Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach, born on September 1, 1858 in Vienna, was an Austrian chemist and entrepreneur.
He discovered four elements and invented the gas-incandescent light, the metal filament lightbulb and the Cereisen flint for lighters.
His main scientific work was the rare earth elements and radioactive substances.
Companies such as AUERGESELLSCHAFT Berlin, Treibacher Industrie AG, OSRAM and others. were founded by him.
He made the first sound recordings with a phonograph in Austria (1900), was Austria's first color photographer (1908) and left us unique documents of his time. |
20 Schilling note Carl Auer von Welsbach |
Curriculum vitae of the universal genius Carl Auer von Welsbach
September 1, 1958 |
Birth in Vienna as the son of the company director of K.u.K. Hof- und Staatsdruckerei Alois Ritter Auer von Welsbach and his wife Therese.
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1877 |
Passing the matriculation examination at the Josefstädter Realschule.
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1877-1878 |
Military service as a one-year volunteer, receiving the lieutenant patent.
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1878-1880 |
Inscription at the Technical University in Vienna, study of the subjects of mathematics, general organic and inorganic chemistry, general and technical physics and heat theory.
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April 1880 |
Change to the University of Heidelberg, lectures and laboratory exercises with Professor Robert Wilhelm Bunsen, the first and famous teacher of physical chemistry.
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May 2, 1882 |
Doctorate of Philosophy at the Ruperta Carola University in Heidelberg with very good results.
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1882 |
Works as a private scholar at the Institute of Chemistry at the University of Vienna with Prof. Adolf Lieben.
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1885 |
First disassembly of the supposed element "Didym" with the help of a new separation method developed by him and thus the discovery of the new elements praseodymium and neodymium. Preparation of the first gaseous glow bodies of lanthanum oxide, with which it wraps the gas flame reticulated. |
1887 |
Acquisition of the chemical-pharmaceutical factory Würth & Co in Atzgersdorf near Vienna for the industrial production of incandescent mantles.
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1889 |
Beginning sales problems due to the shortcomings of the early incandescent mantles, closing the factory in Atzgersdorf. Beginning of the improvement of mantles by his further research.
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1890 |
Development of the paste process for the production of filaments of refractory metals.
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1891 |
Patenting of a new, improved incandescent body of 99% thorium oxide and 1% cerium oxide, resumption of production in Atzgersdorf and rapid spread of the incandescent body due to the increased luminosity and improved durability.
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1892 |
Foundation of the company Auergesellschaft Berlin.
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1898 |
Foundation of Dr. Ing. Carl Auer von Welsbach'schen Factory Treibach. Patenting the first metal filament lamp using the invented powder metallurgy for refractory metals. |
1900 |
Carl Auer von Welsbach succeed for the first time sound recordings, which have received until now.
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1902 |
Market launch of the first industrially manufactured metal filament lamps (Osmiumglühfaden) with the name "Auer-Oslampe".
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1903 |
Patenting of its pyrophoric flint alloy for lighters. The optimum composition is given in the patent as a proportion of 70% cerium and 30% iron (Auermetall).
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1905 |
Publication of the spectra and atomic weights of the two new ytterbium-separated elements Aldebaranium and Cassiopeium (Ytterbium and Lutetium - current name).
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1906 |
Founding of OSRAM in Berlin and registration of the OSRAM brand.
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1907 |
Conversion of the Auer from Welsbach's Treibach plant into Treibacher Chemische Werke G.m.b.H. to produce the Cereisen flares and filaments for metal filament lamps.
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1908 |
Production of the first color slide in Austria, foundation of the elementary school in Meiselding.
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1910-1924 |
Research in the field of rare earth elements and radioactive substances for use in research and radiotherapy (separation of radioactive elements from uranium ores and description as a pioneer of nuclear physics, the phenomenon of "artificial radioactivity".
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1916 |
Construction of the power plant Förolach
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1920 |
Construction of the factory in Seebach for melting metals with electric arc furnaces.
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1922 |
Construction of Mühldorfer Wasserkraftwerke AG (hydroelectric power station, part of the storage power plant group Malta-Reißeck)
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August 4, 1929 |
Carl Auer von Welsbach dies in his 71st year and is laid to rest in Vienna at the Hietzing Cemetery in the family grave.
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