John Adolphus Etzler (1791–1846?) was a German engineer and inventor who immigrated to the United States in 1831 with a vision of creating a technological utopia. He was traveling with a group from Prussia, who included younger engineers John A. Roebling and his brother Carl.
Because of disagreements, the group broke up. Etzler and most of the group first settled near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[1] In the early 1840s Etzler and several dozen of his followers moved to the tropics, to set up utopian communities to use his inventions in Venezuela and Trinidad. He believed his inventions could work off natural forces and avoid human labor. Their efforts failed and many people died. Etzler survived but disappeared from the record.[2]
In 1833 in Pittsburgh, Etzler published his best-known work, a prospectus titled The Paradise within the Reach of all Men. It outlined detailed, visionary plans to harness the energy of wind, water and sun to benefit mankind.[3] This followed the 1829 publication in France of Charles Fourier's Le Nouveau Monde, which had offered a vision of cooperative society. It inspired a number of communities.[2]
Etzel believed that contemporary technology was sufficient, if only slightly developed and astutely applied, to bring about an earthly paradise of effortless plenty within a matter of a few years. He occasionally was able to gain sufficient financial backing and supporters to make a go at turning some of his inventions into reality. He developed blueprints for what he described as a Naval Automaton, to be powered by ocean waves. Another plan was to create a floating island to be powered by windmills after fertile soil had been built up.[2]
Etzel hoped for a revolution in agriculture, to be based on his most ambitious work, known as the "Satellite". It was a general-purpose cultivation tool to be propelled using ropes that would transmit power from a stationary source powered by wind. Theoretically it could be applied to "plow, cut down trees, level a field, dig ditches and canals, and for many other uses."[2] Designed as the size of a modern cargo container, the device proved impractical and could not be produced. (In the 21st century, standard intermodal containers are 8ft (2.43m) wide, 8.5ft (2.59m) high and come in two lengths; 20ft (6.06m) and 40ft (12.2m).)
In the early 1840s, Etzler and several dozen of his more committed followers planned to move to South America. They intended to set up colonies in Venezuela and Trinidad that would be based on his labor-saving inventions. But the plans were insufficient and poorly implemented. The European Americans died of tropical diseases and starvation. The colonies failed, and there were bitter recriminations. Etzler survived but his spirit was crushed, and he disappeared from the records. But his vision of a world freed from labor through automated devices has had great persistence.
The two Roebling brothers bought land further away and established Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, planning a Prussian colony. It did not succeed although they farmed for a time. Carl Roebling died in 1837. John Roebling returned to engineering and became known for inventing wire cable and a way to produce it, in addition to his designs for numerous suspension bridges. He designed three in Pittsburgh. His most famous work is the Brooklyn Bridge, which construction his son Washington Roebling and his wife Emily Warren Roebling supervised after the father's death in 1869.
Worksedit
The Paradise within the Reach of all Men, without Labor, by Powers of Nature and Machinery: An Address to all intelligent men, in two parts (1833)
Machinery (1833)
The New World or Mechanical System (1841)
Description of the Naval Automaton, Invented by J. A. Etzler (1841?2?)
Dialogue on Etzler's Paradise: Between Messrs. Clear, Flat, Dunce, and Grudge (1842)
Emigration to the Tropical World, for the Melioration of All Classes of People of All Nations (1844)
Two Visions of J. A. Etzler (1844)
Patentsedit
Mode of Propelling Locomotives by Stationary Power
Navigating and Propelling Vessels by the Action of the Wind and Waves
^Thoreau, Henry David; Lewis Hyde (2002). The Essays of Henry D. Thoreau. Macmillan. p. 321.
^ abcdGranados, José A. Tapia (July–August 2009). "Review: 'The Great Delusion—A Mad Inventor, Death in the Tropics, and the Utopian Origins of Economic Growth' by Steven Stoll". Challenge. Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 52 (4): 109–113. doi:10.2753/0577-5132520408. JSTOR 40722593. S2CID 219306827. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
^Ferkiss, Victor (1933). Nature, Technology, and Society: The Cultural Roots of the Current Environmental Crisis. NYU Press. pp. 80. ISBN0-8147-2617-8.
Further readingedit
Stoll, Steven (2009). The Great Delusion: A Mad Inventor, Death in the Tropics, and the Utopian Origins of Economic Growth. Macmillan. ISBN978-0-8090-5172-4.
