Kamil Tolon: Difference between revisions

Kamil Tolon
Kamil Tolon
Born	29 February 1912; Istanbul, Ottoman Empire
Died	23 July 1978 (aged 66); Geneva, Switzerland
Nationality	Turkish
Other names	Kamil Özdemir Tolonçok
Education	Ankara University Faculty of Law
Known for	Invention of the first washing machine and electric engine in Turkey
Political party	Justice
Spouses	Müeyyet Bulut; Muzaffer Biliktü;
Children	4
Website	kamiltolon.com
Signature

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Latest revision as of 20:50, 23 October 2024

Kamil Özdemir Tolon (29 February 1912 – 23 July 1978) was a Turkish businessperson, industrialist and inventor, known for the first manufacture of an electric engine in Turkey. Tolon was born in 1912 in Istanbul. He had his secondary and university education in Ankara. He wanted to become an engineer, but went to the Ankara University Faculty of Law instead due to the lack of engineering schools. He graduated in 1935, and started working as a Posta ve Telgraf Teşkilatı (lit. transl. Post and Telegraph Agency: PTT) inspector after university, but left the job not long after.

After moving to Bursa, he founded Tolon Makina in 1937, where he started to produce several machines. In 1944, he was drafted into the army, where he continued working on new inventions to be used for the army. After returning from the army, Tolon started producing combine harvesters, water pumps, washing machines and dishwashers. While initially using imported engines, he was later compelled to build his own engine by Turkish Prime Minister Adnan Menderes and made the first indigenously manufactured electric engine in Turkey.

Tolon moved to a new factory after a fire damaged his workshop in 1958. The factory started production in 1960 and resulted in an increase of sales. He was a founding member of the Justice Party and became a chairman at the Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Regarded as one of the most important figures in Turkish industrialism, Kamil Tolon died in 1978 in Geneva, Switzerland, from an embolism.

Early and personal life

Kamil Tolon was born on 29 February 1912^[a] in the Beylerbeyi neighborhood of Istanbul. He was the second child of six children in the Saatçioğulları family.^[2] He was known as Muhittin oğlu Kamil (lit. transl. Muhittin's son Kamil) as surnames in Turkey were not mandatory at the time.^[3] His primary education took place in several different provinces of Turkey. Tolon attended high school at a boarding school in Ankara,^[4] and graduated in September 1935.^[3] During his time in high school, he was interested in engineering: he designed a music box while still being a student.^[5] However, due to the lack of engineering faculties at the time, Tolon instead had to attend the Ankara University Faculty of Law for higher education. At the faculty of law, he met several future politicians, including Adnan Menderes, the 9th prime minister of Turkey.^[4] Tolon graduated from university on 4 July 1935.^[6]

In 1935, with the new Surname Law requiring every Turkish citizen to assume a hereditary surname, he took the surname Tolonçok, meaning "very talented".^[7] He changed it to simply Tolon later in 1944.^[8] In 1936, Tolon married Müeyyet Bulut, with whom he had two daughters, Abatun (1936–2022) and Barkın (1942–2023). Tolon and Bulut divorced in 1942. The older daughter stayed with Tolon, while his younger daughter stayed with her mother.^[9] In February 1943, Tolon married his second wife, Muzaffer Biliktü. They also had two children: a son, Dara (born 1944), and a daughter, Cana (born 1949).^[4] Despite the divorce, Tolon and Müeyyet Bulut still held family reunions, with Cana referring to Bulut as her aunt.^[10]

Career

PTT inspector and return to engineering

After graduating from university, Tolon started to work at Posta ve Telgraf Teşkilatı (lit. transl. Post and Telegraph Agency: PTT) as an inspector. He was sent to Anatolia for his first inspection, though he resigned almost immediately after an encounter with an extremely poor villager.^[6]^[11] He went to an engineering school in France for a brief period, before opening a shop in Bursa in 1937, which he named Tolon Makina.^[4]^[12] In 1942, Tolon met Fahri Batıca. The two started a workshop together on Cumhuriyet Street, where they manufactured wheel hubs for cars and Jacquard machines.^[6] They split up two years later in 1944 after Batıca said that engineering was a thing for Tolon and not for him. Following this, Tolon started to work at the workshop with his wife.^[13]

In 1944, Tolon was drafted into the army and was sent to Nara, Çanakkale.^[14] He continued his work during the army; most importantly producing machines to cut mines,^[15] which were used to neutralize naval mines in the Dardanelles left over from World War I.^[16] He spent 5 months cleaning mines and assisting soldiers in the use of his machine. Following regular electricity outages in his military squad, he made an electricity generator, as well as a portable washing machine for soldiers who were traveling. The washing machine was assembled in the back of a truck and was used in the army for several years.^[17]

Return from military and first electric engine

Tolon returned to Bursa from the military in 1945. That same year he made power looms, sawing machines and drills in his workshop.^[15] In 1948 and 1949, Tolon manufactured a combine harvester and water pumps for farmers.^[16] The government decided to buy the harvester, but needed to test the machine. A European manufacturer also joined the testing, but secretly installed iron bars on the farm land where the test took place, causing the harvester to break.^[18]

