334 ALCOHOLMETER. BERLIN FIRM. 



much attention at the time. The problem consisted 

 in constructing an apparatus to register continuously 

 and automatically the quantity of absolute alcohol 

 contained in the spirit flowing through it. My apparatus 

 solved this problem so completely, that it indicated 

 the quantity of alcohol, reduced to the customary 

 normal temperature, as accurately as could be determined 

 by the most exact scientific measurements. The Russian 

 government has employed this apparatus for almost 

 a quarter of a century in levying the high tax, which 

 is imposed on the production of spirit, and many other 

 European states have also subsequently adopted it for 

 the same purpose. Apart from a few important 

 practical improvements due to my cousin Louis Siemens, 

 the apparatus is still supplied in the original form as 

 a regular article of manufacture by a factory specially 

 erected for the purpose in Charlottenburg. No imitation 

 has hitherto been successful anywhere, although the 

 apparatus is unprotected by a patent. 



The dimensions, which the firm of Siemens and 

 Halske gradually attained, of course required a correspon- 

 ding organization of the management and the help 

 of able technical and administrative assistants. The 

 friend of my youth, William Meyer, who filled the 

 post of chief engineer and confidential clerk from the 

 year 1855, had, by his considerable organizing talent, 

 not only rendered valuable service to the Berlin firm, 

 but also to its branches in London, St. Petersburg, 



