Magnus Volk

Magnus Volk FII (1851–1937) was a British inventor and pioneering electrical engineer.

Magnus Volk
Magnus Volk, copyright Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove.
Born19 October 1851
Brighton, Sussex, United Kingdom
Died20 May 1937
Brighton, Sussex, United Kingdom
Resting placeSt. Wulfran's Church, Ovingdean, Sussex
NationalityBritish
Spouse(s)Anna Volk (Banfield)
ChildrenMagnus Herman Volk,
George Herbert Volk,
Cecil Volk,
Gordon Volk,
Edgar Volk,
Conrad Volk,
Muriel May Volk
Parent(s)Magnus Volk,
Sarah Volk (Maynard)
Engineering career
DisciplineElectrical, Mechanical
InstitutionsImperial Institute
ProjectsVolk's Electric Railway,
Brighton and Rottingdean Seashore Electric Railway
AwardsOrder of Osmali

He is most notable for having built Volk's Electric Railway, the world's oldest operating electric railway.[1]

Career

Aside from the Volk's Electric Railway, he also built the unique, but short lived, Brighton and Rottingdean Seashore Electric Railway, together with its unusual Daddy Long Legs vehicle.[2] He also built another, short-lived line, similar to the VER, in the pleasure grounds at Aston Hall, Birmingham.[1]

In 1887 he attracted attention in Brighton by building a three-wheeled electric carriage powered by an Immisch motor. In 1888 he built another electric car, this time a four-wheeled carriage which was made to the order of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire,[3] for which he was awarded an Order of Osmali, presented to Magnus by the Sultan in person whilst in Constantinople.[4]

Magnus Volk on his electric dog cart, 1897

Other projects of Magnus included inventing a fire-alarm system, early successful attempts at electricity in the home, telecommunications and installing electricity to the Royal Pavilion for the first time.[4]

A proof of concept model of the Daddy Long Legs built by Magnus Volk himself.
The Volk's Electric Railway still bears Magnus Volks name

Personal life

Magnus Volk was the son of a German clockmaker and was born on 19 October 1851 in Brighton. He lived at 38 Dyke Road in Brighton. On 8 April 1879, he married Anna Banfield in Burgess Hill. George Herbert Volk, his second son, is noted as a pioneer builder of seaplanes, whilst another son, Conrad Volk, wrote a biography of his father.[4] His Great Grandson is the musician Joe Volk.

Magnus Volk died in Brighton on 20 May 1937, and is buried at St Wulfran's churchyard in Ovingdean near Brighton.[5]

References
  1. Jackson, Alan (1993). Volk's Railways Brighton. Plateway Press. ISBN 1 871980 18 6.
  2. See Lee, Charles E., "Magnus Volk and His Railways," The Railway Magazine (UK), April 1942, at 116-17.
  3. Georgano, G.N. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985).
  4. Volk, Conrad. Magnus Volk of Brighton. (London: Phillimore, 1971).
  5. Dale, Antony (1989). Brighton Churches. London EC4: Routledge. p. 207. ISBN 0-415-00863-8.CS1 maint: location (link)

Bibliography
  • Conrad Volk: Magnus Volk of Brighton. London & Chichester: Phillimore, 1971.
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