1888.07.21 English
THE ROYAL
INSTITUTE FOR
DEAF-MUTE
COPENHAGEN
21/7 88[1]
Dear Mr Lyngbye[2] !
Have you noticed that of all the mechanics who are doing high-level metal work only you and three others in Copenhagen have been awarded the 1st grade medal[3],namely Nyrop[4], Klein and Com. Khnudsen. (Not including Holst who, I take it, is a clockmaker).
2nd grade medal were given to Gregersen, Meergaard and Prof. Jürgensen[5] (and merely for the dynamo but nothing for his mechanical works proper) [6].
Honourable praise to Mr Rasmussen.
In addition, we should notice that in the 13th section (where you exhibited) there are 1316 exhibitors, out of which only 23 have been awarded the medal of 1st grade, in other words only 1/57 of the exhibitors.
It all looks very promising!
Yours faithfully
R. Malling-Hansen
[1] CB: The text in italics indicates that this is a handwritten letter. The letterhead, however, was pre-printed
[2] JMC: In the first line of the original letter, RMH addresses Mr Lyngbye as “Mr Mekanikus Lyngbye”, thus using a Latinized version of ‘Mechanic’, probably as a sign of respect and appreciation. Mr Lyngbye was obviously not an ordinary mechanic, rather a highly skilled and specialized instrument maker, whose task was to build some of the various types of writing balls, designed by RMH (possibly taking over this responsibility from Jürgensen sometimes in the 1880s).
[3] CB: This refers to medal awarded at the big industrial exhibition Copenhagen in 1888, the last time RMH exhibited the writing ball at an exhibition – and this time in a completely new model – manufactured by this Mr Lyngbye, instrument maker.
[4] CB: The two first names are VERY difficult to make out
[5] CB: For many years Professor Jürgensen’s Mechanic Establishment had been responsible for manufacturing the writing ball, and Jürgensen is a co-signatory of the patent application from 1870.
[6] CB: I seem to detect a somewhat scornful tone from RMH’s side vis-à-vis Jürgensen, with whom he must have worked closely for at least 15 years. Perhaps they have fallen out???)
- August Lyngbye probably constructed his version of the writing ball in 1885.
- This writing ball probably has belonged to Rasmus Malling-Hansen himself. Foto: Sverre Avnskog
- The large building to the left housed the large Art- and Industry Exhibition in Copenhagen in 1888. To the right in front one can see the building from the exhibition in 1872. Malling-Hansen's writing ball won the first prize medal on both occations
