Can You Solve This? The Overlooked Netherlands Invention That Forged the Contemporary Globe

There are many contenders to claim the title of “planet’s greatest innovation.” The circular axle. The movable type. The steam engine.

As per a recent publication, though, that title should go to a mechanised sawmill conceived through Dutchman Cornelis Corneliszoon during 1593.

“Prior to mechanised cutting, building a modest trading ship required approximately ten sawyers working over three months,” notes Jaime Dávila. “Using wind-powered sawmills, the same amount of cut lumber might be produced in less than a week.”

Owing to this rapid mechanical saw, that converted timber into planks using virtually no manual labor, the Dutch could construct vessels faster compared to any other nation, which unleashed one hundred years of Netherlands naval, economic and cultural dominance across Europe and the world.

The First Genuine Industrial Device

Corneliszoon’s lumber mill, argues the writer, represented “humanity’s initial authentic factory apparatus.” A wind turbine turned a gear. A single part converted its circular movement to vertical action to power the cutting blade. Another component changed that same rotary motion into a lateral movement advancing the timber to the blade. A geared mechanism shifted the wood ahead one precise increment per cycle.

“Each element seemed simple on its own. The Dutchman’s genius was to combine them in order that the machine operated within a perfectly controlled sequence, cutting with each descending motion while advancing with each return motion. This constituted a remarkably intelligent use of basic components.”

A fact that brings us to today’s puzzle. I’d like you to reimagine a key the basic concepts behind Corneliszoon’s invention.

Circular to Vertical

Design a machine which converts rotary motion into up-and-down motion. Your available these items exclusively: A rotating disc. Two pegs. Two bars. A “sleeve”, which is a cylinder or sleeve through which one of the rods can slide perfectly. (Consider that it is possible to put things on a stand, so the components do not collapse.)

I’ll be back later today UK with the answer.

Meanwhile, PLEASE NO HINTS. Instead, feel free to propose (less celebrated) contenders for the world’s greatest creation.