technology, Raytheon achieved several industry "firsts".
On December 2, 1960 they announced the development of a more efficient mechanism for coupling the light from the stimulating flashlamp to the ruby rod. This device consisted of a cylindrical cavity with polished internal surfaces having an elliptical cross-section . . . . . the prototype of the now-familiar ellipticval cavity used in all solid-state lasers.
They immediately set to work designing a solid-state laser incorporating the new cavity and within a few months had developed the LH-1 ruby laser. This product was introduced in mid-March, 1961, making Raytheon the first company to market a laser commercially."
Below is the cover and back pages of "Electronic Progress" magazine (a Raytheon publication) of July-August, 1961, showing the laser. With it is the model LPS-1, the first commercial laser power supply. Notice the iron sights on the laser head!
To commemorate this anniversary, I've decided to install an exhibit of vintage lasers and holography to be open to the public sometime this summer, here in Tempe, Arizona. It'll be small like most first steps, but unique.
A bit more information about Raytheon's early entry into the laser industry can be found in "The Laser In America" by Joan Lisa Bromberg, shown below. According to Colin Bowness, it was believed that six of anything could be sold, so they made six lasers in the first run.