József Galamb, born on February 3, 1881, in Makó into a Calvinist farming family, was the second of seven children. He rose to prominence as one of the key figures behind the Ford Model T and later became a chief engineer at the Ford Motor Company. The Archenerg Cluster commemorates this renowned engineer on the occasion of the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, where Galamb, then the chief engineer of Ford Motor Company, embarked on his international journey to fame.
A Path to Automotive Engineering
Blessed with the opportunity to continue his education with his brother thanks to their father's encouragement and a local teacher's persuasion, Galamb's interests gravitated towards the field of engineering. After completing his secondary education at the Szeged Wood and Metalworking Technical School, he pursued his higher studies at the Budapest Royal Hungarian Higher Industrial School, the predecessor of today's Óbuda University, from 1898 onwards.
Galamb's exposure to Ferenc Csonka, a chemical engineer and the brother of János Csonka, a pioneer in Hungarian automotive and engine manufacturing, likely played a role in his growing fascination with automotive design.
The Allure of the 1904 World's Fair and the Birth of a Dream
Drawn by the news of the 1904 World's Fair, 120 years ago, Galamb József set his sights on the United States. With aspirations to witness the automotive extravaganza in St. Louis, he embarked on a journey that would transform his life. The city, then a hub for automobile manufacturing, captivated Galamb, leading him to settle there. It was in Detroit that he encountered Henry Ford.
Seeking a $20 job, Galamb initially faced an offer of only $18 from the Cadillac factory. To assess his mechanical engineering skills, they provided him with an opportunity for trial design. Before presenting his work, he tried his luck at Ford's factory, where he was immediately offered his desired weekly wage and was able to start working ten days later.
Honoring a Legacy of Innovation
In recognition of József Galamb, the engineer behind the first American mass-produced car, the Ford Model T, the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Szeged (SZTE) established an award in his name in 2021. Awarded in conjunction with the Csongrád-Csanád County Chamber of Engineers, this distinction and the accompanying 200,000 HUF scholarship are granted to a Szeged university student who has also demonstrated technical advancements in their thesis.
To commemorate this remarkable occasion, the faculty has also installed a plaque on the landing of the building to remind students that "As an Engineer, You Too Can Be World Famous!". The faculty's dean at the time, currently the president of the Archenerg Cluster, stated that this plaque serves as a tribute to Galamb József's legacy.
"When I came here, I was unaware of the connection between the building and József Galamb," remarked Prof. Dr. István Bíró, President of the Archenerg Cluster. "However, since then, I have been immensely proud that such a remarkable engineer studied within these walls."
A Testament to Engineering Excellence
József Galamb's contributions as a world-renowned engineer stand as a testament to his brilliance. We can take immense pride in the fact that our university's halls once housed the inventor to whom we owe our modern automotive transportation and, as a result, the world we know today.