Fritz Pfleumer (20 March 1881 – 29 August 1945) was a German engineer who invented magnetic tape for recording sound.
Biography
Pfleumer was born on March 20, 1881, in Salzburg, to Robert and Minna Pfleumer (born as Hünich). His father, Robert (1848–1934), was born in Greiz, and his mother, Minna (1846–1932), was born in Freiberg. Fritz had five siblings: Mimi, Hans, Hermann, Otto, and Mizi. Hans moved to the United States.
Pfleumer created a method to apply metal strips to cigarette paper. He believed this technique could also be used to coat a magnetic strip as a replacement for wire recording.
In 1927, after testing many materials, Pfleumer used very thin paper coated with iron oxide powder, using lacquer as an adhesive. He received a patent for this invention in 1928.
On December 1, 1932, Pfleumer allowed AEG to use his invention to build the first practical tape recorder, called Magnetophon K1. It was first shown at the IFA in 1935.
Pfleumer died on August 29, 1945, at the age of 64, in Radebeul, after being struck by a truck.