synthesis, surely a ‘dream come true’. But in what role? As far as Haber was
concerned the development was now BASF’s problem, and little—if any—of
it would be done at Karlsruhe. Robert’s relationship with BASF was only
transitive, i.e., through Haber. The company itself bore no obligation towards
the young man insisting that he was entirely Haber’s responsibility. Robert
too, of course, was a ‘foreigner’ and as Engler had once reminded Haber
regarding the Margulies brothers of Vienna, German inventions were not
shared with foreigners. There was no prospect of employment with the BASF
even though Haber had asked them to help him in his career, and Haber’s
report to BASF on the 03 July 1909 had already indicated that his ammonia
account was 4400 Marks in the red.
46 Robert’s position and salary were
therefore in doubt, with the very real prospect of having to revert to
‘Hospitant’. At this time in his life, and after almost three years of hard work,
such insecurity was simply unacceptable. Unsurprisingly then, in August
1909 Robert left Haber and Karlsruhe. After a short ‘sojourn’ in Jersey where
he shared—what turned out to be—precious time with his family, he travelled on to the Auergesellschaft in Friedrichshain, Berlin where Max Meyer, a
great friend and former colleague at Karlsruhe,
47 had already secured a
lucrative position for him as an advisor to the ‘Auer’ to work on the manufacture of ‘glow lamps’—a position also endorsed by Haber’s recommendation.
7 Such was their friendship that for some months Meyer and Robert
shared a property together in Grünau
6 in the borough of Köpenick, a South
East suburb of Berlin. Now Robert’s friendship with Mayer was to prove
particularly convenient. Mayer was from a Jewish family in Ulm and after
studying at Heidelberg he came to Karlsruhe in 1903 as Bunte’s personal
assistant. He received his habilitation there in 1906 eventually becoming one
of Haber’s closest friends, advising him on questions of patent law and
professional issues. Later, as aspects of Haber’s life became ever more complex, Haber granted him power of attorney to represent him in all legal affairs
—including the administration of the funds from the two accounts he set up
to deal with the arc and the ammonia synthesis. In this capacity he also
became the authorised representative (‘plenipotentiary’) in matters concerning Robert Le Rossignol in Germany.
48 Eventually, he became a director of
the Auer. For Robert, the move to Berlin may well have signalled the end of
his involvement with the ammonia synthesis, however along with Haber, he
was to remain bound to it in an advisory sense for the next few months,
financially for years to come, and spiritually for the rest of his life. But for
now, a new career beckoned at the ‘Auer’ in what was at the time another
‘cutting edge’ technology—electric lighting.
8 The Big Fix …
179
concerned the development was now BASF’s problem, and little—if any—of
it would be done at Karlsruhe. Robert’s relationship with BASF was only
transitive, i.e., through Haber. The company itself bore no obligation towards
the young man insisting that he was entirely Haber’s responsibility. Robert
too, of course, was a ‘foreigner’ and as Engler had once reminded Haber
regarding the Margulies brothers of Vienna, German inventions were not
shared with foreigners. There was no prospect of employment with the BASF
even though Haber had asked them to help him in his career, and Haber’s
report to BASF on the 03 July 1909 had already indicated that his ammonia
account was 4400 Marks in the red.
46 Robert’s position and salary were
therefore in doubt, with the very real prospect of having to revert to
‘Hospitant’. At this time in his life, and after almost three years of hard work,
such insecurity was simply unacceptable. Unsurprisingly then, in August
1909 Robert left Haber and Karlsruhe. After a short ‘sojourn’ in Jersey where
he shared—what turned out to be—precious time with his family, he travelled on to the Auergesellschaft in Friedrichshain, Berlin where Max Meyer, a
great friend and former colleague at Karlsruhe,
47 had already secured a
lucrative position for him as an advisor to the ‘Auer’ to work on the manufacture of ‘glow lamps’—a position also endorsed by Haber’s recommendation.
7 Such was their friendship that for some months Meyer and Robert
shared a property together in Grünau
6 in the borough of Köpenick, a South
East suburb of Berlin. Now Robert’s friendship with Mayer was to prove
particularly convenient. Mayer was from a Jewish family in Ulm and after
studying at Heidelberg he came to Karlsruhe in 1903 as Bunte’s personal
assistant. He received his habilitation there in 1906 eventually becoming one
of Haber’s closest friends, advising him on questions of patent law and
professional issues. Later, as aspects of Haber’s life became ever more complex, Haber granted him power of attorney to represent him in all legal affairs
—including the administration of the funds from the two accounts he set up
to deal with the arc and the ammonia synthesis. In this capacity he also
became the authorised representative (‘plenipotentiary’) in matters concerning Robert Le Rossignol in Germany.
48 Eventually, he became a director of
the Auer. For Robert, the move to Berlin may well have signalled the end of
his involvement with the ammonia synthesis, however along with Haber, he
was to remain bound to it in an advisory sense for the next few months,
financially for years to come, and spiritually for the rest of his life. But for
now, a new career beckoned at the ‘Auer’ in what was at the time another
‘cutting edge’ technology—electric lighting.
8 The Big Fix …
179