Epilog

Chapter 8 Epilogue

With 133 inventions recorded in the British Patent Office, apart from others abroad or never published, George Constantinesco was one of the most prolific inventors of his time. Perhaps he was too prolific in that a new idea would be committed to paper almost before the ink had dried proposing and analysing the previous idea. There were so many things to do and so little time to do them. He was one of those rare breeds of scientist, philosopher and practical engineer and even at the relatively young age of forty five he had been proclaimed as one of seventeen world leaders in science and technology in the ''March of Progress, 1900-1925``, published by the Graphic in 1926, fig. 32.

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Fig. 32 Leaders in the March of Progress 1900-1925 (Constantinesco second row, far left)

Many of George Constantinesco's predictions have come to pass and many of his ideas are in use today, or receiving renewed interest. He achieved fame and honours from professional and academic bodies at home and abroad but less than his due in the way of material rewards for his efforts. As with so many other inventors he had to suffer from disappointments in his struggles to convince industry and officialdom of the value of ideas ahead of their time.

To scientists and engineers George Constantinesco was the man who evolved and applied his Theory of Sonics, the new science dealing with the transmission of power by periodic forces and motions through liquids, solids and gases. But George is still remembered with esteem and affection by the general public and pilots of the Air Services as the man who invented the C.C. synchronizing gear for aircraft machine guns during World War I. In this connection the following statement appeared in ''The Times" of 29th March 1920:

Air Vice Marshal Sir John Maitland presided on Saturday at a lecture by Mr G. Constantinesco on 'Sonics' (the transmission of power by sound or vibrations) given at the Polytechnic under the auspices of the London County Council series of lectures for teachers. Sir John Maitland said it was very greatly due to Mr Constantinesco and the gear he had invented for operating machine guns in aeroplanes that we held supremacy over the Germans in the air as we did.

On the news of George Constantinesco's death in 1965, many letters of sympathy and grateful remembrance from former Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force pilots were published in the national and local press, of which the following is a typical example.

A First World War Pilot Remembers

Sir,

lt was with very deep sorrow that I read in last week's Gazette of the death at Coniston of Mr Constantinesco. How we tried to pronounce his name, when we sang the praises of the synchronizing gear he invented! He saved the lives of a good number of fighter-pilots and observers... When we lost our F.E.2e's and got Bristol fighters, it just made flying a joy. We could then answer the Germans back, which we could not do before. Instead of a Lewis gun in front and another which could be fired to the rear, over the wings, we could now sight the nose of our machine and let the Vickers gun speak for us. How grateful we were to him and his gear!

I offer my deep sympathy to his widow and family.

W. Rickman

(Late 22 Squadron, R.F.C.)