- Adolf Slaby
Adolf Karl Heinrich Slaby (
April 18 1849 —April 6 1913 ) was a Germanwireless pioneer and the first Professor ofelectro-technology at theTechnical University of Berlin (1886).Education
Slaby was born in
Berlin as the son of abookbinder enrolled at the Berlin Trade Academy, the forerunner ofBerlin-Charlottenburg Technical Academy (or Technical Hochschule (TH) Charlottenburg), in order to studymechanical engineering andmathematics underFranz Reuleaux . He was employed as an in-house instructor with the machine manufacturerLouis Schwartzkopff leading to an interest in mechanical engineering. Slaby continued his studies at theUniversity of Jena , and received hisdoctorate in mathematics.Early research
Slaby taught mathematics and mechanics at the
vocational school at Potsdam, where he conducted experiments onsteam engine s andpetrol engine s. He wrote his book "Theorie der Gasmaschinen", which took an important place in the development ofInternal combustion engine s.Electro-technology
Berlin was at that time the center of electro-technology, with
Werner von Siemens in a leading position. He supported Slaby personally in his private studies. Slaby performed hisHabilitation at the Berlin Trade Academy in 1876, and lectured on electrical motors electricaltelegraphy andElectromechanics . In 1883, he became antenure d professor of electro-technology.In the meantime, the Charlottenburg Technical Academy had been renamed a university. There, Slaby developed a program of theoretical lectures connected with practical work. With the generous support of industry he established in 1844 an electro-technical laboratory (see: Chronicle of the Kgl. TH 1799 - 1899, S. 190ff), making Berlin the most important training center for the recently-developed field of electro-technology.
Radio
As a result of his personal acquaintance with the head of the English telegraph administration, Sir
William Henry Preece (1834 - 1917), from 1897 Slaby participated with the help of his assistantGeorg von Arco from 1897 inMarconi 's experiments with wirelesstelegraphy at theEnglish Channel . He recognized immediately the meaning of this invention, and repeated the experiments in Berlin, leading to development of essential physical and technical concepts. The Emperor and the military authorities appeared very interested.Fact|date=September 2007The wireless
telegraphy - trials took place first at theTechnical University of Berlin , and then betweenChurch of the Redeemer, Sacrow and the 1.6 kilometers distant Marine station Kongsnaes at thePotsdamer Platz . On7 October 1897 , he established a 21-kilometer radio link between Schöneberg andRangsdorf , a world record. The following summer, he established a link between Berlin toJüterbog with the end-points being over 60 km apart. Crucial improvements led to the success, not ofspark gap transmission antennas as used by antenna (technology)| Marconi, but in inductive antennas induction (electro-technology). [source: Fassbender, 1965]Telefunken
Radio communications were also investigated elsewhere, by Slaby at the AEG, by Marconi Wireless telegraph Co. and by
Ferdinand Braun at Siemens & Halske. This led to the fact that Slaby'sradiogram was rejected by a Marconi station, because the licensing forbade it. This untenable condition led to consolidation: in 1903 AEG and Siemens & Halske formed the "Gesellschaft für drahtlose Telegrafen m. b. H. System Telefunken, known asTelefunken .Engagement for the Hochschule
He became both chairman of
VDI and 1893 as the first chairmen ofVDE , and had a personal audience withWilliam II, German Emperor . He gave lectures abouttechnology in the Berlin Palace,and organized experimental lectures for the emperor at the TH Berlin. This accomplished the social recognition of engineers and the complete equal rights of the technical universities with the universities. Adolf Slaby became 1898 the first representative of a TH to be a lifetime member inPrussian Herrenhaus . In 1906, Slaby retired top emeritus status. His successor was Ernst Orlich, a representative of the classical mathematical treatment of the problems of the theoreticalelectro-technology . Slaby was then named chairman of the board for theAkademischer Verein Hütte (Association of Students) a position he held untilJanuary 18 ,1912 .Memorials
*There is a City of Berlin Plaque to him at the technical University of Berlin, with the following inscription in blue writing on white KPM -
porcelain reading "BERLINER GEDENKTAFEL In dem hier vormals stehenden Hause - Sophienstraße 4 - lebte von 1885 bis 1913 der Pionier der Funktechnik ADOLF SLABY18.4.1849 - 6.4.1913 Erster Professor der Elektrotechnik an der Technischen Hochschule Charlottenburg Mitbegründer der Telefunken AG" (Here lived from 1885 to 1913 Adolf Slaby (18.4.1849 - 6.4.1913) , the pioneer of radio engineering, first professor of electro-technology at the Technical University Charlottenburg , joint founder of Telefunken AG)
* to the memory of Slaby was published A stamp was published in his memory, at the Federal Post Office Berlin (first day of issue his 125th Birthday on14 April 1974 ).
* In two districts ofBerlin (Treptow Köpenick and Marzahn Hellersdorf) there are roads named after Adolf Slaby.References
;Publications
* Slaby, Adolphus, " [http://earlyradiohistory.us/1898sla.htm The New Telegraphy] , Recent experiments in telegraphy with sparks.". The Century Magazine. April, 1898. (Earlyradiohistory.us)External links
* [http://www.berlin.de/ba-charlottenburg-wilmersdorf/bezirk/gedenktafeln/guardini.html Gedenktafel of the district Charlottenburg Wilmersdorf of Berlin]
* [http://www.nue.tu-berlin.de/geschichte/ 100 years of radio attempts. Article of Professor Dr. - engineer Peter Noll]
* [http://www.av-huette.de/slaby.html information on the web page of the academic association HUT registered association]
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