Tolon also manufactured washing machines and dishwashers in his workhop, which were the first manufactured in the country.^[8] He received the patents for these products in 1953.^[19] Washing machines at the time were only owned by the wealthy, as the need to import them made them expensive. Tolon's machine allowed many more families to acquire one.^[17] The copper wires needed for the machines were processed in his own workshop and everything apart from the engines were built by Tolon.^[20] The engines were imported from abroad and had an import quota.^[8] Tolon had trouble selling the dishwasher, as locals at the time thought that washing dishes by hand was cleaner: as a result, he stopped production.^[18]

While visiting Bursa, then–prime minister Adnan Menderes told Tolon that he was not allowed to import engines anymore, and forced him to manufacture his own engine. This led to the manufacture of the first electric engine of Turkey, which were used for Tolon's machines.^[8] The first engine had a power of 0.35 kilowatts (0.47 hp).^[21] The improved version that went into mass production had a power of 30–40 kilowatts (40–54 hp).^[22] The machines were considered to be of high quality, with Hürriyet reporting that "these domestic washing machines are the same as, or even more durable and practical than European goods."^[b]

Relocation due to fire

In December 1957, Tolon bought a 14-acre (5.7 ha) field near the village of Soğukpınarlı. On 24 August 1958, a major fire destroyed 1130 shops at the bazaar (kapalıçarşı) and Cumhuriyet Street in Bursa, including Tolon's shop.^[8] Taking advantage of the chaos, several of his machines were looted by people.^[24] Despite the fire completely burning down his workshop, he temporarily continued his work in tents of the Turkish Red Crescent.^[21] Tolon was one of the first to resume production among those manufacturers who were affected by the fire.^[24] Following the fire, Tolon started to plan a factory at the field near Soğukpınarlı. Construction began in 1959, with Tolon himself making the drawings and being the architect.^[8] Production of machines at the factory started in 1960.^[24] Sales increased with the new factory, with Tolon opening stores in 64 of the 67 provinces in Turkey.^[25]

Later ventures

Kamil Tolon was the chairman of the executive board of Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 1963 to 1965 and played a vital role in the founding of the first organized industrial zone of Turkey.^[26] He was one of the founding members of the Justice Party. He considered becoming a member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, but was not able to due to an uneasy atmosphere within the party.^[27] Tolon was one of the 28 people allowed to vote to select the chairman of the party in 1964.^[28]

He died on 23 July 1978 in Geneva, Switzerland after suffering from an embolism following a heart surgery at the age of 66.^[29] He is buried in the Emir Sultan Cemetery, Bursa, next to the Emir Sultan Mosque.^[30] His son Dara moved the factory to İzmir after his death.^[31] The old factory in Bursa was demolished in 2017 as part of an urban renewal project.^[32]

Legacy

Kamil Tolon is thought to be an important figure in Turkish industrialism.^[15]^[24]^[26] Turkish president and Justice Party leader Süleyman Demirel considered Kamil Tolon to be one of the people who initiated industrialization movements in Bursa and across the country. He added that Tolon had made "great contributions" for him to become the leader of the party.^[33] According to a 2004 article in the Turkish newspaper Sabah, when mothers were asked to name a company from their era, many first named Tolon Makina. The newspaper joked that "even Greeks were using the machines of Tolon."^[34] An arts and science school in Osmangazi, Bursa, is named after Tolon.^[35]

Notes

^ Some sources use 1913 as the date, but 1912—a leap year—is generally accepted as his true birth date due to his birthday being on 29 February.^[1]
^ Quoted from Hürriyet's issue of 1 September 1955: "Bu yerli malı çamaşır makineleri Avrupa malından farksız, hatta daha sağlam ve kullanışlıdır."^[22]^[23]

References

Citations

^ Kuter 2009, p. 7.
^ Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 259.
^ ^a ^b Kuter 2009, p. 8.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 260.
^ Kuter 2009, pp. 8–9.
^ ^a ^b ^c Kuter 2009, p. 9.
^ Yıldız 2017, pp. 158–159.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Kuter 2009, p. 13.
^ Kuter 2009, pp. 9–10.
^ Kuter 2009, p. 10.
^ Yıldız 2017, p. 159.
^ "Türkiye'nin mucidi Tolon 82 yaşında" [Turkish Inventor Tolon is 82 Years Old]. Milliyet (in Turkish). 24 September 2019. Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
^ Kuter 2009, p. 12.
^ Kuter 2009, p. 11.
^ ^a ^b ^c Altun & Sarıoğlu 2006, p. 83.
^ ^a ^b Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 261.
^ ^a ^b Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 262.
^ ^a ^b Yıldız 2017, p. 160.
^ Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 266.
^ Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, pp. 262–263.
^ ^a ^b Altun & Sarıoğlu 2006, p. 86.
^ ^a ^b Pamuk & Kumcu 2001, p. 32.
^ Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 265.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 267.
^ Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, pp. 267–268.
^ ^a ^b Kuter 2009, p. 17.
^ Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 269.
^ Turhan 2015, p. 31.
^ Yıldız 2017, p. 162.
^ Yıldız 2017, p. 165.
^ Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 270.
^ Hüseyin Tüccar (4 January 2017). "Türkiye'nin ilk çamaşır ve bulaşık makinesi fabrikası yıkılıyor" [Turkey's first washing machine and dishwasher factory is being demolished]. CNN Türk (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
^ Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, pp. 268–269.
^ "Yunan askeri annemizin makinesini kullanıyor" [Greek soldiers use the machines of our mothers]. Sabah (in Turkish). 25 February 2004. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Yunan Ordusu ve Genel Kurmay Başkanlığı bile çamaşırlarını Tolon marka çamaşır makinelerinde yıkıyor.
^ "BTSO Kamil Tolon Bilim ve Sanat Merkezi". Bursa BİLSEM (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.

