Can You Crack It? That Overlooked Netherlands Creation That Shaped the Contemporary Globe
There are many contenders for the designation as “planet’s most significant invention.” The circular axle. The printing press. The combustion motor.
As per a new book, however, that title belongs to the automated timber mill conceived by Dutchman Cornelis Corneliszoon in 1593.
“Before automated cutting, constructing a simple merchant vessel required around 10 sawyers working over three months,” writes the author. “With wind-driven sawmills, the same amount of processed timber could be produced in less than seven days.”
Owing to this speedy automated cutter, which turned logs to boards using virtually no human effort, Dutch builders were able to construct ships faster compared to anyone else, which unleashed one hundred years of Netherlands naval, economic and cultural dominance across the continent and the globe.
The Original Genuine Manufacturing Machine
Corneliszoon’s sawmill, argues the writer, represented “humanity’s initial authentic factory machine.” A windmill turned a gear. A single part transformed its circular movement into vertical motion for the saw. A separate mechanism changed the spinning motion into a sideway’s motion advancing the log to the blade. A ratchet system moved the log ahead one precise increment each stroke.
“Every component was modest on its own. Corneliszoon’s genius lay in how to integrate them in order that the machine operated in a perfectly controlled order, cutting with each descending motion while advancing on every upward motion. This constituted a remarkably intelligent use of basic components.”
Which leads us up to today’s puzzle. I’d like for you to reinvent one of the basic concepts behind this historic machine.
Round and Up
Construct a mechanism that turns rotary movement to vertical action. You have these items only: A spinning wheel. Two pins. Two rods. A “guide”, which is a tube or housing through which a single the rods will fit snugly. (Consider that it is possible to put things on a base, so the components don’t fall down.)
The solution returns later today UK time with the solution.
Meanwhile, NO SPOILERS. Rather, feel free to suggest (less celebrated) contenders as the world’s greatest invention.
