Charles Holtzapffel

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Charles Holtzapffel
Born1806
Died1847
Occupation(s)Instrument maker, Author
Notable workTurning and Mechanical Manipulation
SuccessorAmelia Holtzapffel, John Jacob Holtzapffel II (son)
SpouseAmelia Holtzapffel
Children2
Parent
  • Jean-Jacques Holtzapfell anglicized to John Jacob (father)
Small Grinder. Charles Holtzapffel, John J. (John Jacob). Holtzapffel
Mark of Holtzapffel & Co. above the button on the pad of a plated brace

Charles Holtzapffel (1806-1847) was a mechanical engineer and technical writer and one of the Holtzapffel dynasty of tool and lathe makers. He wrote a five volume treatise called Turning and Mechanical Manipulation[1], which is considered a blueprint for ornamental turning, with over 3000 pages and 1600 illustrations[2].

Charles was the son of John Jacob Holtzapffel, originally from Alsace[3] who set up a tool-making partnership in Long Acre with Franic Rousset in 1793.[4]

Charles was educated in England.[5]

Business[edit]

Charles joined his father's firm, Holtzapfell & Co.[6] in 1827.[7] The firm was based at 64, Charing Cross Road, with manufacturing at 127 Long Acre. After his father died in 1835, [8] Charles continued to run the business. He also invented machinery for printing banknotes, lathes for cutting rosettes, and equipment for tracing shapes on glass[7][9] and introduced a new system of measures based on the decimal sub-division of the standard inch, as a replacement for the method of measuring with gauges.[7][9][10] A number of lathes and tools made by Charles are held at the Science Museum, London.[11]

Charles died of liver disease in 1847 at the age of 41.[12][13][14] His obituary was published in the Artizan journal[15] and the Gentleman's magazine.[16] By this time, Holtzapfell & Co. had sold about 1500 lathes.[9] After his death, his wife Amelia ran the business until 1853 and his son John Jacob II from 1867 to 1896.

Publications[edit]

In 1838 Charles published two books,[17][18] and in 1827 started writing Turning and Mechanical Manipulation.[1] The first two volumes were published in 1843[1],and the third published posthumously by Amelia in 1850.[19] The last two volumes were completed after his death by his son, John Jacob II. All 5 volumes are held by the Science Museum, London,[20] There is some evidence to suggest that Francis Ronalds assisted Charles in the early stages of preparing the treatise. Typeset sections survive of an unfinished "Turner's Manual" that Ronalds wrote in 1837 and there is marked similarity in the two prefaces and elsewhere. Ronalds and Charles also collaborated on developing lathe accessories.[21]

Charles also published a number of other books and pamphlets,[22][23][24] including one on printing apparatus, which is held by the Wellcome collection.[25]

Professional memberships[edit]

Member of the council of Institution of Civil Engineers.[7][26]

Chairman of the Mechanic's Committee of the Society of Arts.[26]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Holtzapffel, Charles (1850). Turning and mechanical manipulation intended as a work of general reference and practical instruction on the lathe, and the various mechanical pursuits followed by amateurs. Robarts - University of Toronto. London, Holtzapffel.
  2. ^ "A Brief History of Ornamental Turning". Internet Archive Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 2007-11-09.
  3. ^ Anderson, Robert Edward (1891). "Holtzapffel, Charles" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 27. p. 211.
  4. ^ "A Brief History of Ornamental Turning". 2007-11-09. Archived from the original on 2007-11-09.
  5. ^ "Record of Charles Holtzpaffel and Company". Archives Hub. Archived from the original on 2020-11-29.
  6. ^ "Holtzapffel and Co". Grace's Guide to British Industrial History. Archived from the original on 2012-12-25.
  7. ^ a b c d "Charles Holtzapffel - Graces Guide". www.gracesguide.co.uk.
  8. ^ "Holtzapffel and Co - Graces Guide". www.gracesguide.co.uk.
  9. ^ a b c "Ornamental Turning History: Victorian Era Turners: The Holtzapffel Family". 2008-07-03. Archived from the original on 2008-07-03.
  10. ^ Holtzapffel, Charles (1846). A new system of decimal gauges or measures for sheet metals, wires, and small manufactured articles generally : based on the decimal subdivision of the standard inch, including the exact decimal values of the gauges now principally used for these purposes in the mechanical arts : followed by the properties of metals, etc. Holtzapffel & Co. OCLC 1414704.
  11. ^ "Search our collection | Science Museum Group Collection". collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk.
  12. ^ "1848 Institution of Civil Engineers: Obituaries". Grace's Guide to British Industrial History. Archived from the original on 2016-02-18.
  13. ^ "Ornamental Turning History: Charles Holtzapffel". 2008-07-24. Archived from the original on 2008-07-24.
  14. ^ Holtzapffel, Charles (1806–1847). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 2017-11-28. doi:10.1093/odnb/9780192683120.013.13620.
  15. ^ "Death of Mr Holtzapffel". The Artizan: 108–109. 1847.
  16. ^ "The Gentleman's Magazine". The Gentleman's Magazine. 28: 213–214. 1847 – via Harvard University.
  17. ^ Holtzapffel, Charles (1838). A new system of scales of equal parts : applicable to various purposes of engineering, architectural and general science. Weale. OCLC 222844988.
  18. ^ A list of scales of equal parts, applicable to various purposes of engineering, architectural and general science. Published by John Weale, Architectural Library, 59, High Holborn. 1838. OCLC 701703151.
  19. ^ Holtzapffel, Charles (1850). Turning and Mechanical Manipulation Vol 3. Astragal Press. ISBN 1879335476.
  20. ^ "Five volumes Holtzapffel's turning etc. | Science Museum Group Collection". collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk.
  21. ^ Ronalds, B.F. (2016). Sir Francis Ronalds: Father of the Electric Telegraph. London: Imperial College Press. ISBN 978-1-78326-917-4.
  22. ^ Holtzapffel, Charles (2000). Iron & steel ; forging-hardening-tempering : instruction & advice from 1843. Caber Press. OCLC 69650588.
  23. ^ Holtzapffel, Charles (2000). Working horn, ivory & tortoiseshell. Caber Press. ISBN 1-887719-08-3. OCLC 836331306.
  24. ^ Holtzapffel, Charles (1853). The Handbook for the Artisan, Mechanic and Engineer. J.K.Collins. p. 483.
  25. ^ "Printing apparatus for the use of amateurs. Containing full and practical instructions for the use of Cowper's parlour printing press. Also the description of larger presses on the same principle, and various other aaparatus for the amateur typographer ... The pamphlet contains, likewise, numerous specimens of plain and ornamental types, brass rules, checks, borders, ornaments, corners, arms, &, &". Wellcome Collection.
  26. ^ a b "Records of Charles Holtzapffel and Company - Archives Hub". archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
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