Bibliography

Altun, Şafak; Sarıoğlu, Cenk (2006). "Makinelerin Mucidi: Kamil Tolon" [Inventor of Machines: Kamil Tolon]. Türk Popüler Tarihinde İlkler (in Turkish). ALFA. pp. 83–87. ISBN 9789752977747.
Çolak, Hasan; Çeçen, Zeynep Kocabıyıkoğlu; Demirakın, N. Işık (2016). "Çamaşır Makinesinin Türkiye'deki Serüveni ve Yeniliğe Adanmış Bir Ömür: Kamil Tolon" [The Story of the Washing Machine in Turkey and a Life Dedicated to Change: Kamil Tolon]. Tarih ve Edebiyat Yazıları (in Turkish). Kebikeç [tr]. pp. 259–270. ISBN 9789757981435.
Kuter, Murat (2009). Bursa'da Bir Mucit: Kamil Tolon'un Yaşam Öyküsü [An Inventor in Bursa: the Life of Kamil Tolon] (in Turkish). Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry. ISBN 9789756664025. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022.
Pamuk, Şevket; Kumcu, Ercan (2001). Artık Herkes Milyoner: Hürriyet Sayfalarından Ekonominin 50 Yılı [Everyone is a Millionaire Now: 50 Years of the Economy from the Pages of Hürriyet] (in Turkish). Doğan Kitap. ISBN 9789756612620.
Turhan, Sedat (2015). Adalet Partisi İçinde Bir Muhalif: Sadettin Bilgiç [An Opponent Inside the Justice Party: Sadettin Bilgiç] (PDF) (Thesis) (in Turkish). Süleyman Demirel University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 February 2020.
Yıldız, Halime [in Turkish] (May 2017). "Kamil Ö. Tolon". Bursa'da Yaşam (in Turkish). Olay Medya [tr]. pp. 158–162.

External links

Official website

[2] Some sources use 1913 as the date, but 1912—a leap year—is generally accepted as his true birth date due to his birthday being on 29 February.^[1]

[25] Quoted from Hürriyet's issue of 1 September 1955: "Bu yerli malı çamaşır makineleri Avrupa malından farksız, hatta daha sağlam ve kullanışlıdır."^[22]^[23]

[FOOTNOTEKuter20097-1] Kuter 2009, p. 7.

[FOOTNOTEÇolakÇeçenDemirakın2016259-3] Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 259.

[FOOTNOTEKuter20098-4] Kuter 2009, p. 8.

[FOOTNOTEÇolakÇeçenDemirakın2016260-5] Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 260.

[FOOTNOTEKuter20098–9-6] Kuter 2009, pp. 8–9.

[FOOTNOTEKuter20099-7] Kuter 2009, p. 9.

[FOOTNOTEYıldız2017158–159-8] Yıldız 2017, pp. 158–159.

[FOOTNOTEKuter200913-9] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Kuter 2009, p. 13.

[FOOTNOTEKuter20099–10-10] Kuter 2009, pp. 9–10.

[FOOTNOTEKuter200910-11] Kuter 2009, p. 10.

[FOOTNOTEYıldız2017159-12] Yıldız 2017, p. 159.

[13] "Türkiye'nin mucidi Tolon 82 yaşında" [Turkish Inventor Tolon is 82 Years Old]. Milliyet (in Turkish). 24 September 2019. Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2023.

[FOOTNOTEKuter200912-14] Kuter 2009, p. 12.

[FOOTNOTEKuter200911-15] Kuter 2009, p. 11.

[FOOTNOTEAltunSarıoğlu200683-16] Altun & Sarıoğlu 2006, p. 83.

[FOOTNOTEÇolakÇeçenDemirakın2016261-17] Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 261.

[FOOTNOTEÇolakÇeçenDemirakın2016262-18] Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 262.

[FOOTNOTEYıldız2017160-19] Yıldız 2017, p. 160.

[FOOTNOTEÇolakÇeçenDemirakın2016266-20] Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 266.

[FOOTNOTEÇolakÇeçenDemirakın2016262–263-21] Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, pp. 262–263.

[FOOTNOTEAltunSarıoğlu200686-22] Altun & Sarıoğlu 2006, p. 86.

[FOOTNOTEPamukKumcu200132-23] Pamuk & Kumcu 2001, p. 32.

[FOOTNOTEÇolakÇeçenDemirakın2016265-24] Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 265.

[FOOTNOTEÇolakÇeçenDemirakın2016267-26] Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 267.

[FOOTNOTEÇolakÇeçenDemirakın2016267–268-27] Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, pp. 267–268.

[FOOTNOTEKuter200917-28] Kuter 2009, p. 17.

[FOOTNOTEÇolakÇeçenDemirakın2016269-29] Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 269.

[FOOTNOTETurhan201531-30] Turhan 2015, p. 31.

[FOOTNOTEYıldız2017162-31] Yıldız 2017, p. 162.

[FOOTNOTEYıldız2017165-32] Yıldız 2017, p. 165.

[FOOTNOTEÇolakÇeçenDemirakın2016270-33] Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, p. 270.

