The roots of metallography in Selmec

Commemoration of Professor Dr. Aladár Schleicher

Abstract

Originally, I only wanted to write my memoirs about Professor Schleicher, because I am probably the only professional who had a working relationship with him in the 1950s at the Hungarian Standards Office. He was the chairman of the metal casting standardization working committee, and I was one of the 10-member committee members, mostly casting technicians with my students.
At the beginning of the meeting, the head of the Metallurgical Department of the Hungarian State
University of Technology appeared with an elderly gentleman. He introduced himself as Aladár Schleicher and Professor. I had heard his name at the time, but I did not know him personally. We, the members of the committee, looked at each other: who was he? I was also aware that he was a casting specialist, and we had never seen him in the association.
The professor was active during the meeting, with good observations. At the end of the meeting, he was struggling to put on his winter coat, but I jumped up and helped him. In the meantime, he turned to me: Would you like me to accompany him to the Boulevard, to the tram? I readily said yes. Not much was said during the graduation, he was obviously tired, which he confirmed, and thanked me for the help. This escorting became regular. That’s how I got to know him.