Sigmund Riefler (9 August 1847 – 21 October 1912) was a German physicist, inventor and precision clockmaker.

Life

Sigmund Riefler was born on 9 August 1847 to Magdalena and Clemens Riefler. He studied mathematics, geodesy and mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Munich, and then physics and astronomy at the University of Munich. From 1870 he worked as an engineer in the Royal Prussian Land Survey, surveying land in Schleswig. In 1876 after the death of his father, he took over the firm of Clemens Riefler with his two brothers, Adolf and Theodor. Sigmund worked mainly on new developments in the area of drawing instruments and precision clocks, while his brothers handled the technical, sales and management of the company. In 1878 he settled in Munich, to be in contact with the local scientific community. He invented the Riefler escapement which was patented in 1889. He died in Munich on 21 October 1912 at the age of 65.

In popular culture

Monroe mentions Sigmund Riefler in the "One Night Stand" episode in Season 3 of Grimm.

Awards

Patents