[34] Hüseyin Tüccar (4 January 2017). "Türkiye'nin ilk çamaşır ve bulaşık makinesi fabrikası yıkılıyor" [Turkey's first washing machine and dishwasher factory is being demolished]. CNN Türk (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.

[FOOTNOTEÇolakÇeçenDemirakın2016268–269-35] Çolak, Çeçen & Demirakın 2016, pp. 268–269.

[36] "Yunan askeri annemizin makinesini kullanıyor" [Greek soldiers use the machines of our mothers]. Sabah (in Turkish). 25 February 2004. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Yunan Ordusu ve Genel Kurmay Başkanlığı bile çamaşırlarını Tolon marka çamaşır makinelerinde yıkıyor.

[37] "BTSO Kamil Tolon Bilim ve Sanat Merkezi". Bursa BİLSEM (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.

[a]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[b]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]

[35]

[1]

[23]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Turkish industrialist (1912–1978)}}
-{{AFC submission|t||ts=20200522140949|u=Yiğitcank|ns=118|demo=}}<!-- Important, do not remove this line before article has been created. -->
+{{Good article}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
+{{Infobox person
+| name               = Kamil Tolon
+| image              = Kamil Özdemir Tolon early years.png
+| birth_name         = <!-- No birth name -->
+| birth_date         = {{birth date|1912|2|29|df=yes}}
+| birth_place        = [[Istanbul]], [[Ottoman Empire]]
+| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1978|7|23|1912|2|29|df=yes}}
+| death_place        = [[Geneva]], Switzerland
+| nationality        = Turkish
+| other_names        = Kamil Özdemir Tolonçok
+| education          = [[Ankara University Faculty of Law]]
+| known_for          = Invention of the first washing machine and electric engine in Turkey
+| party              = [[Justice Party (Turkey)|Justice]]
+| spouse             = {{ubl|Müeyyet Bulut|Muzaffer Biliktü}}
+| children           = 4
+| website            = {{URL|kamiltolon.com}}
+| signature          = Signature of Kamil Tolon.svg
+}}
+'''Kamil Özdemir Tolon''' (29 February 1912 – 23 July 1978) was a [[Turkish people|Turkish]] businessperson, industrialist and inventor, known for the first manufacture of an electric engine in Turkey. Tolon was born in 1912 in Istanbul. He had his secondary and university education in Ankara. He wanted to become an engineer, but went to the [[Ankara University, Law School|Ankara University Faculty of Law]] instead due to the lack of engineering schools. He graduated in 1935, and started working as a ''[[PTT (Turkey)|Posta ve Telgraf Teşkilatı]]'' ({{translation|literal=yes}} Post and Telegraph Agency: PTT) inspector after university, but left the job not long after.
-'''Kamil Tolon''' is a Turkish businessman, industrialist, and inventor.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Arşiv |first1=Sabah |title=Greek Soldiers use our mom's machine |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204123305/http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2004/02/25/eko103.html |website=Sabah Journal |publisher=Sabah |accessdate=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Omur |first1=Mete Tamer |title=Crazy Tolon's |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329214649/https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/yazarlar/mete-tamer-omur/cilgin-tolon-lar-27544927 |website=Hürriyet Gazetesi |accessdate=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kuter |first1=Dr. Murat |title=Kamil Tolon's Life Story |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZPpNjWAcz0 |website=YouTube Video |accessdate=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kamil Tolon's Biography |url=https://www.translatetheweb.com/?from=tr&to=en&dl=en&a=https://peoplepill.com/people/kamil-tolon/ |website=People Pill |accessdate=22 May 2020}}</ref>
+After moving to [[Bursa]], he founded Tolon Makina in 1937, where he started to produce several machines. In 1944, he was drafted into the army, where he continued working on new inventions to be used for the army. After returning from the army, Tolon started producing [[combine harvester]]s, water pumps, washing machines and [[dishwasher]]s. While initially using imported engines, he was later compelled to build his own engine by Turkish Prime Minister [[Adnan Menderes]] and made the first indigenously manufactured electric engine in Turkey.
-== His life ==
-He was born in [[Ottoman Constantinople|Constantinople]] (now [[Istanbul]]), [[Ottoman Empire]] on 29th of February 1912. His family has known as "Saatçioğulları".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kuter |first1=Dr. Murat |title=An Inventor In Bursa Kamil Tolon's Life Story |publisher=Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO) |isbn=978-605-89779-8-3 |pages=8 |url=http://www.kuterpr.com/e-kitaplar/bursada-bir-mucit/index.html#8/z |accessdate=22 May 2020}}</ref> He was his father Mr. Muhittin's and Mrs. Behiye's second child.<ref name="auto">{{cite book |last1=Kuter |first1=Dr. Murat |title=An Inventor In Bursa Kamil Tolon's Life Story |publisher=BTSO |isbn=978-605-89779-8-3 |pages=8 |url=http://www.kuterpr.com/e-kitaplar/bursada-bir-mucit/index.html#8/z |accessdate=22 May 2020}}</ref> He had married with Mueyyet Bulut in 1937. Then their children, Abatun and Barkın were born.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kuter |first1=Dr. Murat |title=An Inventor In Bursa Kamil Tolon's Life Story |publisher=BTSO |isbn=978-605-89779-8-3 |pages=9 |url=http://www.kuterpr.com/e-kitaplar/bursada-bir-mucit/index.html#8/z |accessdate=22 May 2020}}</ref> In 1943, he divorced Mueyyet Bulut and married Muzaffer Biliktü. One year later his son Dara was born and six years later his daughter Cana was born.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kuter |first1=Dr. Murat |title=An Inventor In Bursa Kamil Tolon's Life Story |publisher=BTSO |isbn=978-605-89779-8-3 |pages=11 |url=http://www.kuterpr.com/e-kitaplar/bursada-bir-mucit/index.html#8/z |accessdate=22 May 2020}}</ref>
