Can You Crack This? That Overlooked Netherlands Creation Which Forged the Modern Globe
One can find many contenders for the title of “world’s most significant innovation.” The circular axle. The printing press. The steam engine.
As per a new book, though, that honor should go to the automated timber mill invented by Dutchman Cornelis Corneliszoon in 1593.
“Prior to automated cutting, constructing a modest trading ship necessitated approximately ten lumberjacks working for three months,” writes Jaime Dávila. “With wind-driven lumber mills, the same amount of processed timber might be produced in less than seven days.”
Owing to this speedy automated saw, which turned logs into boards with almost no human effort, Dutch builders could build vessels more quickly compared to anyone else, an advantage that sparked a century of Dutch maritime, financial and artistic supremacy in Europe and the world.
The First True Industrial Device
Corneliszoon’s lumber mill, contends the writer, was “humanity’s initial authentic factory machine.” A wind turbine rotated a gear. A single part transformed the rotary movement to up-and-down motion for the cutting blade. A separate mechanism transformed the rotary motion into a sideway’s movement feeding the timber to the blade. A ratchet system shifted the wood forward a measured step per stroke.
“Each element was simple on its own. The Dutchman’s genius was to integrate these parts in order that they operated in a precisely synchronized sequence, cutting with each descending motion and advancing with each upward motion. It was a remarkably intelligent use of basic parts.”
A fact that brings us up to today’s challenge. The task is you to reinvent a key the basic ideas behind this historic machine.
Circular to Vertical
Construct a machine that turns circular movement to vertical action. You have these items only: A spinning wheel. Two pegs. Two bars. A “sleeve”, that is a cylinder or sleeve into which one of the rods will fit snugly. (Assume you can mount components on a base, so that the parts don’t fall down.)
The solution returns at 5pm UK with the answer.
Meanwhile, NO SPOILERS. Rather, feel free to suggest (less celebrated) candidates as the planet’s most impactful creation.