External linksedit
Madrigal, Alexis (March 24, 2010). . greentechhistory.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
December 18, 2023
john, adolphus, etzler, 1791, 1846, german, engineer, inventor, immigrated, united, states, 1831, with, vision, creating, technological, utopia, traveling, with, group, from, prussia, included, younger, engineers, john, roebling, brother, carl, because, disagr. John Adolphus Etzler 1791 1846 was a German engineer and inventor who immigrated to the United States in 1831 with a vision of creating a technological utopia He was traveling with a group from Prussia who included younger engineers John A Roebling and his brother Carl Because of disagreements the group broke up Etzler and most of the group first settled near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 1 In the early 1840s Etzler and several dozen of his followers moved to the tropics to set up utopian communities to use his inventions in Venezuela and Trinidad He believed his inventions could work off natural forces and avoid human labor Their efforts failed and many people died Etzler survived but disappeared from the record 2 Contents 1 Time in the US 2 Move to the tropics 3 The Roeblings 4 Works 4 1 Patents 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksTime in the US editIn 1833 in Pittsburgh Etzler published his best known work a prospectus titled The Paradise within the Reach of all Men It outlined detailed visionary plans to harness the energy of wind water and sun to benefit mankind 3 This followed the 1829 publication in France of Charles Fourier s Le Nouveau Monde which had offered a vision of cooperative society It inspired a number of communities 2 Etzel believed that contemporary technology was sufficient if only slightly developed and astutely applied to bring about an earthly paradise of effortless plenty within a matter of a few years He occasionally was able to gain sufficient financial backing and supporters to make a go at turning some of his inventions into reality He developed blueprints for what he described as a Naval Automaton to be powered by ocean waves Another plan was to create a floating island to be powered by windmills after fertile soil had been built up 2 Etzel hoped for a revolution in agriculture to be based on his most ambitious work known as the Satellite It was a general purpose cultivation tool to be propelled using ropes that would transmit power from a stationary source powered by wind Theoretically it could be applied to plow cut down trees level a field dig ditches and canals and for many other uses 2 Designed as the size of a modern cargo container the device proved impractical and could not be produced In the 21st century standard intermodal containers are 8ft 2 43m wide 8 5ft 2 59m high and come in two lengths 20ft 6 06m and 40ft 12 2m Move to the tropics editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed September 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message In the early 1840s Etzler and several dozen of his more committed followers planned to move to South America They intended to set up colonies in Venezuela and Trinidad that would be based on his labor saving inventions But the plans were insufficient and poorly implemented The European Americans died of tropical diseases and starvation The colonies failed and there were bitter recriminations Etzler survived but his spirit was crushed and he disappeared from the records But his vision of a world freed from labor through automated devices has had great persistence The Roeblings editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed September 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message The two Roebling brothers bought land further away and established Saxonburg Pennsylvania planning a Prussian colony It did not succeed although they farmed for a time Carl Roebling died in 1837 John Roebling returned to engineering and became known for inventing wire cable and a way to produce it in addition to his designs for numerous suspension bridges He designed three in Pittsburgh His most famous work is the Brooklyn Bridge which construction his son Washington Roebling and his wife Emily Warren Roebling supervised after the father s death in 1869 Works editThe Paradise within the Reach of all Men without Labor by Powers of Nature and Machinery An Address to all intelligent men in two parts 1833 Machinery 1833 The New World or Mechanical System 1841 Description of the Naval Automaton Invented by J A Etzler 1841 2 Dialogue on Etzler s Paradise Between Messrs Clear Flat Dunce and Grudge 1842 Emigration to the Tropical World for the Melioration of All Classes of People of All Nations 1844 Two Visions of J A Etzler 1844 Patents edit Mode of Propelling Locomotives by Stationary Power Navigating and Propelling Vessels by the Action of the Wind and WavesSee also editParadise to be Regained Henry David Thoreau s critique of Etzler s techno utopianismReferences edit Thoreau Henry David Lewis Hyde 2002 The Essays of Henry D Thoreau Macmillan p 321 a b c d Granados Jose A Tapia July August 2009 Review The Great Delusion A Mad Inventor Death in the Tropics and the Utopian Origins of Economic Growth by Steven Stoll Challenge Taylor amp Francis Ltd 52 4 109 113 doi 10 2753 0577 5132520408 JSTOR 40722593 S2CID 219306827 Retrieved 23 March 2021 Ferkiss Victor 1933 Nature Technology and Society The Cultural Roots of the Current Environmental Crisis NYU Press pp 80 ISBN 0 8147 2617 8 Further reading editStoll Steven 2009 The Great Delusion A Mad Inventor Death in the Tropics and the Utopian Origins of Economic Growth Macmillan ISBN 978 0 8090 5172 4 External links editMadrigal Alexis March 24 2010 Utopianism Etzler and Technology s Impact on Democracy Powering the Dream greentechhistory com Archived from the original on October 8 2011 Retrieved May 24 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Adolphus Etzler amp oldid 1166966490, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
