George N. Saegmuller
Encyclopedia
George N. Saegmuller was a German
-born American inventor of many astronomical instruments
and other mechanical devices.
He attended technical schools in Erlangen
and Nuremberg
. In 1870 he moved to the United States
, where he settled in Washington, DC and began working for a craftsman involved in the production of astronomical and geodetic
instruments. He also worked for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey in charge of precision instruments.
Saegmuller married Maria Jane Vandenberg while living in Washington and lived on the Vandenberg family farm, Reserve Hill, in Arlington County, Virginia
. Saegmuller was involved in many different scientific pursuits including road maintenance and water wheel
pumps. He worked with Camill Fauth in the scientific equipment supply business.
Saegmuller invented or contributed to the development of a multitude of devices. He held more than 35 patents. His inventions include the solar attachment for engineering transits
, a new type of naval bore sight, and numerous telescope
s and telescope mounts.
Saegmuller, as part of Fauth & Co., joined with Bausch & Lomb Optical Company
in 1905.
He died on February 12, 1934 in Arlington, Virginia. He is buried in Columbia Gardens Cemetery
.
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...
-born American inventor of many astronomical instruments
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and other mechanical devices.
He attended technical schools in Erlangen
Erlangen
Erlangen is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river Regnitz and its large tributary, the Untere Schwabach.Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants....
and Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
. In 1870 he moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he settled in Washington, DC and began working for a craftsman involved in the production of astronomical and geodetic
Geodesy
Geodesy , also named geodetics, a branch of earth sciences, is the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its gravitational field, in a three-dimensional time-varying space. Geodesists also study geodynamical phenomena such as crustal...
instruments. He also worked for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey in charge of precision instruments.
Saegmuller married Maria Jane Vandenberg while living in Washington and lived on the Vandenberg family farm, Reserve Hill, in Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
. Saegmuller was involved in many different scientific pursuits including road maintenance and water wheel
Water wheel
A water wheel is a machine for converting the energy of free-flowing or falling water into useful forms of power. A water wheel consists of a large wooden or metal wheel, with a number of blades or buckets arranged on the outside rim forming the driving surface...
pumps. He worked with Camill Fauth in the scientific equipment supply business.
Saegmuller invented or contributed to the development of a multitude of devices. He held more than 35 patents. His inventions include the solar attachment for engineering transits
Theodolite
A theodolite is a precision instrument for measuring angles in the horizontal and vertical planes. Theodolites are mainly used for surveying applications, and have been adapted for specialized purposes in fields like metrology and rocket launch technology...
, a new type of naval bore sight, and numerous telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
s and telescope mounts.
Saegmuller, as part of Fauth & Co., joined with Bausch & Lomb Optical Company
Bausch & Lomb
Bausch & Lomb, an American company based in Rochester, New York, is one of the world's leading suppliers of eye health products, such as contact lenses and lens care products today. In addition to this main activity, in recent years the area of medical technology has been developed...
in 1905.
He died on February 12, 1934 in Arlington, Virginia. He is buried in Columbia Gardens Cemetery
Columbia Gardens Cemetery
The Columbia Gardens Cemetery is a cemetery located in the Ashton Heights Historic District of Arlington, Virginia- The Cemetery :The Columbia Gardens Cemetery is located at the southern boundary of the Ashton Heights Historic District and is one of its most prominent features.The cemetery was...
.