Inventor of the Dynamo. A somewhat indifferent student, Gramme's true skill was in handicraft. In 1856, he began work as a model maker for a company that fabricated various items for the burgeoning electrical industry. It sparked his interest in the technology and in 1896 conceived his continuous-current dynamo. In 1871, he presented it to the Academy of Sciences a working model greatly improved over previous types. He entered into a partnership with another inventor, and opened a factory, Societe des Machines Magneto-Electriques Gramme" to develop the dynamo. The plant also manufacturer the Gramme ring, armature and other devices. In 1873, the dynamo was exhibited at the Vienna exhibition and demonstrated that it could be reversed and used as an electric motor. Nikola Tesla when observing the dynamo though of using it for his alternating current, but failed to develop it at that time. Gramme's work earned him a Commander in the Order of Leopold, and officer in the Legion of Honor. Finally in 1888, he was awarded the Volta Prize by the French government. Since his death, there has been a graduate school of engineering "Institut Gramme" named after him as well as a sailing ship of the Belgium Navy, "Zenobe Gramme."
Inventor of the Dynamo. A somewhat indifferent student, Gramme's true skill was in handicraft. In 1856, he began work as a model maker for a company that fabricated various items for the burgeoning electrical industry. It sparked his interest in the technology and in 1896 conceived his continuous-current dynamo. In 1871, he presented it to the Academy of Sciences a working model greatly improved over previous types. He entered into a partnership with another inventor, and opened a factory, Societe des Machines Magneto-Electriques Gramme" to develop the dynamo. The plant also manufacturer the Gramme ring, armature and other devices. In 1873, the dynamo was exhibited at the Vienna exhibition and demonstrated that it could be reversed and used as an electric motor. Nikola Tesla when observing the dynamo though of using it for his alternating current, but failed to develop it at that time. Gramme's work earned him a Commander in the Order of Leopold, and officer in the Legion of Honor. Finally in 1888, he was awarded the Volta Prize by the French government. Since his death, there has been a graduate school of engineering "Institut Gramme" named after him as well as a sailing ship of the Belgium Navy, "Zenobe Gramme."
Bio by: Winter Birds PA
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