Franz von Uchatius

Franz von Uchatius

Franz von Uchatius (1811–1881) was an Austrian artillery general and inventor. His inventions included both military applications and pioneer work in cinematography.

He invented a motion picture projector in 1853,[1] developing it over the years from 1845[2] from the device then called stroboscope (Simon von Stampfer)[3] and phenakistiscope (Joseph Plateau).[4] This was the first example of projected animation,[5] demonstrated in 1853;[6] it is also described as the combination of the zoetrope with the magic lantern.[7] It was called the kinetoscope,[8] a term later used by Thomas Edison (see kinetoscope). He applied it to lecture on ballistics.[9]

He worked also on a smokeless powder,[10] improved cannons and alloys (his steel bronze was a copper-tin alloy[11]), and a balloon bomb, used in 1849 against Venice,[12] sent up from a paddle steamer.[13] Uchatius steel was produced industrially, by mixing granulated iron with iron oxide.[14]

Notes

  1. Motion Pictures – The Invention Of Motion Pictures. Science.jrank.org. Retrieved on 18 December 2011.
  2. Film Principles Class Notes. Angelfire.com (10 April 2002). Retrieved on 18 December 2011.
  3. Adventures in CyberSound: Magic Machines: 1826 – 1875. Acmi.net.au. Retrieved on 18 December 2011.
  4. Adventures in CyberSound: von Uchatius, Franz. Acmi.net.au (21 January 1912). Retrieved on 18 December 2011.
  5. Chronology of Animation: Beginning
  6. Chronomedia: 1850–1854. Terramedia.co.uk (25 August 2008). Retrieved on 18 December 2011.
  7. An Historical Timeline of Computer Graphics and Animation. Sophia.javeriana.edu.co. Retrieved on 18 December 2011.
  8. Cartoons – The golden era, The television era. Filmreference.com. Retrieved on 18 December 2011.
  9. William Everdell, The First Moderns (1997), 13–14.
  10. Gunpowder – LoveToKnow 1911. 1911encyclopedia.org (16 March 2007). Retrieved on 18 December 2011.
  11. s:1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Bronze
  12. Important Events in Military Aeronautic History. Aerodacious.com (22 January 2006). Retrieved on 18 December 2011.
  13. WNYC – Books: Survival City: Adventures among the Ruins of Atomic America
  14. The Household Cyclopedia – Metallurgy. Mspong.org. Retrieved on 18 December 2011.

External links