Are You Able to Solve It? That Forgotten Dutch Invention That Shaped the Contemporary World
One can find numerous candidates to claim the title of “world’s greatest invention.” The circular axle. The printing press. The steam engine.
According to a recent publication, however, that title should go to a automated sawmill invented by Dutchman Cornelis Corneliszoon in 1593.
“Prior to automated sawing, building a simple trading ship required approximately ten lumberjacks laboring for 90 days,” writes the author. “Using wind-powered lumber mills, an identical quantity of processed timber could be produced within a week.”
Thanks to this speedy automated saw, that converted timber to boards with virtually no human effort, the Dutch could construct vessels faster than anyone else, which unleashed a century of Dutch maritime, financial and artistic dominance in Europe and the globe.
The Original Genuine Industrial Machine
Corneliszoon’s sawmill, contends the writer, represented “humanity’s initial authentic industrial machine.” A wind turbine turned a wheel. One component transformed the rotary movement to vertical motion for the cutting blade. A separate mechanism transformed the rotary movement into a sideway’s movement advancing the timber toward the cutter. A geared mechanism moved the wood ahead one precise increment per stroke.
“Each element was simple by itself. The Dutchman’s genius lay in how to integrate them so they acted within a precisely synchronized order, cutting with each downward motion while advancing on every return motion. It was an astonishingly intelligent application of fundamental components.”
A fact that brings us to today’s puzzle. The task is for you to reinvent one of the fundamental concepts underpinning Corneliszoon’s machine.
Circular to Vertical
Construct a mechanism that turns rotary motion to vertical action. You have these items only: A rotating disc. Two pins. Two rods. A “sleeve”, which is a tube or sleeve through which a single the bars will fit snugly. (Consider that it is possible to put things on a base, so that the components don’t collapse.)
I’ll be back at 5pm UK with the answer.
In the interim, PLEASE NO HINTS. Rather, please suggest (less celebrated) candidates as the planet’s greatest creation.
