Bollée, Léon

Contenu

Nom
Bollée, Léon
Date de naissance
1. 4. 1870
Date de mort
16. 12. 1913
Lieu de naissance
Le Mans
Lieu de mort
Le Mans
Couverture temporelle
1888-1913
Couverture spatiale
Le Mans
Biographie
The second son of Amédée Bollée the elder (1814-1917), the noted bell-founder at Le Mans who also developed hydraulic rams, eolian wind-generators and a long series of steam cars and trams, Léon Bollée devised and constructed between February and April 1888 the first calculating machine in which multiplication was mechanically represented. He thus laid the foundation of calculating machines for the next two generations. Of an inventive turn he had already at the age of thirteen in 1883 obtained a patent for an unsinkable water bicycle which was used by Digby to cross the English Channel. Several models preceeded his large calculating machine of 1888 and the design was refined at least up to 1892. Although various Bollée machines were manufactured, his attention was distracted by his father's automobile business and by early aeronautics from developing a large scale production (1).
Notes biographiques
1 Martin, 98-103. For his family baqckground Bollée, which illustrates (final page) an elaborate cast sun-dial in the rue R. Triger, Le Mans.
Exposition année ; ville ; type ; récompense
1889: Paris : Universal: Gold medal
Brevet
1883: Unsinkable aquatic bicycle.
Identifiant
870
ark:/18469/1sr76