A total of 59 Danish patents defined the career of Jacob Christian Hansen-Ellehammer, a mechanical polymath who transitioned from watchmaking to pioneering aviation and automotive engineering. Between his early electronic amusement devices and his later work in coaxial helicopters, he operated at the nexus of European mechanical innovation throughout the early 20th century.
Early Training and Diversification
Born in Vordingborg in 1871, he moved with his family to Vålse on Falster in 1875. His technical foundation began with an apprenticeship as a watchmaker in Nykøbing Falster, followed by further training in Copenhagen as an electromechanic. By 1898, he launched his own company, initially manufacturing coin-operated machines, including cigarette and beverage dispensers. His portfolio eventually expanded to encompass industrial machinery such as egg openers, cleavers for slaughterhouses, and specialized fire-fighting equipment.
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In 1903, he developed a motorcycle prototype powered by a three-cylinder radial engine of his own design. This evolved into the Elleham motorcycle, which entered production in 1904 using Zédel and Peugeot Frères engines. Beyond two-wheeled transport, he established a company in 1909 to produce automobiles in Copenhagen. These vehicles featured air-cooled two-cylinder engines and friction gears. While he prototyped a more advanced 12 hp three-cylinder model in 1913, automotive production ceased that same year.
Aviation Experiments
His efforts to achieve flight began with an airship project in 1905, followed by experiments on the island of Lindholm. By 28 August 1906, he succeeded in lifting a tethered aircraft. While he demonstrated flight on 28 June 1908 in Kiel, Germany, covering approximately 50 meters, he did not secure the distinction of the first heavier-than-air flight in Europe. Later, he explored vertical flight, developing a coaxial helicopter that was photographed hovering in 1914. His studies even extended to disc-rotor configurations involving retractable blades for high-speed flight.
Fast facts
- Born: 14 June 1871, Vordingborg
- Died: 20 May 1946, Gentofte
- Primary occupations: Engineer, watchmaker, inventor, pilot
- Aviation achievement: Successful flight in Kiel, Germany, 1908
- Helicopter experiment: Coaxial machine demonstrated in 1914
- Burial site: Hellerup Cemetery
- Hall of Fame induction: International Air & Space Hall of Fame, 1986
- Current company status: Ellehammer A/S, based in Glostrup
Questions readers ask
Was he the first person to fly an airplane in Europe?
No. While he conducted successful flight tests in 1906 and 1908, Alberto Santos-Dumont is credited with the first recognized heavier-than-air flight in Europe on 23 October 1906.
What is the status of his original radial engine?
The three-cylinder radial engine is preserved at the Danish Museum of Science & Technology in Helsingør, where it is periodically started.
Achievements
- Worked as inventor, non-fiction writer and engineer
