Otto Nußbaumer

{{Short description|Austrian physicist (1876–1930)}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Otto Nußbaumer
| other names = Otto Nussbaumer
| image = Salzburg Otto Nußbaumer.jpg
| caption = Otto Nußbaumer memorial plaque at the [[Salzburg]] New Residence building,

| birth_date = {{birth date|1876|3|31|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Innsbruck]]-Wilten, [[Austria-Hungary]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1930|1|5|1876|3|31|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Salzburg]], [[Austria]]
| known_for = first wireless transmission of music
}}

'''Otto Nußbaumer ''' (31 March 1876 – 5 January 1930) was an [[Austrians|Austrian]] [[physicist]].{{cite web|url=https://www.biographien.ac.at/oebl/oebl_N/Nussbaumer_Otto_1876_1930.xml|language=German|title=Nussbaumer, Otto (1876-1930), Techniker|website=biographien.ac.at|access-date=2026-04-18}} In 1904, he was the first to transmit music via wireless telegraphy at [[Albert von Ettingshausen]]’s university lab.{{sfn|Höllbacher|1994|p=55-56}}{{cite web|url=https://www.krone.at/3414918|title=Exhibition on 100 years of radio in Styria|website=krone.at|access-date=18 April 2026}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/14/arts/sound-out-of-de-forest-and-onto-the-air-came-music.html|title=SOUND; OUT OF DE FOREST AND ONTO THE AIR CAME MUSIC|website=nytimes.com|access-date=18 April 2026}}

== Biography ==
Otto Nußbaumer was the son of a stationmaster. His father was transferred to the [[Styria]]n city of [[Leoben]] when Nußbaumer was pre-school aged. Engelbert Kobald, professor for physics and mathematics at the [[University of Leoben]] constructed electrical toys for Nußbaumer thus sparking Otto's technical interest. So did his father’s job, due to which Otto Nußbaumer learned morsing at an early age. After unsuccessful years at the [[Kremsmünster Abbey]] school showing problems in learning languages, his father transferred him to the ''Landesoberrealschule'', a school focussing on science and technology, in [[Graz]]. Still a pupil, Nußbaumer started working at the labs of [[Michael Radaković]] and [[Paul Czermak]] constructing electrical devices.{{cite web|url=https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno-plus?aid=rwl&datum=1930&page=186&size=45&qid=EQOY0B31LVPTIUKS33IS5CC4OLZ83P|language=German|title=Otto Nußbaumer †. Aus dem Lebenslauf des Erfinders. Von Prof. Dr. Robert ETTENREICH (in ''RADIOWELT''), page 77|website=onb.ac.at|access-date=2026-04-18}}{{cite web |url=https://austria-forum.org/af/Biographien/Nu%C3%9Fbaumer%2C_Otto|language=German|title= Nußbaumer, Otto |website=austria-forum.org|access-date=2026-04-18}}{{cite web|url=https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=svb&datum=19300107&seite=4&zoom=33&query=%22Nussbaumer%22&ref=anno-search|language=German|title=Hofrat Otto Nußbaumer †. Ein Bahnbrecher des Radios gestorben. (in ''Salzburger Volksblatt''), page 4|website=onb.ac.at|access-date=2026-04-18}} He later studied [[mechanical engineering]] at [[Graz University of Technology]] as there existed no distinct study programme for electrical engineering, yet.{{sfn|Wohinz|1999|p=151}}

After his graduation in 1901, he served as university assistant to Albert von Ettingshausen at the institute of physics for six years. On June 15 1904, Otto Nußbaumer succeeded in transmitting music (the local Styrian anthem ''Hoch vom Dachstein'') wirelessly over a distance of 30 metres through several rooms and closed doors. He did so by using an [[William Duddell|electric arc]] and a detector containing oxidized iron powder which he constructed on his own as the problem of suitable detectors were unsolved at that time.{{cite web|url=https://tirol.orf.at/stories/3277597/|language=German |title=Zeitgeschichte. Schau im Zeughaus zeigt unsichtbare Wellen|website=orf.at|access-date=2026-04-18}} Yet, he lacked financial means and support to transfer his ideas into patents and commercial appliances.

In 1907, Otto Nußbaumer became civil servant working for the state construction department in Graz. In 1908, he moved to Salzburg with his wife and baby girl. There, he started to work for the local government later heading the department for mechanical and electrical engineering. Nußbaumer suffered from [[tuberculosis]] and its consequences, leading to his early death in 1930.{{sfn|Wohinz|1999|p=154-156}}

== Honors ==
* [[Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria]] - Decoration of Honour in Gold, 1929.
* Honorary citizen of Salzburg, 1929.
* In Salzburg and Graz, streets are named after Otto Nußbaumer.

==Publications==
*Otto Nussbaumer: Kurzer Bericht über Versuche zur Übertragung von Tönen mittels elektrischer Wellen. [[Physikalische Zeitschrift]], Vol. 5, 1904, pp. 796–797.

==Notes==


==References==
* {{cite book|last=Höllbacher |first=Klaus |title=Albert von Ettingshausen (1850-1932) Dissertation/doctoral thesis |year=1994 |publisher=University of Graz}}
* {{cite book|last=Wohinz |first=Josef W. (Ed.) |title=Die Technik in Graz: Aus Tradition für Innovation |year=1999 |publisher=Böhlau Verlag |isbn=3-205-98910-4}}

== External links ==
* Nussbaumer System [https://klangmaschinen.ima.or.at/db.php?id=31&table=Object&lang=en]
* Helmut Jäger: The First Wireless Transmission of Music [https://klangmaschinen.ima.or.at/db.php?id=31&table=Object&lang=en&showartikel=1&view=ausstellung]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nußbaumer, Otto}}
[[Category:20th-century Austrian physicists]]
[[Category:Radio pioneers]]
[[Category:Graz University of Technology alumni]]
[[Category:Civil servants from Austria-Hungary]]
[[Category: Austrian people]]
[[Category:1876 births]]
[[Category:1930 deaths]]