That sounds vaguely similar to an anecdote about Hiram Maxim. Though the Maxim machinegun became his best known invention, he didn't see himself as a gunmaker, but as an inventor.
Maxim, a longtime sufferer of bronchitis, patented and manufactured a pocket menthol inhaler and a larger "Pipe of Peace", a steam inhaler using pine vapour, that he claimed could relieve asthma, tinnitus, hay fever and catarrh. Criticised for applying his talents to quackery, he protested that "it will be seen that it is a very creditable thing to invent a killing machine, and nothing less than a disgrace to invent an apparatus to prevent human suffering".
He also invented a curling iron, an apparatus for demagnetising watches, magno-electric machines, devices to prevent the rolling of ships, eyelet and riveting machines, aircraft artillery, an aerial torpedo gun, coffee substitutes, and various oil, steam, and gas engines.
A large furniture factory had repeatedly burned down, and Maxim was consulted on how to prevent a recurrence. As a result, Maxim invented the first automatic fire sprinkler. It would douse the areas that were on fire, and it would report the fire to the fire station. Maxim was unable to sell the idea elsewhere, but when the patent expired the idea was used.
Maxim developed and installed the first electric lights in a New York City building (the Equitable Life Building (New York City) at 120 Broadway) in the late 1870s.
Maxim was reported to have said: "In 1882 I was in Vienna, where I met an American whom I had known in the States. He said: "Maxim, hang your electrical machines!" he said. "If you wish to make your everlasting fortune and pile up gold by the ton, invent a killing machine, something that will enable these Europeans to cut each other's throats with greater facility - that is what they want."
And the rest, as they say, is history. Given the period, Europeans were killing each other by the bushel anyway, so the "Maxim Gun" (in various forms) sold by the wagonload to all parties.
Also used with great effect by the various colonialist powers from Africa to Araby, from China to Burma, and all parts in between. The bright shining promise of the 19th century arrived clean and oiled and ready to bring civilization to the wogs. And it did. “Whatever happens, we have got, the Maxim gun, and they have not.” - Hilaire Belloc
Although Maxim himself never made any claim to jewish heritage...:
[ + ] BulletStopper
[ - ] BulletStopper 4 points 1.3 yearsMar 11, 2024 20:55:37 ago (+4/-0)*
Maxim, a longtime sufferer of bronchitis, patented and manufactured a pocket menthol inhaler and a larger "Pipe of Peace", a steam inhaler using pine vapour, that he claimed could relieve asthma, tinnitus, hay fever and catarrh. Criticised for applying his talents to quackery, he protested that "it will be seen that it is a very creditable thing to invent a killing machine, and nothing less than a disgrace to invent an apparatus to prevent human suffering".
He also invented a curling iron, an apparatus for demagnetising watches, magno-electric machines, devices to prevent the rolling of ships, eyelet and riveting machines, aircraft artillery, an aerial torpedo gun, coffee substitutes, and various oil, steam, and gas engines.
A large furniture factory had repeatedly burned down, and Maxim was consulted on how to prevent a recurrence. As a result, Maxim invented the first automatic fire sprinkler. It would douse the areas that were on fire, and it would report the fire to the fire station. Maxim was unable to sell the idea elsewhere, but when the patent expired the idea was used.
Maxim developed and installed the first electric lights in a New York City building (the Equitable Life Building (New York City) at 120 Broadway) in the late 1870s.
Maxim was reported to have said: "In 1882 I was in Vienna, where I met an American whom I had known in the States. He said: "Maxim, hang your electrical machines!" he said. "If you wish to make your everlasting fortune and pile up gold by the ton, invent a killing machine, something that will enable these Europeans to cut each other's throats with greater facility - that is what they want."
And the rest, as they say, is history. Given the period, Europeans were killing each other by the bushel anyway, so the "Maxim Gun" (in various forms) sold by the wagonload to all parties.
Also used with great effect by the various colonialist powers from Africa to Araby, from China to Burma, and all parts in between.
The bright shining promise of the 19th century arrived clean and oiled and ready to bring civilization to the wogs. And it did.
“Whatever happens, we have got, the Maxim gun, and they have not.” - Hilaire Belloc
Although Maxim himself never made any claim to jewish heritage...:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GGA6IW9XgAARR_p?format=jpg&name=large
...in one account of the conversation, he did identify the fellow he met at the industry expo in Vienna as a jew he had known previously in the US.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GGA6S8XWcAAhX79?format=jpg&name=medium
So. TLDR? One was, one wasn't.
[ + ] Ragnar
[ - ] Ragnar 1 point 1.3 yearsMar 11, 2024 23:58:59 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] Sector2
[ - ] Sector2 0 points 1.3 yearsMar 11, 2024 20:06:30 ago (+0/-0)