Are You Able to Solve It? The Overlooked Dutch Invention Which Forged our Modern World
One can find numerous candidates for the designation as “world’s most significant invention.” The wheel. The printing press. The combustion motor.
According to a recent publication, though, that honor should go to a automated sawmill invented by Dutchman Corneliszoon van Uitgeest in 1593.
“Before mechanised cutting, constructing a simple trading ship required approximately 10 lumberjacks laboring for three months,” writes Jaime Dávila. “Using wind-powered sawmills, the same quantity of cut lumber might be produced within seven days.”
Thanks to this rapid mechanical cutter, that turned logs to boards using virtually no human effort, the Dutch could build vessels more quickly compared to any other nation, an advantage that unleashed one hundred years of Netherlands naval, financial as well as cultural dominance across the continent and the world.
The Original True Manufacturing Machine
Corneliszoon’s sawmill, contends Dávila, was “mankind’s first true industrial apparatus.” A windmill rotated a wheel. A single part transformed the circular movement to vertical motion to power the cutting blade. Another component transformed that same spinning movement into a sideway’s motion feeding the log toward the cutter. A ratchet system moved the wood forward a measured step per cycle.
“Each element was modest by itself. Corneliszoon’s genius was to integrate them so the machine acted within a perfectly controlled order, sawing with each downward stroke while advancing on every return motion. It was a remarkably intelligent application of basic parts.”
A fact that brings us to today’s challenge. I’d like you to reimagine one of the fundamental concepts behind this historic machine.
Circular to Vertical
Construct a mechanism that turns rotary movement to vertical action. Your available these components only: A spinning wheel. Two pins. Two rods. A “sleeve”, that is a tube or housing into which one of the rods can slide perfectly. (Consider that it is possible to mount components on a stand, so the components don’t fall down.)
I’ll be back at 5pm UK with the answer.
In the interim, NO SPOILERS. Rather, please propose (non obvious) contenders as the world’s greatest invention.
