Slavoljub Eduard Penkala facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Slavoljub Penkala
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Slavoljub Penkala in 1920
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| Born |
Eduard Pękała
20 April 1871 |
| Died | 5 February 1922 (aged 50) |
| Resting place | Mirogoj Cemetery |
| Nationality | Croatian |
| Other names | Slavoljub Eduard Penkala (full name) |
| Education | Royal Saxon Polytechnic Institute (Ph.D., 1898) |
| Occupation |
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| Known for | Inventing the mechanical pencil |
| Spouse(s) | Emily Stoffregen |
| Children | 4 |
Slavoljub Eduard Penkala (born April 20, 1871 – died February 5, 1922) was a brilliant engineer and inventor. He was born in what is now Slovakia and later became a Croatian citizen. Penkala is most famous for inventing the modern mechanical pencil and the first solid-ink fountain pen. He also created many other useful things and was a pioneer in aviation.
Contents
The Life of an Inventor
Early Life and Education
Eduard Penkala was born in a town called Liptószentmiklós. This town is now known as Liptovský Mikuláš in Slovakia. At that time, it was part of Austria-Hungary. His father was of Polish heritage, and his mother had Dutch roots.
He studied at the University of Vienna and later at the Royal Saxon Polytechnic Institute in Dresden. He finished his studies in 1898 and earned a special degree in organic chemistry. While he was studying, he met his future wife, Emily Stoffregen, during violin lessons.
Moving to Croatia
After finishing his education, Eduard and Emily moved to Zagreb, which is now the capital of Croatia. To show how much he loved his new home, he changed his name to Slavoljub. In Croatian, "Slavoljub" means "someone who loves Slavs." This made him a naturalized Croatian citizen.
Amazing Inventions
Slavoljub Penkala became very well-known for his inventions. He made big improvements to the mechanical pencil in 1906. Back then, people called it an "automatic pencil." He also invented the first fountain pen that used solid ink in 1907. This was a big deal because it made pens much easier to use.
On January 24, 1906, he officially registered his invention for the automatic pencil. He worked with a businessman named Edmund Moster. Together, they started the Penkala-Moster Company. They built a factory that made pens and pencils. It became one of the largest factories of its kind in the world at that time. As their business grew, they even opened a second factory in Berlin. Today, the company is still around and is called TOZ Penkala.
More Great Ideas
Penkala didn't stop at pens and pencils. He also built the first aircraft in Croatia. This plane, called the Penkala 1910 Biplane, was flown by Dragutin Novak. Novak was also the first Croatian pilot. Penkala was incredibly creative and held a total of 80 patents for his many inventions.
Some of his other patented inventions included:
- A hot water bottle, which was his very first patented invention. He called it the "Termofor."
- A special type of detergent used for bluing clothes.
- A brake system for rail-cars.
- A type of anode battery.
He also started another company called the Elevator Chemical Manufacturing Company. This company made different chemicals. These included cleaning products, sealing wax, and a special product called "Radium Vinovica." This product was like a patent medicine and was advertised to help with rheumatism.
Family Life and Legacy
Slavoljub Penkala had four children with his wife, Emily.
He passed away in Zagreb when he was 50 years old. He caught pneumonia while on a business trip. He was buried in the Mirogoj Cemetery. Slavoljub Penkala left behind a legacy of innovation and creativity that changed everyday life for many people.
See also
- Edmund Moster
