Jacob Leupold

Jacob Leupold ( born July 22, 1674 Planitz; † January 12, 1727 in Leipzig ) was a German engineer established ( in the modern sense engineer), instrument maker and author of the technical encyclopedia Theatrum Machinarum ( 1724-1727 ), known as the " last great German -language summary of the entire machinery matters before the arrival of the new engines and machines " applies.

• 3.1 Primary Sources
• 3.2 secondary literature

Life and career

Jacob Leupold came on July 22, 1674, the son of the craftsman George Leupold († 1707) and his wife Magdalena to the world. Already in early childhood Jacob Leupold received from his father, a carpenter, turner, watchmaker and sculptor, was a sound technical training.

Due to his physical frailty and therefore bad conditions for the profession of the craftsman his father to finance his next of that training private school decided and sent him thereafter to the Latin school in Zwickau. After he had to cancel due to financial constraints the study of theology at Jena and Wittenberg, respectively, was taken in 1696 with no enrollment fee in Leipzig. Up to this time he had already deepened his scientific knowledge by Jena in the lectures of the famous astronomer and mathematician Erhard Weigel attended among others and dealt in Wittenberg with the math library by Professor Martin Knorre.

His livelihood, he played through tutoring both for students as well as for contractors. In the course of this activity he made various technical means by which he could illustrate physical problem cases experimentally. The success of this procedure Leupold moved in 1699 to abandon the study and completely turn to the mechanics. Encouraged by the remark of his teacher Seeligmann, preacher there would be enough in Leipzig, to artists but lack reign, he founded a workshop in Leipzig.

In 1701, Jacob Leupold took a job as a householder (caretaker ) and an economist at St. George's hospital, which secured him a steady income and at the same time leaving sufficient time for the study of the mechanics. In the same year he married Anna Elisabeth Tyck, by whom he had three sons and three daughters, all of whom died down to the youngest daughter in the early years. After the death of Anna Elizabeth (1713/1714) he took in 1715 to his second wife Maria Gotthun to his wife. At this time he gave up his job at the hospital and enlarged his workshop to a mechanical Fabrique, where he employed skilled workers as Rotgießer, locksmith and blacksmith circle.

Leupold's efforts to be hired as a Mechanicus at the University of Leipzig, failed because the rustic craftsmen probably men casting their veto from fear of competition locally. Due to the quality of its work and publications Leupold came in contact with renowned scientists as the scholar Christian Freiherr von Wolff and in 1715 was elected a member of the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences. 1719 he was appointed Prussian [ Commerce ]. In addition, his work took a lot of attention abroad. Thus invited him repeatedly to St. Petersburg, for example, Peter the Great, but what Leupold refused.

1720 Leupold announced in a prospectus to be projects of a technical encyclopaedia as perfect message of which the mechanical journals or Theatro Machinarum Universali to; the financing of this project was ensured by the Emperor Charles VI. , the rulers Augustus the Strong and the Academy of Sciences. In 1725 he was royal Saxon Council and mine Commissioner. In carrying out these activities, he made ​​numerous trips in the Ore Mountains, where he planned to set up a power house for teaching purposes at Oberbergamt Freiberg in Saxony and the construction of a mining and mechanic school in Leipzig. The realization of these plans prevented his death on January 12, 1727 at the age of 52 years.

Works

Inventions (selection)

Before Jacob Leupold dealt with the technical writing his encyclopedia, he stepped out through a variety of work. Already in 1705, he developed his first air pump. In addition, his workshop offered a wide range of mechanical devices such as measuring instruments of all kinds and fire engines. A large number of the offer were their own inventions or improvements of existing machines. Of particular note are the following two designs:

• A high -pressure reciprocating steam engine with two cylinders ( 1725)
• A decimal -working four -species calculator with concentrically arranged gear elements ( 1727)

Leupold was characterized to be a mechanic craft in contemporary understanding, but to create his equipment on a modern scientific basis and in the form of labor.

Technical Encyclopedia Theatrum Machinarum

After the publication of the technical encyclopedia Theatrum Machinarum had announced in 1720 with the objective to develop an encyclopedic summary of the contemporary state of the art, he traveled at home and abroad to gather a comprehensive collection of technical literature.

