Adolf Herz
Encyclopedia
Adolf Herz an Austrian Mechanical Engineer was born in 1862 in Nový Jičín
, Moravia
, now part of the Czech Republic
, as son of a well-to-do brewery
owner. After completing the Realschule in Brno
, Moravia
, he studied mechanical engineering
at the k&k Technische Hocshschule in Vienna
, where he eventually settled down and obtained "das Bürgerrecht". He opened a werkstatt to produce some of his inventions, mainly related to automobiles, which then were in their infancy. He invented a much improved sparkplug, and a more effective shock absorber.
Together with his brother Max, a cardiologist and Privatdozent
, he designed one of the first modern blood pressure
monitors. He also became active as an amateur photographer, and in general participated in the typical Viennese "Kaffeehaus" culture, in the Kaffeehaus Central.
From 1905 to 1913 Adolf Herz lived in New York
, where he helped his younger brother Leopold set up a business exploiting his personal inventions in the United States
.
In 1918, after the end of World War I and the end of the Habsburg Monarchy
, Herz left Austria for Switzerland
with an Austrian passport. His wife, May Priggen, who had worked for him in Vienna, and was born there as a British subject, followed him to Switzerland. They first lived in Lugano
, Hertenstein
, and Weggis
, while searching for employment. He had had lost much of his investments during the postwar economic crisis and the hyper inflation in Austria, and the rest due to the fraudulent bankruptcy of the Austrian Bank.
Nový Jicín
Nový Jičín is a town in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has ca. 26,500 inhabitants. The city is situated on the spurs of the Carpathian Mountains about from the Czech Republic's 3rd biggest city, Ostrava...
, Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
, now part of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, as son of a well-to-do brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
owner. After completing the Realschule in Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
, Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
, he studied mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
at the k&k Technische Hocshschule in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, where he eventually settled down and obtained "das Bürgerrecht". He opened a werkstatt to produce some of his inventions, mainly related to automobiles, which then were in their infancy. He invented a much improved sparkplug, and a more effective shock absorber.
Together with his brother Max, a cardiologist and Privatdozent
Privatdozent
Privatdozent or Private lecturer is a title conferred in some European university systems, especially in German-speaking countries, for someone who pursues an academic career and holds all formal qualifications to become a tenured university professor...
, he designed one of the first modern blood pressure
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...
monitors. He also became active as an amateur photographer, and in general participated in the typical Viennese "Kaffeehaus" culture, in the Kaffeehaus Central.
From 1905 to 1913 Adolf Herz lived in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where he helped his younger brother Leopold set up a business exploiting his personal inventions in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 1918, after the end of World War I and the end of the Habsburg Monarchy
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
, Herz left Austria for Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
with an Austrian passport. His wife, May Priggen, who had worked for him in Vienna, and was born there as a British subject, followed him to Switzerland. They first lived in Lugano
Lugano
Lugano is a city of inhabitants in the city proper and a total of over 145,000 people in the agglomeration/city region, in the south of Switzerland, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, which borders Italy...
, Hertenstein
Hertenstein
Hertenstein may refer to:* Hertenstein, Lucerne, a village part of the municipality of Weggis, Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland** Hertensteiner Programm* Hertenstein, Aargau, a village in the municipality of Obersiggenthal, Canton of Aargau, Switzerland...
, and Weggis
Weggis
Weggis is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.It forms part of the northern shore of Lake Lucerne. The official language is German.-History:In about 800 the monastery of Pfäfers acquired the court of Wattawis...
, while searching for employment. He had had lost much of his investments during the postwar economic crisis and the hyper inflation in Austria, and the rest due to the fraudulent bankruptcy of the Austrian Bank.