+Tolon moved to a new factory after a fire damaged his workshop in 1958. The factory started production in 1960 and resulted in an increase of sales. He was a founding member of the [[Justice Party (Turkey)|Justice Party]] and became a chairman at the [[Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry]]. Regarded as one of the most important figures in Turkish industrialism, Kamil Tolon died in 1978 in [[Geneva]], Switzerland, from an [[embolism]].
-== His education ==
-He finished elementary school in many provinces by the reason of his father's business.<ref name="auto"/> He graduated from Ankara High School for Boys in 1931.<ref name="auto"/> He has wanted to study engineering, but those times in Turkey there was not an engineering school.<ref name="auto"/> His Master's Voice had wanted to buy this invention. By the reason of its high price, the company had not bought it.<ref name="auto"/> After this he had sold it to Efes family. In 1931 he started to study in Ankara Faculty of Law. Turkish prime minister [[Adnan Menderes]] was his classmate.<ref name="auto"/>
-== His career ==
+== Early and personal life ==
+Kamil Tolon was born on 29 February 1912{{efn|Some sources use 1913 as the date, but 1912—a [[leap year]]—is generally accepted as his true birth date due to his birthday being on 29 February.{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|p=7}}}} in the [[Beylerbeyi]] neighborhood of [[Istanbul]]. He was the second child of six children in the Saatçioğulları family.{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|p=259}} He was known as Muhittin oğlu Kamil ({{translation|literal=yes}} ''Muhittin's son Kamil'') as surnames in Turkey were not mandatory at the time.{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|p=8}} His primary education took place in several different [[provinces of Turkey]]. Tolon attended high school at a [[boarding school]] in [[Ankara]],{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|p=260}} and graduated in September 1935.{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|p=8}} During his time in high school, he was interested in engineering: he designed a [[music box]] while still being a student.{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|pp=8–9}} However, due to the lack of engineering faculties at the time, Tolon instead had to attend the [[Ankara University, Law School|Ankara University Faculty of Law]] for higher education. At the faculty of law, he met several future politicians, including [[Adnan Menderes]], the [[List of prime ministers of Turkey|9th prime minister of Turkey]].{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|p=260}} Tolon graduated from university on 4 July 1935.{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|p=9}}
-When he graduated from university in 1935, he was appointed as PTT inspector. He resigned because of his experiences during his first inspection trip to Anatolia in 1937.<ref name="auto"/> After that, with Mayor of Bursa. Fahri Batıca, they had opened a shop. In this shop they produced Turkey's first washing machine.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Özdemir |first1=Nezaket |title=Cumhuriyet çocuklarının diliyle Bursa'nın anısal tarihi |publisher=Sentez |isbn=9786055790035 |url=https://books.google.com.tr/books?id=oV1PAQAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y |accessdate=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sabah |first1=Arşiv |title=Tolon produced first washing machine |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213050859/http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2004/02/25/eko104.html |website=Sabah |accessdate=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=T24 |first1=T24 |title=Tolon Factory |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105184200/https://t24.com.tr/haber/turkiyenin-ilk-camasir-ve-bulasik-makinasi-fabrikasi-yikiliyor,381127 |website=T24 |accessdate=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gazetesi |first1=EKOHABER |title=Tolon in Bursa |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129104042/http://www.ekohaber.com.tr/bursa-dan-bir-tolon-gecti-haber_id-27183.html |website=EKOHABER |accessdate=22 May 2020}}</ref> After that, his classmate Adnan Menderes suggested to Kamil Tolon to produce electric motors. After that, he had produced Turkey's first electric motor.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kuter |first1=Dr. Murat |title=An Inventor In Bursa Kamil Tolon's Life Story |publisher=BTSO |isbn=978-605-89779-8-3 |pages=21 |url=http://www.kuterpr.com/e-kitaplar/bursada-bir-mucit/index.html#8/z |accessdate=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Özdemir |first1=Nezaket |title=Cumhuriyet çocuklarının diliyle Bursa'nın anısal tarihi |publisher=Sentez |isbn=9786055790035 |pages=60 |url=https://books.google.com.tr/books?id=oV1PAQAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y |accessdate=22 May 2020}}</ref> By the time, he had developed the copper wire machine.