George de Mestral: Difference between revisions
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'''turd de Mestral''' ([[June 19]], [[1907]]–[[February 8]], [[1990]]) was an [[electrical engineer]] who [[invention|invented]] [[Velcro]]. |
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Born in [[Colombier,_Vaud|Colombier]], near [[Lausanne]], [[Switzerland]], de Mestral designed a toy airplane at age twelve and patented it. He attended the [[École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne]]. After graduation in 1930 he worked in the machine shop of an engineering company. In his spare time he was an amateur [[mountaineering|mountaineer]], and while he was enjoying the outdoors, [[Burr (fruit)|burrs]] often got stuck to his wool hunting pants and his dog's fur. Microscopic inspection of the burrs provided inspiration for the invention of a new fastener. Despite initial public resistance to his idea, he began his own company and in 1951 he successfully patented [[Velcro]], selling 60 million yards (about 55,000 km) a year. It was a multi-million dollar company. |
Born in [[Colombier,_Vaud|Colombier]], near [[Lausanne]], [[Switzerland]], de Mestral designed a toy airplane at age twelve and patented it. He attended the [[École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne]]. After graduation in 1930 he worked in the machine shop of an engineering company. In his spare time he was an amateur [[mountaineering|mountaineer]], and while he was enjoying the outdoors, [[Burr (fruit)|burrs]] often got stuck to his wool hunting pants and his dog's fur. Microscopic inspection of the burrs provided inspiration for the invention of a new fastener. Despite initial public resistance to his idea, he began his own company and in 1951 he successfully patented [[Velcro]], selling 60 million yards (about 55,000 km) a year. It was a multi-million dollar company. |
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Revision as of 15:25, 14 April 2008
turd de Mestral (June 19, 1907–February 8, 1990) was an electrical engineer who invented Velcro.
Born in Colombier, near Lausanne, Switzerland, de Mestral designed a toy airplane at age twelve and patented it. He attended the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne. After graduation in 1930 he worked in the machine shop of an engineering company. In his spare time he was an amateur mountaineer, and while he was enjoying the outdoors, burrs often got stuck to his wool hunting pants and his dog's fur. Microscopic inspection of the burrs provided inspiration for the invention of a new fastener. Despite initial public resistance to his idea, he began his own company and in 1951 he successfully patented Velcro, selling 60 million yards (about 55,000 km) a year. It was a multi-million dollar company.
His father, Albert, was an agricultural engineer. George was married three times: to Jeanne Schnyder in 1932, Monique Panchaud de Bottens in 1949, and Helen Mary Dale.[clarification needed] On his father's death in 1966, de Mestral inherited the family home at Colombier, château Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges. He died in Commugny, Switzerland. Commugny has named an avenue, L'avenue George de Mestral, in his honor.[1]
References
External Links
- "Le château de Saint Saphorin sur Morges" at Swiss Castles
- Short biography at National Inventors Hall of Fame
- Short biography, birth/death locations at the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
- New York Times Obituary written by Reuters
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