William Frishmuth
Encyclopedia
William Frishmuth was a German-born American architect and metallurgist.
William Frishmuth was born Johan Wilhelm Gottfreid Frishmuth in Coburg, Germany in 1830. Aluminum is a metal not found in a pure state in nature. The first patent for refining aluminum by electrolysis was granted to Friedrich Wöhler
of Germany. Frishmuth studied with Wohler in Germany before coming to America.
In 1855 he settled in Philadelphia and became a US citizen. He established the Frishmuth Foundry in Philadelphia, an aluminum foundry
, believed to be the only aluminum foundry in the US at the time.
In 1861 Frishmuth became a special secret agent to the War Department
at the request of Abraham Lincoln
. On the 5th of November, 1861, he received authority from President Lincoln, which was confirmed by Governor Curtin
of Pennsylvania to raise a cavalry regiment. In 1862 the regiment was raised for active service, and was commissioned a Colonel. He was Colonel of the 113th Regiment, Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry (Curtin Hussars) until April 20, 1862.
In 1876 he produced the first authenticated aluminum castings made in America at his Philadelphia foundry (now an historic landmark)http://www.asminternational.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Membership/AwardsProgram/HistoricalLandmarks/Landmarks.htm. He used a chemical process, unlike the electrolytic processes used today. One of the first casting he produced was an engineer's transit. The foundry was declared an ASM (American Society for Materials) Historical Landmark in 1985.
Because Frishmuth had previously done plating work for the Washington Monument
the Army Corps of Engineers asked Frishmuth to construct a small metal form for the top of the monument. The small pyramid was to be artistic, and function as the terminus of a lightning rod
. Frishmuth suggested aluminum, as its color would blend well with the granite, would not stain, would polish well, and be engraved with inscriptions.
In 1884 he cast the aluminum cap, which was the first architectural use of aluminum. At that time aluminum was $1.00 per avoirdupois ounce
. For perspective, silver was $1.30 per troy ounce ($1.18 per avoirdupois ounce); 100 ounces (about 2.8 kg) of aluminum were needed to produce the pyramid.
Through his lifetime, Frishmuth received 12 patents, mostly on electroplating
and production of aluminum.
Annually, the (AFS) American Foundry Society
presents the "Frishmuth Award" honoring the "Foundryman of the Year".
William Frishmuth was born Johan Wilhelm Gottfreid Frishmuth in Coburg, Germany in 1830. Aluminum is a metal not found in a pure state in nature. The first patent for refining aluminum by electrolysis was granted to Friedrich Wöhler
Friedrich Wöhler
Friedrich Wöhler was a German chemist, best known for his synthesis of urea, but also the first to isolate several chemical elements.-Biography:He was born in Eschersheim, which belonged to aau...
of Germany. Frishmuth studied with Wohler in Germany before coming to America.
In 1855 he settled in Philadelphia and became a US citizen. He established the Frishmuth Foundry in Philadelphia, an aluminum foundry
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
, believed to be the only aluminum foundry in the US at the time.
In 1861 Frishmuth became a special secret agent to the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
at the request of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
. On the 5th of November, 1861, he received authority from President Lincoln, which was confirmed by Governor Curtin
Andrew Gregg Curtin
Andrew Gregg Curtin was a U.S. lawyer and politician. He served as the Governor of Pennsylvania during the Civil War.-Biography:...
of Pennsylvania to raise a cavalry regiment. In 1862 the regiment was raised for active service, and was commissioned a Colonel. He was Colonel of the 113th Regiment, Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry (Curtin Hussars) until April 20, 1862.
In 1876 he produced the first authenticated aluminum castings made in America at his Philadelphia foundry (now an historic landmark)http://www.asminternational.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Membership/AwardsProgram/HistoricalLandmarks/Landmarks.htm. He used a chemical process, unlike the electrolytic processes used today. One of the first casting he produced was an engineer's transit. The foundry was declared an ASM (American Society for Materials) Historical Landmark in 1985.
Because Frishmuth had previously done plating work for the Washington Monument
Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is an obelisk near the west end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate the first U.S. president, General George Washington...
the Army Corps of Engineers asked Frishmuth to construct a small metal form for the top of the monument. The small pyramid was to be artistic, and function as the terminus of a lightning rod
Lightning rod
A lightning rod or lightning conductor is a metal rod or conductor mounted on top of a building and electrically connected to the ground through a wire, to protect the building in the event of lightning...
. Frishmuth suggested aluminum, as its color would blend well with the granite, would not stain, would polish well, and be engraved with inscriptions.
In 1884 he cast the aluminum cap, which was the first architectural use of aluminum. At that time aluminum was $1.00 per avoirdupois ounce
Ounce
The ounce is a unit of mass with several definitions, the most commonly used of which are equal to approximately 28 grams. The ounce is used in a number of different systems, including various systems of mass that form part of the imperial and United States customary systems...
. For perspective, silver was $1.30 per troy ounce ($1.18 per avoirdupois ounce); 100 ounces (about 2.8 kg) of aluminum were needed to produce the pyramid.
Through his lifetime, Frishmuth received 12 patents, mostly on electroplating
Electroplating
Electroplating is a plating process in which metal ions in a solution are moved by an electric field to coat an electrode. The process uses electrical current to reduce cations of a desired material from a solution and coat a conductive object with a thin layer of the material, such as a metal...
and production of aluminum.
Annually, the (AFS) American Foundry Society
American Foundry Society
The American Foundry Society traces its roots to 1896 when the American Foundrymen's Association was formed. The Association was subsequently named The American Foundrymen's Society, and later the name was shortened to the American Foundry Society, sometimes shortened to AFS...
presents the "Frishmuth Award" honoring the "Foundryman of the Year".