The visionary Emil Kolben became an honorary citizen of Prague 10 in memoriam
photo: City Hall Prague 10/Emil Kolben became an honorary citizen of Prague 10 in memoriam
The inventor, industrialist, entrepreneur and visionary Emil Kolben became the new honorary citizen of Prague 10 in memoriam. Representatives of the registered association Kolbenova vila accepted the award for him.
The ceremonial act of handing over honorary citizenship according to website Prague 10 took place on Tuesday, December 6 in Vršovice Castle. Mayor Martin Valovič (ODS) handed over the award to the representatives of the registered association Kolbenova vila. There was also a greeting from the wife of Kolben’s grandson, Andrea Kolbenová from Munich.
“Mr. Emile Kolben, we welcome you to the gallery of honorary citizens of Prague 10. You will share it with such personalities as Karel Čapek, Jan Kotěra, Jiří Kolář and others. I believe that you will become an ornament of this gallery and will remind us all how important it is to be consistent and honest in your dealings,” said Martin Valovič.
Prominent electrical engineer and entrepreneur
Emil Kolben lived in a villa in Hradešínská Street in Prague 10. He was one of the most important electrical engineers and entrepreneurs in Central Europe, he founded the factory Kolben a spol. and was also the general director and main shareholder of Českomoravská – Kolben – Daněk (ČKD).
He lived in the USA for five years. There he worked with, among others, Thomas Alva Edison. Under his leadership, an experiment was carried out in 1891 with the transmission of three-phase current over the greatest distance at that time. In doing so, he proved that it is possible to electrify the entire world.
He bothered the regime as OFid and entrepreneur
“Emil Kolben was the engine of a spectacular business that influenced the entire economic development in the Czech lands for decades. Almost everyone here knows the ČKD brand or the expression “I’m going to kolbenka”. Nevertheless, we know almost nothing about Kolben himself. His name was not remembered, his meaning was forgotten. He disliked fascism as a Jew, communism as a businessman,” recalled Miroslav Jiřík, chairman of the Kolbenova vila association.
Emil Kolben died in 1943 at the age of eighty, after he and his family were deported to the Terezín concentration camp.
“I greatly appreciate your efforts and determination to return our grandfather to the ranks of important figures in our and world history, alongside Edison, Tesla, Křižík, Bata and others,” said Andreé Kolbenová.
Czech Elon Musk should not be forgotten
The registered association Kolbenova vila is actively dedicated to commemorating the legacy of Emil Kolben. In the villa in Hradešínská Street, for example, he is organizing an experiential exhibition on the occasion of the 160th anniversary of his birth. He wants to make the villa permanently available as an educational and innovation center. He is also in contact with the survivors of Emil Kolben, who entrusted him with taking over honorary citizenship.
“Emil Kolben’s story is unique. Who can claim to have worked closely with both Edison and Tesla? So when someone talks about Emil Kolben as the Czech Elon Musk, such an analogy is completely appropriate. Therefore, I see the awarding of honorary citizenship as a great opportunity to raise the general public’s awareness of the personality, which is a comparison with the most important inventors in the world,” said Pavel Šutka (ODS), Prague 10 deputy mayor for culture.
A square, a school, a street and a subway station bear his name
Emil Kolben’s birthplace still stands today in Strančice. The local Emil Kolben square and the Emil Kolben Elementary School are also named after him.
The Kolbenova line B metro station in Vysočany is also named after him. His bust also adorned the station until July 2013, before it was stolen by unknown criminals.
Since 1989, Vysočany has also had Kolbenova Street, which runs along the area of the former Kolbenova factory. Since autumn 2014, UN Square in Prague 9 has been decorated with a monument to honor the memory of Emil Kolben.