Gustav Wittfeld

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Gustav Wittfeld (* 27. October 1855 in Aachen ; † 24. September 1923 in Berlin ) was a German mechanical engineering - engineering and Prussian construction officer, Mr .

Childhood and school education

As the son of an Aachen cloth manufacturer, Gustav Wittfeld received general schooling until he passed the exam at the age of 17. In preparation for his studies, he then took a job as an intern at the A. Moser mechanical engineering factory in his hometown.

Studies and career entry

In 1874 Wittfeld began studying at the Royal Rhenish-Westphalian Polytechnic School in Aachen and finished his studies in 1878 with an examination as a site foreman in mechanical engineering. In between, Wittfeld acquired knowledge in the then still new field of electrical engineering through self-study . He then drove for three months - according to another source until 1881 - as a stoker on a locomotive and then got a job with the Main-Weser Railway .

In 1883 Wittfeld passed his second state examination. For his achievements he received a grant from the Prussian Minister of Public Works , with which he could finance longer study trips. The Centralblatt reported the following to the building administration :

“In recognition of the proficient knowledge and achievements presented in the second state examination in the construction and engineering subject in the financial year 1883/84, the Minister of Public Works, on our proposal, gave the 4 government builders: (...) and the government engineer Gustav Wittfeld from Aachen scholarships of 1,800 marks each for larger study trips, for more complete training for their profession. "

Worked in the Royal Railway Directorate in Berlin

In 1884 Wittfeld was appointed government builder ( Assessor ) and was involved in the mechanical engineering office on the construction of Frankfurt Central Station with the design and implementation of mechanical systems. In 1890 he went to Dortmund, where he worked for a year in the central car workshop. He was then transferred to the Royal Railway Directorate in Berlin and appointed Royal Railway Inspector in January 1892.

In the department for the construction and procurement of locomotives , Wittfeld was significantly involved in the work on the Prussian standard parts for locomotive construction.

At Wittfeld's suggestion, the railway administration and the AEG began in 1902 with attempts to use single-phase alternating current for traction purposes instead of the three-phase and direct current preferred at the time . This happened until 1906 on the 4.1 km long suburban line Niederschöneweide-Spindlersfeld (near Berlin) with 6 kV and 25 Hz. This technology was then continued with the electrification of the Hamburg-Altona urban and suburban railway , in which Wittfeld also participated was.

In 1904, the two test steam locomotives "Altona 561 and Altona 562" with streamlined cladding and a front cab were created based on a tender by the Association of German Engineers (VDI) with Wittfeld's leading participation in cooperation with chief engineer Kuhn from the company Henschel & Sohn . After these vehicles had proven to be a costly failure, Wittfeld worked again on the electric train transport and was instrumental in the design of the early Prussian electric locomotives , e.g. B. ES 1 to ES 3 .

In 1907 he had five three-axle compartment passenger cars converted into accumulator railcars, which proved themselves in use on the routes around Mainz . At the same time, Wittfeld worked intensively on the development of the new type AT 3 accumulator railcars , which were later referred to as Wittfeld accumulator railcars. These were last used by the Deutsche Bundesbahn until 1962.

Promotions and Honors

As a result of these efforts, Wittfeld was promoted to the secret senior building officer in 1908.

In 1913 Gustav Wittfeld was awarded the Red Eagle Order II. Class with Oak Leaves and the Royal Crown by the Prussian King, and in March 1917 the Commander's Cross II. Class of the Grand Ducal Hessian Order of Merit of Philip the Magnanimous .

In 1917 the Technische Hochschule (Berlin-) Charlottenburg awarded him an honorary doctorate (Dr.-Ing. E. h.) For his work on the electrification of railway lines and vehicles “in recognition of his outstanding services to the development of electrical operations for full and Branch lines and about the economic utilization of fuels ” .

In 1918 he was promoted to the Really Secret Senior Building Officer , and in 1920 Gustav Wittfeld retired.

In the end, Wittfeld, in poor health, chose suicide.

According to him, which is Wittfeld street in the district of Berlin-Staaken named.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Text in: Historical personalities in Berlin cemeteries
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g Wittfeldstrasse. In: Street name lexicon of the Luisenstädtischer Bildungsverein (near  Kaupert )
  3. ↑ Centralblatt der Bauverwaltung , 4th year 1884, No. 29 (from July 19, 1884) p. 293.
  4. ↑ Zentralblatt der Bauverwaltung , Volume 28, 1908, No. 17 (from February 29, 1908) p. 117.
  5. ↑ Zentralblatt der Bauverwaltung , 33rd year 1913, No. 46 (from June 11, 1913) p. 302.
  6. ↑ Zentralblatt der Bauverwaltung , Volume 37, 1917, No. 25 (from March 24, 1917) p. 157.
  7. ↑ Zentralblatt der Bauverwaltung , Volume 38, 1918, No. 1/2 (from January 2, 1918) p. 8.
  8. ↑ Zentralblatt der Bauverwaltung , Volume 38, 1918, No. 21 (from March 9, 1918) p. 97.
  9. ↑ Zentralblatt der Bauverwaltung , Volume 40, 1920, No. 99 (from December 11, 1920) p. 617.
personal data
SURNAME Wittfeld, Gustav
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German mechanical engineer and Prussian construction officer
DATE OF BIRTH October 27, 1855
PLACE OF BIRTH Aachen
DATE OF DEATH September 24, 1923
Place of death Berlin