Joseph A. Galamb
Encyclopedia
József Galamb mechanical engineer was born in Makó
, Hungary
.
Galamb finished his education at the Budapest Industrial Technology Engineering Course (the predecessor of the present-day Óbuda University
Bánki Donát Politechnical College) in 1899. After receiving his diploma in mechanical engineering he worked at the Steel Engineering Factory in Diósgyőr as a draftsman
. He next served one year in military service. He worked at the Hungarian Automobile Co., where he won a postgraduate scholarship to Germany
. After the navy he went to see the world — Vienna, Dresden, Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen. In 1903 he worked in many German cities as a skilled worker, he got the best education at Adler
in Frankfurt. He was hired to assemble automotive engines in a process in which each engine was built completely by one man. When he learned of the 1904 American Auto World Fair in St. Louis, he used his savings to travel to America by ship in October 1903. After two months in New York, he found employment as a toolmaker at the Westinghouse Corporation in Pittsburgh. Although he planned to go back to Germany in 1904, instead he joined the Stearns Automobile Company in Cleveland as a carburetor maker.
Galamb applied for work at the Silent Northern plant, the Cadillac plant and the Piquette Plant
of Ford. All three offered him work within three hours. He joined the Ford Motor Company
(twenty-four years old at that time) as a designer in December 1905. The Ford Motor Company had 300 employees at the time assembling the Ford Model A from purchased parts. Subsequent to redesigning the cooling system for the Model N
, he became the chief designer of the company, and devised many of the parts of the famous Model T. He was one of the co-developers of the assembly line in 1913. From 1915 he worked on the Fordson tractor
design. In 1921 he founded a scholarship for the poor students of his native town who wished to take up higher education at trade school. During World War I
he was busy designing military hardware, e. g. anti-submarine detection systems. He visited Hungary many times, lecturing at the Association of Hungarian Engineers and Architects. During World War II
on Ford's suggestion, he designed a small six-cylinder car, which was completed in 1942. On doctor's orders he retired from active work in 1944.
His influence played a role in the Ford V8 and Eifel
being assembled in Hungary from 1935. He died in 1955 in Detroit.
Makó
Makó is a town in Csongrád County in southeastern Hungary. It lies on the Maros River, near the Romanian border. The area of the town is of which is arable land. The climate is very warm with hot and dry summers. Makó and the surrounding region get the most sunshine in Hungary, about 85-90...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
Galamb finished his education at the Budapest Industrial Technology Engineering Course (the predecessor of the present-day Óbuda University
Óbuda University
The Óbuda University named after Óbuda, a part of Budapest, is a technical university in Budapest, Hungary. It was originally founded in 2000 as Technical Institute of Budapest with the merging of 3 polytechnical institutes...
Bánki Donát Politechnical College) in 1899. After receiving his diploma in mechanical engineering he worked at the Steel Engineering Factory in Diósgyőr as a draftsman
Technical drawing
Technical drawing, also known as drafting or draughting, is the act and discipline of composing plans that visually communicate how something functions or has to be constructed.Drafting is the language of industry....
. He next served one year in military service. He worked at the Hungarian Automobile Co., where he won a postgraduate scholarship to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. After the navy he went to see the world — Vienna, Dresden, Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen. In 1903 he worked in many German cities as a skilled worker, he got the best education at Adler
Adler (automobile)
Adler was a German automobile and motorcycle manufacturer from 1900 until 1957. Adler is German for eagle.-History:The Adler factory produced bicycles, typewriters, and motorcycles in addition to cars...
in Frankfurt. He was hired to assemble automotive engines in a process in which each engine was built completely by one man. When he learned of the 1904 American Auto World Fair in St. Louis, he used his savings to travel to America by ship in October 1903. After two months in New York, he found employment as a toolmaker at the Westinghouse Corporation in Pittsburgh. Although he planned to go back to Germany in 1904, instead he joined the Stearns Automobile Company in Cleveland as a carburetor maker.
Galamb applied for work at the Silent Northern plant, the Cadillac plant and the Piquette Plant
Piquette Plant
The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant is located at 411 Piquette Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, within the Piquette Avenue Industrial Historic District. It was the second home of Ford Motor Company automobile production...
of Ford. All three offered him work within three hours. He joined the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
(twenty-four years old at that time) as a designer in December 1905. The Ford Motor Company had 300 employees at the time assembling the Ford Model A from purchased parts. Subsequent to redesigning the cooling system for the Model N
Ford Model N
The Ford Model N is an automobile produced by the Ford Motor Company. It was introduced in 1906 as a successor to the Models A, C and F as the company's inexpensive entry-level line....
, he became the chief designer of the company, and devised many of the parts of the famous Model T. He was one of the co-developers of the assembly line in 1913. From 1915 he worked on the Fordson tractor
Fordson tractor
Fordson was a brand name used on a range of mass produced general-purpose tractors manufactured by Henry Ford & Son, Inc, from 1917 until 1920 when it was merged into the Ford Motor Company, which used the name until 1964...
design. In 1921 he founded a scholarship for the poor students of his native town who wished to take up higher education at trade school. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was busy designing military hardware, e. g. anti-submarine detection systems. He visited Hungary many times, lecturing at the Association of Hungarian Engineers and Architects. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on Ford's suggestion, he designed a small six-cylinder car, which was completed in 1942. On doctor's orders he retired from active work in 1944.
His influence played a role in the Ford V8 and Eifel
Ford Eifel
Ford Eifel was a car manufactured by Ford Germany and Ford Hungary between 1935 and 1940. It was derived from the Ford Model C platform, and is related to the contemporary Ford Anglia and Ford Prefect....
being assembled in Hungary from 1935. He died in 1955 in Detroit.