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Altun |first1=Şafak |title=Turkey's popular history |publisher=ALFA |isbn=9789752977747 |pages=83,85,86 |url=https://books.google.com.tr/books?id=75RpAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Kamil+Tolon%22&dq=%22Kamil+Tolon%22&hl=tr&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjMsbfzjannAhVr1qYKHQowBk8Q6AEIKDAA |accessdate=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Hiç |first1=Mükerrem |title=Assembly industry: its development, problems, and its place in our economy |publisher=Ekonomik ve Sosyal Etüdler Konferans Heyeti |url=https://books.google.com.tr/books?id=I7vsAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Kamil+Tolon%22&dq=%22Kamil+Tolon%22&hl=tr&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj9_5-llqnnAhWy5KYKHbamAvMQ6AEITTAF |accessdate=22 May 2020}}</ref> After that, he became a founder of Justice Party and BTSO.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Editors |first1=İAOSB |title=A success story:Tolon |url=http://www.iaosb.org.tr/haberler/Iaosbden-Haberler/732-bir-basari-hikayesi-tolon-makine |website=İAOSB |accessdate=22 May 2020}}</ref>
+In 1935, with the new [[Surname Law (Turkey)|Surname Law]] requiring every Turkish citizen to assume a hereditary surname, he took the surname Tolonçok, meaning "very talented".{{Sfn|Yıldız|2017|pp=158–159}} He changed it to simply Tolon later in 1944.{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|p=13}} In 1936, Tolon married Müeyyet Bulut, with whom he had two daughters, Abatun (1936–2022) and Barkın (1942–2023). Tolon and Bulut divorced in 1942. The older daughter stayed with Tolon, while his younger daughter stayed with her mother.{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|pp=9–10}} In February 1943, Tolon married his second wife, Muzaffer Biliktü. They also had two children: a son, Dara (born 1944), and a daughter, Cana (born 1949).{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|p=260}} Despite the divorce, Tolon and Müeyyet Bulut still held family reunions, with Cana referring to Bulut as her aunt.{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|p=10}}
-== His death ==
-He died in Switzerland on 23rd of July, 1978.{{cn}}
+== Career ==
+=== PTT inspector and return to engineering ===
+After graduating from university, Tolon started to work at ''[[PTT (Turkey)|Posta ve Telgraf Teşkilatı]]'' ({{translation|literal=yes}} Post and Telegraph Agency: PTT) as an inspector. He was sent to [[Anatolia]] for his first inspection, though he resigned almost immediately after an encounter with an extremely poor villager.{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|p=9}}{{Sfn|Yıldız|2017|p=159}} He went to an engineering school in France for a brief period, before opening a shop in [[Bursa]] in 1937, which he named Tolon Makina.{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|p=260}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milliyet.com.tr/ege/turkiyenin-mucidi-tolon-82-yasinda-6039463|title=Türkiye'nin mucidi Tolon 82 yaşında|trans-title=Turkish Inventor Tolon is 82 Years Old|date=24 September 2019|website=[[Milliyet]]|language=Turkish|access-date=14 January 2023|archive-date=5 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005234704/https://www.milliyet.com.tr/ege/turkiyenin-mucidi-tolon-82-yasinda-6039463|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1942, Tolon met [[Fahri Batıca]]. The two started a workshop together on [[Cumhuriyet Street]], where they manufactured [[Wheel#Hub|wheel hubs]] for cars and [[Jacquard machine]]s.{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|p=9}} They split up two years later in 1944 after Batıca said that engineering was a thing for Tolon and not for him. Following this, Tolon started to work at the workshop with his wife.{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|p=12}}
+In 1944, Tolon was drafted into the army and was sent to [[Nara Burnu|Nara]], [[Çanakkale Province|Çanakkale]].{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|p=11}} He continued his work during the army; most importantly producing machines to cut mines,{{Sfn|Altun|Sarıoğlu|2006|p=83}} which were used to neutralize [[naval mine]]s in the [[Dardanelles]] left over from [[World War I]].{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|p=261}} He spent 5 months cleaning mines and assisting soldiers in the use of his machine. Following regular electricity outages in his military squad, he made an electricity generator, as well as a portable washing machine for soldiers who were traveling. The washing machine was assembled in the back of a truck and was used in the army for several years.{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|p=262}}
+=== Return from military and first electric engine ===
+[[File:Tolon Washing Machine, 1950s.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A washing machine of Tolon from the 1950s]]
+Tolon returned to Bursa from the military in 1945. That same year he made [[power loom]]s, sawing machines and drills in his workshop.{{Sfn|Altun|Sarıoğlu|2006|p=83}} In 1948 and 1949, Tolon manufactured a [[combine harvester]] and water pumps for farmers.{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|p=261}} The government decided to buy the harvester, but needed to test the machine. A European manufacturer also joined the testing, but secretly installed iron bars on the farm land where the test took place, causing the harvester to break.{{Sfn|Yıldız|2017|p=160}}
