Technikatörténeti szemle 19. (1992)

KÖNYVISMERTETÉS - Papers of the First „MINERALKONTOR” International Conference on the History of Chemistry and Chemical Industry (Veszprém, 12-16 August, 1991)

industry, Coray, Dr. Balthazar, manager of the sulfur factory, New Moldawa, Hungary (17). By the beginning of the 20th century these proportions changed. Gradually, 40% of the Hungarian members of the Berlin chemical association, were factory owners or factory directors. Thus, in 1904, we find, for instance, in this list: Goldberger, Dr. L. von, textile manufacturer, Budapest Heidlberg, Dr. Th., Budapest Herzfeld, Dr. Armand, Budapest Hinsenkamp, Otto, Ganz u. Co., Budapest Klein, Director Dr., F., Chemical Works Szomolány Kuhlemann, Dr. Friedrich, director of the Hungarian Rubberworks, Budapest Lepéz, Carl, Dynamite Factory, Pozsony/Bratislava (then Hungary) Rosner, Dr. Otto, Flora Stearine Works, Budapest The increased number of the representatives of the Hungarian chemical industry in the Berlin association was a true reflection of domestic reality. At the beginning of the present century our chemical industry underwent a great development and, at the same time, gained consciousness. Dr. Tivadar Heidlberg, also on the list, became managing editor and leader of the technical part of the Vegyészeti Lapok (Chemical Journal, launched 1906), the official bulletin of the Association of Hungarian Chemical Factory Owners. In his opening announcement he formulated as follows: „The prosperity of a chemical factory depends, perhaps even more than of a company of any other branch, on the level of theoretical and practical knowledge of his technical director" (19). Perhaps this is what the factories considered when they made some of their leading chemists join the Berlin association. Namely this way they obtained the „Berichte", a journal of world fame already at that time. The Berichte appeared at this period already in 4 volumes a year of 1200—1500 pages each. This jornal contained less and less news from the Association and of the world of chemistry, but more and more and agrowingly longer studies appeared in it, and it abstracted also other, mainly German journals. Let us now see, what a Hungarian chemist could gain by being member of the „Deutsche Chemische Gesellschaft, beside obtaining the „berichte". 1) He was entitled to send studies for presentation, discussion or publication. 2) In the years 1870—1880 the „Berichte" regurarly published „lettes" informing about the public life of chemistry in some country or, mainly only in some city. These lettes reported on research, lectures or works published, and were at the same time ..personal news" and abstracting of journals. 3) Members were entitled to send their books to the Berlin library of the association, so the world could come to know them. 4) Whenever in Berlin, they could participate in the meetings and use the library. The paper publishing habits of the Hungarian members of the German Chemical Association can be easily followed in the „Berichte", It seems to have been the rule that someone who had gained admission to the Association, published, so to say, as an entrance ticket, a paper in that very year. There were some who, like Károly Than or Mátyás Balló, aimed, consecuently for decades, at