Technikatörténeti szemle 11. (1979)

TANULMÁNYOK - Vajda Pál: Creative Hungarians in mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, technical sciences and industry. A selected bio-bibliography

HELL, Miksa (1720—1792). Mathematician, astronomer.

Hell was regarded a great authority by European astronomers for his mathematically well-based observations which are partly described in his astronomy yearbooks. His many-sided interests (astronomy, mathematics, geography, history, etc.) are reflected in his prolific publications.

Ashbrook J.: The reputation of Father Hell (— Sky and Telescope 21/1961. pp. 213—214.), Schlichtegroll F.: Maximilian Hell (= Nekrolog auf das Jahr 1792. Jg. Ill Bd. I. Gotha 1763. pp. 282—303.), De Luck: Hell Maximilian (= Das Gelehrte Österreich I. 1776. p. 176—194.), Sarton, G.: Vindication of Father Hell (= Isis 36. 1947. pp. 97—105) Bartha L.: Maximilian Hell: The Development of Precise Determinations of Geographical Locations in the 18th Century (= Technology and Culture 18/1977. pp. 501—502.)

DSB, WHC, TUW, CH, DHS, GHG.

KEMPELEN, Farkas (1743—1804). Scientist, mechanic.

Kempelen was a multifaceted genius: he improved steam engines, designed a prototype of the steam turbine. His world fame was, however, due to his chess playing machine. In 1769 after long meditations and doubts following experiments of many months promising nothing but failure Kempelen built the very first „talking machine” of the world which uttered its first sentences in 1790. In 1791 he published a book on his observations made while designing and building the first talking machine. Kempelen established the basis of physiological acoustics. With his thorough studying of human sound, a condition for building the talking machine.

R. Willis: An Attempt to Analyze the Automaton Chess Player of M. de Kempelen with an Easy Method of Imitating the Movements of that Celebrated Figure, London 1821., G. Allen: The History of the Automaton Chess Player in America, Philadelphia 1859., Tarnóczy, T.—Dudley, H.: The speaking machine of Wolfgang von Kempelen (— J. of the Acoustical Soc. of America, 22T950. pp. 151—166), Kempelen and his talking apparatus (= Transactions of the Newcomen Society XXVI. 1953. pp. 262—263.), Caroll, Ch. M.: The Great Chess Automaton, New York 1975., Vesely, J.: The Most Famous Invention of Wolfgang von Kempelen (= Blätter für Technikgeschichte 36—37/1974—75. pp. 95—125.), Jaeger, H.: Wolfgang Ritter von Kempelen de Pázmánd (— Neue deutsche Biographie Berlin [West] 11/1977. p. 484.),

CH, WHC, VPA, ZAB

MIKOVINY, Sámuel (1700—1750). Cartographer, pioneer of mining mechanization.

Mikoviny is considered an early pioneer of mining mechanization for his water management inventions (including his first invention, the changeover paddle wheel). In 1794 during the French Revolution when the Paris Ecole Polytechnique was established, Fourcroy, in his address to the Convention, was of the opinion that Mikoviny’s methods and the Selmecbánya type of school should be held as a pattern for the newly founded Frenoh school.

Boda N.: Kurzgefasste Beschreibung der bei dem Bergbau zu Schemnitz in Nie- der-Hungarn errichteten Maschinen, Prag 1711., Tárczy—Hornoch A.: Samuel v. Mikoviny, der erste Professor technische Wissenschaften in Ungarn (— Mitteilungen 1937. pp. 47—52.)

WHC, CH, ZAB

SEGNER, János András (1704—1777). Mathematician, physicist.

Segner achieved noteworthy results in fluid mechanics as well as in the mechanics of solids. Segner was the first scientist who introduced the notion of

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