+Tolon also manufactured washing machines and [[dishwasher]]s in his workhop, which were the first manufactured in the country.{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|p=13}} He received the patents for these products in 1953.{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|p=266}} Washing machines at the time were only owned by the wealthy, as the need to import them made them expensive. Tolon's machine allowed many more families to acquire one.{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|p=262}} The copper wires needed for the machines were processed in his own workshop and everything apart from the engines were built by Tolon.{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|pp=262–263}} The engines were imported from abroad and had an [[import quota]].{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|p=13}} Tolon had trouble selling the dishwasher, as locals at the time thought that washing dishes by hand was cleaner: as a result, he stopped production.{{Sfn|Yıldız|2017|p=160}}
+While visiting Bursa, then–prime minister [[Adnan Menderes]] told Tolon that he was not allowed to import engines anymore, and forced him to manufacture his own engine. This led to the manufacture of the first electric engine of Turkey, which were used for Tolon's machines.{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|p=13}} The first engine had a power of {{convert|0.35|kW|hp}}.{{Sfn|Altun|Sarıoğlu|2006|p=86}} The improved version that went into mass production had a power of {{convert|30–40|kW|hp}}.{{Sfn|Pamuk|Kumcu|2001|p=32}} The machines were considered to be of high quality, with ''[[Hürriyet]]'' reporting that "these domestic washing machines are the same as, or even more durable and practical than European goods."{{efn|Quoted from ''[[Hürriyet]]''{{'}}s issue of 1 September 1955: "Bu yerli malı çamaşır makineleri Avrupa malından farksız, hatta daha sağlam ve kullanışlıdır."{{Sfn|Pamuk|Kumcu|2001|p=32}}{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|p=265}}}}
+=== Relocation due to fire ===
+In December 1957, Tolon bought a {{convert|14|acre|ha|adj=on}} field near the village of Soğukpınarlı. On 24 August 1958, a major fire destroyed 1130 shops at the [[bazaar]] (''kapalıçarşı'') and Cumhuriyet Street in Bursa, including Tolon's shop.{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|p=13}} Taking advantage of the chaos, several of his machines were [[Looting|looted]] by people.{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|p=267}} Despite the fire completely burning down his workshop, he temporarily continued his work in tents of the [[Turkish Red Crescent]].{{Sfn|Altun|Sarıoğlu|2006|p=86}} Tolon was one of the first to resume production among those manufacturers who were affected by the fire.{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|p=267}} Following the fire, Tolon started to plan a factory at the field near Soğukpınarlı. Construction began in 1959, with Tolon himself making the drawings and being the architect.{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|p=13}} Production of machines at the factory started in 1960.{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|p=267}} Sales increased with the new factory, with Tolon opening stores in 64 of the 67 provinces in Turkey.{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|pp=267–268}}
+== Later ventures ==
+[[File:Kamil Tolon mezarı.jpg|thumb|200px|Grave of Tolon in the [[Amir Sultan Cemetery|Emir Sultan Cemetery]], Bursa]]
+Kamil Tolon was the chairman of the executive board of [[Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry]] from 1963 to 1965 and played a vital role in the founding of the first organized industrial zone of Turkey.{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|p=17}} He was one of the founding members of the [[Justice Party (Turkey)|Justice Party]]. He considered becoming a member of the [[Grand National Assembly of Turkey]], but was not able to due to an uneasy atmosphere within the party.{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|p=269}} Tolon was one of the 28 people allowed to vote to select the [[Party chair|chairman of the party]] in 1964.{{Sfn|Turhan|2015|p=31}}
+He died on 23 July 1978 in [[Geneva]], Switzerland after suffering from an [[embolism]] following a heart surgery at the age of 66.{{Sfn|Yıldız|2017|p=162}} He is buried in the [[Amir Sultan Cemetery|Emir Sultan Cemetery]], Bursa, next to the [[Emir Sultan Mosque]].{{Sfn|Yıldız|2017|p=165}} His son Dara moved the factory to [[İzmir]] after his death.{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|p=270}} The old factory in Bursa was demolished in 2017 as part of an [[urban renewal]] project.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnnturk.com/turkiye/turkiyenin-ilk-camasir-ve-bulasik-makinesi-fabrikasi-yikiliyor?page=1|title=Türkiye'nin ilk çamaşır ve bulaşık makinesi fabrikası yıkılıyor|trans-title=Turkey's first washing machine and dishwasher factory is being demolished|author=Hüseyin Tüccar|date=4 January 2017|website=[[CNN Türk]]|language=Turkish|access-date=14 January 2023|archive-date=14 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114211622/https://www.cnnturk.com/turkiye/turkiyenin-ilk-camasir-ve-bulasik-makinesi-fabrikasi-yikiliyor?page=1|url-status=live}}</ref>
+== Legacy ==