In 1724 the first volume Theatrum Machinarum generals or venue of the reason mechanical sciences at the Leipzig publisher Gleditsch appeared. In the preface Leupold calls the target audience of the work. He stressed that his remarks " mainly not directed to scholars and erfahrne Mathematicos, ( but that ) all have an opportunity to those thereof fonts available to use." In the next three years (until 1727) published Leupold further seven volumes, with over 430 engraved plates. A further 20 parts should follow through to completion of the encyclopedia. Due to his death, he could not complete his work.

The Theatrum Machinarum set standards for future customer machines. In addition to the written submissions made numerous drawings illustrate the operations. Because Leupold drew up the technical terms in German and Latin language and clearly defined, he made ​​an important contribution to the development of a German technical terminology. He also has the merit to have developed the technical theories of his predecessors.

Leupold's work was driven by a strong utilitarianism, as his machine designs of raising the welfare of the country should serve primarily for him. His main goal was not the higher theory claim, but the effectiveness and possible economically sensible construction and operation of its equipment.

Another important aspect of his work are his writings on the engineering profession. Leupold no longer understood among the military engineer, but the civil engineer. The Outstanding here is the subdivision of those who deal with mechanics, in three different groups of people:

• The Theoreticus, which deals with the theoretical development of mechanics,
• The Practicus, which shows itself responsible for the construction of machines and
• The Empiricus that operates the machine.

This distinction was pioneering at the time. In this sense, Leupold understood itself as Practicus.

• Vol 1 Theatrum Machinarum generals. Or the scene of Des ground mechanical knowledge managed. 1724. ( Digitized and full text in German Text Archive )
• Vol 2 Theatrum Machinarum Hydrotechnicarum. Show - place of the water - works of art. 1724.
• Vol 3 Theatrum Machinarum Hydraulicarum, Or: Look - place of the water - Arts. Th 1.2., 1724-1725.
• Vol 4 Theatrum Machinarum, Or: Look - square midwifery tools. 1725th
• Vol 5 Staticum Theatrum Universale.
• Vol 5.1. Theatrum Staticum, which is: show - place of the weight - art and scales. In 1726. ( Digitized edition )
• Vol 5.2. Theatrum Hydrostaticum, Or: Look - square WissenSchafftBilder and instruments for water - weigh. In 1726. ( Digitized edition )
• Vol 5.3. Theatrum Aerostaticum, Or: Look Square The Machines At Abwiegung and monitoring of all distinguished optional attribute the Lufft. In 1726. ( Digitized edition )
• Vol 5.4. Theatrum Horizontostaticum Immersive Libellationis, Or: Look - place away from water and horizontal scales. In 1726. ( Digitized edition )
• Vol 6 Theatrum pontificiale, or show - place of bridges and bridge - building. In 1726.
• Vol 7 Theatrum Arithmetico - Geometricum, That is: Look - space of the computing and measuring art. 1727th

• Vol 8 Theatri Machinarvm Svpplementvm This is addition to the show - place of the machines and instruments; compiled by Joachim Ernst Scheffler on the basis of posthumous writings Leupold ( 1739 ).
• Vol 9 Theatrum Machinarum molarium, or scene of mill architecture: the neundte part of the seel. Mr Jacob Leupold Theatro Machinarum. New edition increased Walther, Dresden 1767th Digitized edition of the University and State Library Dusseldorf Vol 9.1. Theatrum Machinarum Molarium, or show - place of the Mills - construction art. The other part of the show - place of the Mills - construction art, or core of the mills - law; written by Johann Matthias Beyer and addition ( 1735).
• Vol 9.1. New presumably edition 1767
• Vol 9.2. The other part of the show - place of the Mills - construction art, or core of the mills - law; moved from Wolffgang Deer ( 1735).
• Vol 9.2. New presumably edition 1767
• Vol 9.3. Johann Matthias Beyer's Theatrum Machinarum Molarium, or show - place of the Mills Building Art; written by Johann Matthias Beyer (1788 )
• Vol 9.3. New presumably edition 1788