Edward Kleinschmidt
Encyclopedia
Edward Ernst Kleinschmidt (September 9, 1876 - August 22, 1977) was one of the inventors of the teleprinter
, and was a prolific inventor who obtained 118 patents in the course of his 101-year life.
, Germany, in 1876, Kleinschmidt immigrated to the United States at the age of 8.
Kleinschmidt began working with nascent communications technology in 1893 while still in his teens. He first patented a Morse keyboard transmitter, in 1895 (Patent No. 964,372; filed February 7, 1895; issued January 11, 1910) and later a Morse keyboard perforator which became known as the Wheatstone Perforator.
Soon after, he set up the Kleinschmidt Electric Company, presently known as Kleinschmidt Inc
. With George Seely, he developed signaling equipment for railways. The pair began their work in 1906, and by 1910, they were able to demonstrate a completed device. The signaling technology is still used by railways throughout North America.
In 1916 he filed a patent application for a typebar page printer. In 1919, shortly after the Morkrum company obtained their patent for a start-stop synchronizing method for code telegraph systems, which made possible the practical teleprinter, Kleinschmidt filed an application titled "Method of and Apparatus for Operating Printing Telegraphs" which included an improved start-stop method.
Instead of wasting time and money in patent disputes on the start-stop method, Kleinschmidt and the Morkrum Company decided to merge and form the Morkrum-Kleinschmidt Company in 1924. The new company combined the best features of both their machines into a new typewheel printer for which Kleinschmidt, Howard Krum, and Sterling Morton jointly obtained a patent.
In December 1928, the company name was changed to Teletype Corporation, and in 1930 Teletype Corporation was sold to the American Telephone and Telegraph Company
for $30 million. In 1931, Kleinschmidt set up Kleinschmidt Laboratories to further refine the teletypewriter and do research and development for the Teletype Corporation.
He was awarded the John Price Wetherill Medal in 1940.
During World War II, Kleinschmidt's son Bernard learned that the US Signal Corps needed a lightweight, transportable teleprinter and in February 1944, Kleinschmidt demonstrated a working model of his lightweight teleprinter at the office of the Chief Signal Officer. The Kleinschmidt 100-words-per-minute typebar page printer became the standard for US forces in 1949.
The success of its printer, and an order for 2,000 examples caused Kleinschmidt Laboratories to purchase a 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) parcel of land in Deerfield, Illinois, to house the manufacturing operations. This location and the original buildings are the current home of Kleinschmidt Inc.
) perforator. He also invented a macaroni-twisting machine. His inventions made him a multi-millionaire.
Kleinschmidt died in Canaan, Connecticut, of heart disease in 1977 at the age of 101.
Teleprinter
A teleprinter is a electromechanical typewriter that can be used to communicate typed messages from point to point and point to multipoint over a variety of communication channels that range from a simple electrical connection, such as a pair of wires, to the use of radio and microwave as the...
, and was a prolific inventor who obtained 118 patents in the course of his 101-year life.
Career
Born in BremenBremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
, Germany, in 1876, Kleinschmidt immigrated to the United States at the age of 8.
Kleinschmidt began working with nascent communications technology in 1893 while still in his teens. He first patented a Morse keyboard transmitter, in 1895 (Patent No. 964,372; filed February 7, 1895; issued January 11, 1910) and later a Morse keyboard perforator which became known as the Wheatstone Perforator.
Soon after, he set up the Kleinschmidt Electric Company, presently known as Kleinschmidt Inc
Kleinschmidt Inc
Kleinschmidt Inc. was established in 1898 by Edward Kleinschmidt. It is a privately owned firm that provides electronic commerce, electronic data interchange , and value-added network services...
. With George Seely, he developed signaling equipment for railways. The pair began their work in 1906, and by 1910, they were able to demonstrate a completed device. The signaling technology is still used by railways throughout North America.
In 1916 he filed a patent application for a typebar page printer. In 1919, shortly after the Morkrum company obtained their patent for a start-stop synchronizing method for code telegraph systems, which made possible the practical teleprinter, Kleinschmidt filed an application titled "Method of and Apparatus for Operating Printing Telegraphs" which included an improved start-stop method.
Instead of wasting time and money in patent disputes on the start-stop method, Kleinschmidt and the Morkrum Company decided to merge and form the Morkrum-Kleinschmidt Company in 1924. The new company combined the best features of both their machines into a new typewheel printer for which Kleinschmidt, Howard Krum, and Sterling Morton jointly obtained a patent.
In December 1928, the company name was changed to Teletype Corporation, and in 1930 Teletype Corporation was sold to the American Telephone and Telegraph Company
AT&T Corporation
AT&T Corp., originally American Telephone and Telegraph Company, is an American telecommunications company that provides voice, video, data, and Internet telecommunications and professional services to businesses, consumers, and government agencies. AT&T is the oldest telecommunications company...
for $30 million. In 1931, Kleinschmidt set up Kleinschmidt Laboratories to further refine the teletypewriter and do research and development for the Teletype Corporation.
He was awarded the John Price Wetherill Medal in 1940.
During World War II, Kleinschmidt's son Bernard learned that the US Signal Corps needed a lightweight, transportable teleprinter and in February 1944, Kleinschmidt demonstrated a working model of his lightweight teleprinter at the office of the Chief Signal Officer. The Kleinschmidt 100-words-per-minute typebar page printer became the standard for US forces in 1949.
The success of its printer, and an order for 2,000 examples caused Kleinschmidt Laboratories to purchase a 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) parcel of land in Deerfield, Illinois, to house the manufacturing operations. This location and the original buildings are the current home of Kleinschmidt Inc.
Other inventions
Although best known for the Teletype machine, Kleinschmidt also invented many other devices, including an automatic fishing reel and a vaccination shield, and is credited with making major improvements to the Wheatstone (stock market ticker tapeTicker tape
Ticker tape was the earliest digital electronic communications medium, transmitting stock price information over telegraph lines, in use between around 1870 through 1970...
) perforator. He also invented a macaroni-twisting machine. His inventions made him a multi-millionaire.
Kleinschmidt died in Canaan, Connecticut, of heart disease in 1977 at the age of 101.