+Kamil Tolon is thought to be an important figure in Turkish industrialism.{{Sfn|Altun|Sarıoğlu|2006|p=83}}{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|p=267}}{{Sfn|Kuter|2009|p=17}} [[List of presidents of Turkey|Turkish president]] and [[Justice Party (Turkey)|Justice Party]] leader [[Süleyman Demirel]] considered Kamil Tolon to be one of the people who initiated industrialization movements in Bursa and across the country. He added that Tolon had made "great contributions" for him to become the leader of the party.{{Sfn|Çolak|Çeçen|Demirakın|2016|pp=268–269}} According to a 2004 article in the Turkish newspaper ''[[Sabah (newspaper)|Sabah]]'', when mothers were asked to name a company from their era, many first named Tolon Makina. The newspaper joked that "even Greeks were using the machines of Tolon."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2004/02/25/eko103.html|title=Yunan askeri annemizin makinesini kullanıyor|trans-title=Greek soldiers use the machines of our mothers|date=25 February 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107010019/http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2004/02/25/eko103.html|archive-date=7 January 2017|url-status=live|website=[[Sabah (newspaper)|Sabah]]|language=Turkish|quote=Yunan Ordusu ve Genel Kurmay Başkanlığı bile çamaşırlarını Tolon marka çamaşır makinelerinde yıkıyor.}}</ref> An arts and science school in [[Osmangazi]], Bursa, is named after Tolon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bursabilsem.meb.k12.tr/|title=BTSO Kamil Tolon Bilim ve Sanat Merkezi|access-date=14 January 2023|website=Bursa BİLSEM|language=Turkish|archive-date=9 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109084715/https://bursabilsem.meb.k12.tr/|url-status=live}}</ref>
+== Notes ==
+{{notelist}}
 == References ==
+=== Citations ===
-<!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. -->
-{{reflist}}
+{{Reflist|25em}}
+=== Bibliography ===
+{{Refbegin}}
+* {{cite book|last1=Altun|first1=Şafak|last2=Sarıoğlu|first2=Cenk|date=2006|title=Türk Popüler Tarihinde İlkler|publisher=ALFA|isbn=9789752977747|chapter=Makinelerin Mucidi: Kamil Tolon|trans-chapter=Inventor of Machines: Kamil Tolon|pages=83–87|language=Turkish}}
+* {{cite book|last1=Çolak|first1=Hasan|last2=Çeçen|first2=Zeynep Kocabıyıkoğlu|last3=Demirakın|first3=N. Işık|date=2016|title=Tarih ve Edebiyat Yazıları|publisher={{ill|Kebikeç|tr|Kebikeç (dergi)}}|isbn=9789757981435|chapter=Çamaşır Makinesinin Türkiye'deki Serüveni ve Yeniliğe Adanmış Bir Ömür: Kamil Tolon|trans-chapter=The Story of the Washing Machine in Turkey and a Life Dedicated to Change: Kamil Tolon|pages=259–270|language=Turkish}}
+* {{cite book|last=Kuter|first=Murat|date=2009|title=Bursa'da Bir Mucit: Kamil Tolon'un Yaşam Öyküsü|trans-title=An Inventor in Bursa: the Life of Kamil Tolon|url=http://www.kuterpr.com/e-kitaplar/bursada-bir-mucit/index.html#4|publisher=[[Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728044113/http://www.kuterpr.com/e-kitaplar/bursada-bir-mucit/index.html|archive-date=28 July 2022|url-status=live|isbn=9789756664025|language=Turkish}}
+* {{cite book|last1=Pamuk|first1=Şevket|last2=Kumcu|first2=Ercan|author-link1=Şevket Pamuk|date=2001|title=Artık Herkes Milyoner: Hürriyet Sayfalarından Ekonominin 50 Yılı|trans-title=Everyone is a Millionaire Now: 50 Years of the Economy from the Pages of Hürriyet|publisher=[[Doğan Media Group|Doğan Kitap]]|isbn=9789756612620|language=Turkish}}
+* {{Cite thesis|last=Turhan|first=Sedat|date=2015|title=Adalet Partisi İçinde Bir Muhalif: Sadettin Bilgiç|trans-title=An Opponent Inside the Justice Party: Sadettin Bilgiç|url=http://tez.sdu.edu.tr/Tezler/TS01928.pdf|archive-date=3 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203111130/http://tez.sdu.edu.tr/Tezler/TS01928.pdf|publisher=[[Süleyman Demirel University]]|url-status=dead|language=Turkish}}
+* {{Cite magazine|last=Yıldız|first=Halime|author-link=:tr:Halime Yıldız|date=May 2017|title=Kamil Ö. Tolon|magazine=Bursa'da Yaşam|publisher={{ill|Olay Medya|tr|Olay Medya Grubu}}|pages=158–162|language=Turkish}}
+{{Refend}}
+== Further reading ==
+* {{cite book|last=Kağıtçıbaşı|first=Çiğdem|author-link=Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı|date=2015|title=Lüla ve Ben: Çifte Anı|publisher=[[Doğan Media Group|Doğan Kitap]]|isbn=9786050930863|language=Turkish |ref=none}}
+* {{cite book|last=Özgün|first=Güneş|date=2020|title=[[:tr:s:Duayen Sanayici Kamil Tolon'un Yaşam Öyküsü|Duayen Sanayici Kamil Tolon'un Yaşam Öyküsü]]|publisher=İkinci Adam Yayınları|isbn=9786053068532|language=Turkish |ref=none}}
+* {{cite book|last=Peker|first=Ekrem Hayri|date=2023|title=Bursa'da Nostaljik Bir Gezinti|publisher=Ekin Basım Yayın|isbn=9786256952454|language=Turkish |ref=none}}
+* {{cite book|last=Tolon|first=Güneş|translator-last=Newman|translator-first=Gultilsim|date=2020|title=Doyen Industrialist Kamil Tolon’s Life Story|publisher=[[Kindle Direct Publishing]]|isbn=9798343589252|ref=none}}
+== External links ==
+{{Commons category|Kamil Özdemir Tolon|Kamil Tolon}}
+* {{Official website|kamiltolon.com}}
+{{Presidents of Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry}}
-== Kamil Tolon ==
+{{Authority control|state=collapsed}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Tolon, Kamil}}
-{{AFC submission|||ts=20200522142019|u=Yiğitcank|ns=118}}
+[[Category:1912 births]]
+[[Category:1978 deaths]]
+[[Category:20th-century people from the Ottoman Empire]]
+[[Category:20th-century Turkish businesspeople]]
+[[Category:20th-century Turkish engineers]]
+[[Category:Turkish inventors]]
+[[Category:Turks from the Ottoman Empire]]
+[[Category:Ankara University Faculty of Law alumni]]
+[[Category:Justice Party (Turkey) politicians]]

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	United States