Radar, who invented it?
Hülsmeyer
and the early days of radar inventions, sense and nonsense,
a survey
originally titled:
Christian Hülsmeyer and about the early days of radar inventions,
a survey
Part I (pdf, 1.6 MB)
Please consider my, recent, query on "Günther Mannheim" who was Heinrich Mannheim's son, down at this page. Notice also: Düsseldorf-Aachen talk 2006 (PDF-ppt)!
We have had much luck, that we have approached the Cologne (Köln) Municipal Archives (Stadtarchiv) in 2004 and 2006, as this is now impossible since. Owing to the recent total collapse of their office in Spring 2009. It is rather likely, that many of their invaluable treasures will be lost, or at least much being severely damaged. Or, for decades not accesseble! For us most significant are the findings related to the Dom Hotel and Hülsmeyer's advertisements (Kölner Stadtanzeiger), calling for participants in his projects in 1901 and 1903. To some extent, also the finding of an unknown newspaper report. As well as the finding of Heinrich Mannheim's death announcement of 15 January 1923, on microfilm (Kölner Stadtanzeiger). Regard also my Düsseldorf-Aachen talk of 2006
Synopsis
The objective of this publication is to recall some aspects of the course of history with respect to early radar developments.
It was on the 9 June 1904, just a hundred years ago, that the twenty-two-year-old Christian Hülsmeyer demonstrated his radar-like apparatus on board the ships-tender Columbus in the harbour of Rotterdam. His audience was, in the first place, the technical representatives of the main Atlantic shipping companies which at that time were from Holland, Britain, France and Germany. The demonstration was arranged to take place during a Nautical Conference, which was hosted by the Holland-Amerika-Lijn (HAL) shipping company. The conference chairman was Mr Wierdsma, the CEO of that shipping company, whom, by his personal involvement, made it possible for Hülsmeyer to demonstrate his Anti-ship-colliding system to an international gathering of shipping experts. We will also look briefly at Hülsmeyer's inventions and the commercial implications. Heinrich Mannheim. Notice also my: Düsseldorf-Aachen talk 2006 (PDF-ppt), with additional findings in 2006.
Additionally, we continue with some significant inventions in the 1920s and, finally, we enter the 1930s when the time became right for innovating radar technologies. We will omit, on this occasion, the many well-known radar stories as these have been dealt with by so many others. (Radar II, introduction)
Please consider the acknowledgement and copyright information on the pages 15 and 16 of chapter II ! (Radar II)
Arthur O. Bauer
Diemen, 22 December 2004
The Netherlands
Those whose commitment made this publication possible, met in Düsseldorf on 29 January 2005 in Hülsmeyer's house (both photographs taken in front of it). From left to right: Bernd Hülsmeyer, Adri de Keijzer, Reinhold Liebich, Arthur O. Bauer, Karin Hecker and Reinhard Dellenbusch. (numbers 1, 4 and 5, are Hülsmeyer's family members).
Memorial tablet (Gedenktafel) at the façade of Hülsmeyer's house in Düsseldorf
(mp3)
Some browsers seemingly encounter problems with opening this mp3 file directly from the web, as they refuse consequently to recognize this mp3 document (due to too tight security settings). A solution is: copy the URL shown below onto you clipboard and paste it into a Word or a similar program. First, give a return (= striking the 'enter' key) as to give it a hyperlink (it should change colour), then press the 'Ctrl' key + double click on it and it should open your favourite mp3 player automatically. (Or, for a different computer type, the correct starting procedure is, often, shown on the screen when you point your cursor at the hyperlinked URL)
http://www.cdvandt.org/huelsmeyer.mp3
Consider also: Düsseldorf-Aachen talk 2006 (PDF-ppt)
Consider also the replica of Hülsmeyer's coherer receiver: Archive displays
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