Adolf Ludwig Franke

Biography

Adolf Franke was born on December 7th, 1865 and attended secondary school in Celle. His academic career first began at Heidelberg and then Berlin, where he received his doctorate in 1891 from the University of Berlin-Charlottenburg for "The electrical processes in the telephone lines and apparatus". Previously, he had occupied electrical courses in Hanover and as a research assistant at the telegraph engineering office of the Reich Post Office in.

In July 1896 he joined Siemens & Halske. Franke helped developed telecommunications and improve on Siemens' power engineering operations. The connection to the United States was achieved through his initiative. After the death Professor A. Raps, one of of his superiors, he took over in 1921 to become chief executive Siemens & Halske AG. In 1931 Franke moved to the Supervisory Board, where he was in charge of the summary of basic research.

Since 1896 Franke was employed with the development of many tasks, including communications technology, such as high-precision measuring, the electrical remote printer, and emerging wireless telegraphy technologies. The Telefunken Company Community (from the former Brown-Siemens and Slaby-Arco Group) was established in 1903, as well as the formation of both a German Operating company for wireless telegraphy (1911) as well as the company Transradio (1918).

Franke was involved in the construction of large radio parts Nauen (from 1906) and its opposite station in Sayville/Long Island, USA (1912) was Siemens-side in Franke's responsibility. In February of 1913, the first Sayville music was wirelessly sent to the German Atlantic steamship "George Washington," and from 1914 until the U.S. entry into the First World War in 1917, this was the communication link used between the two countries.

In addition to his technical and organizational tasks, Franke still found time to deal with issues of mass production in the art and the problems with engineering education. He was also significantly involved in the gradual development of a technical school for mechanics in Berlin, which then arose as Gaussian school in the twenties. Academic qualifications, entrepreneurial vision and organizational skills were emphasized by Franke.

Of the many honors that have been bestowed Franke, had received Honorary Doctorate from the Technische Hochschule Berlin-Charlottenburg in 1922, honorary senator of the TH Dresden and honorary citizen of the University of Karlsruhe. In 1926 he received the Siemens Stephan commemorative plate, 1930 Heinrich Hertz Medal (Bronze) and 1933 Gauss-Weber Medal.