5 less-known Hungarian inventors who reshaped the world
Hungary is known as a land of invention and innovation, yet many of its greatest minds remain largely unknown, despite their profound global impact. These five Hungarian inventors prove that the golden age of Hungarian ingenuity extended far beyond household names like Ernő Rubik and Ányos Jedlik.
János Luppis – The father of the torpedo from the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Frigate captain János Luppis lived during an era when naval warfare was undergoing a dramatic transformation. His invention, often described as a “wave-riding, surfacing, invisible weapon of deadly destruction,” initially resembled a tinkered boat. But through collaboration with Robert Whitehead, Luppis helped develop the world’s first functioning underwater torpedo — according to Ötvenentúl.
Beginning in 1869, the torpedo entered mass production, and in recognition of his groundbreaking work, Luppis was granted nobility by Emperor Franz Joseph, along with the prestigious “von Rammer” title—meaning “the sinker.” Born in Fiume (now Rijeka), Luppis became one of the forgotten geniuses of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Dávid Schwarz – The true Clcreator of the airship
While the name “zeppelin” is linked to German engineer Ferdinand von Zeppelin, the first metal-framed airship was actually developed by Dávid Schwarz, a timber merchant from Keszthely. He spent nearly twenty years working on this lightweight aircraft—but died of heart failure before he could witness its maiden flight.
His wife, however, organized the demonstration herself, attended by Zeppelin, who soon after purchased the technology. He made some improvements and claimed the invention as his own. Three years after Schwarz’s death, the press triumphantly declared that the “zeppelin” had conquered the skies.
József Galamb – The Hungarian engineer of the Ford Model T
The Ford Model T revolutionized transportation through the introduction of mass production, becoming one of the automotive industry’s key milestones. József Galamb was one of its principal designers, working alongside fellow Hungarian engineer Jenő Farkas at Ford. Galamb not only contributed to the design of the Model T, he also created the iconic Ford logo still in use today.
Born in Makó to a modest background, Galamb’s talent and dedication took him to Detroit, the heart of the American auto industry, where he thrived. He died in 1955, leaving behind a game-changing legacy.
László Bíró – More than just the ballpoint pen
László Bíró is best known for inventing the ballpoint pen, but his creativity extended well beyond that. He also invented the ballpoint deodorant and designed the first prototype of an automatic transmission, which he installed in his own motorcycle-sidecar combo for a successful trip from Budapest to Berlin in 1932.
Though General Motors bought the patent, it did so mainly to stifle competition—later releasing its own automatic transmission without crediting Bíró. Fleeing persecution, he relocated to Argentina, where he went on to patent numerous other inventions. To this day, he is revered as one of the country’s most significant inventors.
Marcell Jánosi – The visionary behind the world’s first cassette-based floppy disk
In the 1970s, when computers were still in their infancy, Marcell Jánosi was already ahead of his time. In 1974, he created the first cassette-style floppy disk, which was smaller and more secure than the then-standard 8-inch version. However, Hungary’s slow bureaucracy delayed production for years.
When the Hungarian state failed to renew his patent, Japanese developers quickly jumped on the innovation. Sony eventually developed the well-known microfloppy based on his idea. Although the invention deserved global recognition, Jánosi’s name remains largely unknown. He passed away in 2011.
Preserving the legacy of the Hungarian inventors
These inventors made lasting contributions to global technological innovation. Despite being overlooked in textbooks and media, their creations are now integral to our daily lives. Remembering them affirms one thing: Hungarian brilliance knows no bounds.
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