Klemens Stefan Sielecki
Klemens Stefan Sielecki (December 8, 1903 in Stanisławów, Austria-Hungary – July 14, 1980 in Kamień Pomorski, Poland) was a Polish engineer and technical director of the first Polish Locomotive Factory Fablok in Chrzanów in the post-war years until 1964.[1][2]
Biography
His father Sofroniusz Skrebeciowicz de Sielecki (1862–1908) was
Klemens Sielecki went to primary school in
On May 1, 1930 he moved to Chrzanów, where he started work in the design office of Fablok in charge of developing new types of locomotives for the then ministry of communication (which later became the ministry of transport) and the Bulgarian State Railways. In 1935 he was highly involved in the development of the construction of the diesel hydraulic railway car called "Luxtorpeda", which was a technical innovation in its time.[1] Also in 1935 he was nominated as deputy head of the technical department and starting in March 1939 as head. Five Luxtorpedas were constructed under his leadership, which were able to reach a speed of 115 km/h.[2] He was involved with the construction, production and test-runs of locomotives in particular those destined for export to Bulgaria, Morocco, Lithuania and Soviet Union. Due to his knowledge of foreign languages he was repeatedly sent abroad for business purposes pertaining technical aspects and co-operation.[1]
During the
In the post-war years, he was technical director until 1964.
He died of a sudden heart failure while vacationing with his family. He was laid to rest in the family tomb in Rakowicki Cemetery in Kraków.
Works
He published various essays on technological subjects, his first one appeared 1932 in the Fablok publication for the 500th locomotive produced, as well as six folios for the 50-year anniversary of Fablok 1924–1974. He translated various technical literature and books from German into Polish. He was also very active in the Kraków chapter of the Polish Federation of Engineering Associations (NOT). He was co-founder 1937 in Fablok of the Polish Society of Mechanical Engineers and Technicians (SIMP) and was head of the Fablok chapter for many years. Together with engineer Zdzisław Wład he developed a patent for a high power electric/hydraulic waterbrake for locomotives in the late 1950s.[1]
Honours
Although he refused to join the Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR) throughout his life, he nevertheless was decorated for outstanding professional and social work in 1955 with the Medal of the 10th Anniversary of People's Poland and in 1967 with the Knight's Cross (Krzyż Kawalerski) of the Order of Polonia Restituta.[1]
Family
He married Wanda Maria née Szczerba (November 21, 1910 in
All married and have children themselves.The cousin of his wife Wanda was the investigation judge against Nazi crimes Professor Jan Sehn, who was on very friendly terms with the Sielecki family.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mieczysław, Panz, ed. (1995–1996). "Klemens Stefan Sielecki". Polish Biographical Dictionary (in Polish). Vol. XXXVI. Kraków: Polish Academy of Learning. pp. 588–589.
- ^ a b c Piwczyk, Bronisław (July 27, 2005), "Wspomnienia Klemens Sielecki (1903-1980), Współtwórca luxtorpedy", Przełom (in Polish), vol. 30, no. 693, Chrzanów, p. 28.
- ^ "Sielec", Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland (in Polish), vol. X, Warsaw: Druk "Wieku", 1889, pp. 530–531
Literature
- Krasnowolskiego, Bogusław, ed. (2004), Fablok w Chrzanowie. Monografia, Warsaw: Studio Reklamy ateFOKA, ISBN 83-918844-8-1
External links
Media related to Klemens Stefan Sielecki at Wikimedia Commons