Magnus Volk FII (1851–1937) was a British-German inventor and pioneering electrical engineer.

He is most notable for having built Volk's Electric Railway, the world's oldest operating electric railway.[1]

Career

Aside from the Volk's Electric Railway, he also built the unique but short-lived Brighton and Rottingdean Seashore Electric Railway, together with its unusual Daddy Long Legs vehicle.[2] He also built another short-lived line, similar to the VER, in the pleasure grounds at Aston Hall, Birmingham.[1]

In 1887 he attracted attention in Brighton by building a three-wheeled electric carriage powered by an Immisch motor. In 1888 he built another electric car, this time a four-wheeled carriage which was made to the order of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire,[3] for which he was awarded an Order of Osmali, presented to Magnus by the Sultan in person whilst in Constantinople.[4]

Magnus Volk on his electric dog cart, 1897

Other projects of Magnus included inventing a fire-alarm system, early successful attempts at electricity in the home, telecommunications and installing electricity to the Royal Pavilion for the first time.[4]

A proof of concept model of the Daddy Long Legs built by Magnus Volk.
The Volk's Electric Railway still bears Magnus Volk's name

Personal life

Magnus Volk was the son of a German clockmaker and was born on 19 October 1851 in Brighton. He lived at 38 Dyke Road in Brighton. On 8 April 1879, he married Anna Banfield in Burgess Hill. George Herbert Volk, his second son, is noted as a pioneer builder of seaplanes, whilst another son, Conrad Volk, wrote a biography of his father.[4] His descendants include the musician Joe Volk and the journalist Scott Campbell.[5]

Magnus Volk died in Brighton on 20 May 1937, and is buried at St Wulfran's churchyard in Ovingdean near Brighton.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Jackson, Alan (1993). Volk's Railways Brighton. Plateway Press. ISBN 1-871980-18-6.
  2. ^ See Lee, Charles E., "Magnus Volk and His Railways," The Railway Magazine (UK), April 1942, at 116-17.
  3. ^ Georgano, G.N. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985).
  4. ^ a b c Volk, Conrad. Magnus Volk of Brighton. (London: Phillimore, 1971).
  5. ^ "Magnus Volk". Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  6. ^ Dale, Antony (1989). Brighton Churches. London: Routledge. p. 207. ISBN 0-415-00863-8.

Bibliography

  • Conrad Volk: Magnus Volk of Brighton. London & Chichester: Phillimore, 1971.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_Volk
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