Person
Klaphake, Wolf (1900 - 1967)
- Born
- 1900
Germany - Died
- 1967
Australia - Occupation
- Inventor and Chemist
Summary
Wolf Klaphake was a German-born scientist who emigrated to Australia in 1935 to begin work on a dew condenser. This machine could generate water by condensing atmospheric humidity, which would be invaluable in Australia. South Australia was the first to consider Klaphake's proposal, but once costed, the proposal to establish a condenser at Cook in the Nullarbor was aborted. Klaphake decided to switch his focus to the development of a process for fermenting of household garbage. However this was cut short, when in 1940 to 1944 he was interned as an 'enemy alien'. This internment led to sever depression and health problems. When he was finally released, Klaphake bought a property in Sydney and set up his own laboratory where he continued to invent. He eventually made a living out of manufacturing toilet cleaner and gained Australian citizenship.
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Published resources
Resources
- Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q8029855. Details
- VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/8884151248014244270009. Details
- 'Klaphake, Wolf (1900-1967)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1473301. Details
Resource Sections
- Neumann, Klaus, 'A Doubtful Character - Wolf Klaphake', in Uncommon Lives, http://uncommonlives.naa.gov.au/life.asp?lID=1. Details
Annette Alafaci
Created: 9 May 2006, Last modified: 7 February 2011