Adam Słodowy (December 3, 1923 – December 10, 2019) was a prominent
Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Polish people, people from Poland or of Polish descent
* Polish chicken
* Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin ...
inventor
An invention is a unique or novel device, method, composition, idea, or process. An invention may be an improvement upon a machine, product, or process for increasing efficiency or lowering cost. It may also be an entirely new concept. If an ...
, author, and TV host. Between 1959 and 1983, he hosted and produced a long-running Sunday morning TV show for children in Poland, entitled "Zrób to sam" ("Do It Yourself"). In 505 episodes the show taught its viewers how to make various toys and contraptions – from mini
airplanes
An airplane (American English), or aeroplane (Commonwealth English), informally plane, is a fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine, propeller, or rocket engine. Airplanes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, ...
to working radios – with simple and everyday supplies, as children's toys in Poland in the years following
WWII
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
were difficult to come by.
Adam SÅ‚odowy was born in
Czarnków
Czarnków is a town in Poland in Czarnków-Trzcianka County in Greater Poland Voivodeship. As of December 2021, the town has 10,279 inhabitants.
The town lies on the Noteć river. Because there are many hills around the town, the area is called ...
, Poland. During the
German occupation
German-occupied Europe, or Nazi-occupied Europe, refers to the sovereign countries of Europe which were wholly or partly militarily occupied and civil-occupied, including puppet states, by the (armed forces) and the government of Nazi Germany at ...
(1939–44) he first worked in a factory and then, in 1944, joined the
Polish Army
The Land Forces () are the Army, land forces of the Polish Armed Forces. They currently contain some 110,000 active personnel and form many components of the European Union and NATO deployments around the world. Poland's recorded military histor ...
. Between 1950–58 Adam taught at the College of Air Defense Artillery in
Koszalin
Koszalin (; ; , ) is a city in northwestern Poland, in Western Pomerania. It is located south of the Baltic Sea coast, and intersected by the river Dzierżęcinka. Koszalin is also a county-status city and capital of Koszalin County of West Pomera ...
and at the Military Technical Academy. He was awarded the rank of Major. After leaving the Army, Adam devoted his life to the popularization of inventing,
engineering
Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to Problem solving#Engineering, solve problems within technology, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve Systems engineering, s ...
, and building which led him to develop a career in TV from 1959 on.
He authored books ranging from technical how-to's to fiction novels, both for children and adults. Several of his books have been translated to other languages and have collectively sold over 15 million copies worldwide. Adam wrote a popular Polish animated TV cartoon "
Pomysłowy Dobromir" ("
The Inventive Dobromir").
In 1972 Adam was awarded the
Order of the Smile
The Order of the Smile ( Polish: ''Order Uśmiechu'') is an international award given by children to adults distinguished in their love, care and aid for children.
History
The idea of the Order of the Smile was established in 1968 by the Polis ...
, an international honor bestowed by children upon adults whom they greatly respect and admire in all types of industries and organizations.
Adam SÅ‚odowy lived in
Warsaw
Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...
, Poland with his wife Bożena. He retired from regular television work, but continued to make TV appearances and work on various advertising campaigns. He had two sons; Wojciech, a physician residing in
Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, USA, and Peter, a mathematician and physicist residing in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
, Australia.
SÅ‚odowy died on 10 December 2019 at the age of 96.
Books
* Diabły drzemią na ścianach, 1993 (Devils dozing on the walls)
* Majsterkowanie dla każdego, 1985 (DIY for everyone)
* Lubię majsterkować, 1984 (I like to tinker)
* Majsterkuję narzędziami EMA-COMBI, 1984, (DIY tools EMA-Combi (power tools))
* Samochód bez tajemnic 1978 (A car without secrets)
* Umiem majstrować, 1964 (I can tinker)
* To wcale nie jest trudne 1963 (It is not difficult)
* Jeżdżę Samochodem Škoda 1000MB 1967 (I drive a
Skoda 1000MB)
* Podręcznik kierowcy-amatora, 1960 (Driver Manual – amateur)
* Budowa samochodu amatorskiego 1958 (The construction of an amateur car)
Adam Slodowy Website
References
External links
Adam Słodowy – Zrob To Sam – Videos
{{DEFAULTSORT:Slodowy, Adam
1923 births
2019 deaths
People from Czarnków
Polish inventors