Rezension "Gabelsberger, pioneer in the history of shorthand" von Danny Devriendt
Sekretär-Schatzmeister von Intersteno, dem Internationalen Verband für Informationsverarbeitung aus Oostkamp (Belgien)

From "windy writers" to parliamentary stenographers: "Very briefly: Franz Xaver Gabelsberger and shorthand"

“One of the noblest and best of the Bavarian people” - Sudden death in 1849 in Munich's Theatinerstraße

Out of love for home and work, the workshop for black art was founded in 2009 in the ancestral home of the Pinsker family. This is in Mainburg on Gabelsbergerstraße directly opposite the house where Thomas Gabelsberger was born, the grandfather of the ingenious inventor of a shorthand system, Franz Xaver Gabelsberger (born February 9, 1789 in Munich).

As the author and at the same time the publisher Horst Pinsker writes in his introduction, it has now taken more than 60 years before he correctly realized what a fascinating man came from this house.

Now he has made a book out of it: "Very briefly: Franz Xaver Gabelsberger and shorthand". With the help of selected sources, quotes and letters with his students, Horst Pinsker proves in this bibliophile booklet that the bust of the great master rightly stands in the Hall of Fame on Munich's Theresienwiese. Because there he is "one of the noblest and best of the Bavarian people". At that time there was only talk of men. That women, too, could earn a lasting contribution to humanity was unthinkable at the time!

Readers learn about Gabelsberger's childhood in poor circumstances, his happy marriage, the painful loss of his son, the fate of his early retirement, many applications that could not be “accepted”, the exceptionally positive relationship with students and much more.

The story of the inventor is embedded in the reality of life in the Kingdom of Bavaria at the beginning of the 19th century. After many attempts, Gabelsberger was able to further develop his invention with the support of Kings Max I, Joseph and Ludwig I, and a brilliant report by Johann Andreas Schmeller in 1829 brought the breakthrough.

The "windy writers" has become the highly recognized profession of parliamentary stenographer - both in the state assemblies in Bavaria from 1827 and today in the state parliaments in the Bundesrat and Bundestag. Based on the shorthand system of Marcus Tullius Tiro, a slave of Cicero, Horst Pinsker traces the path from shorthand to German unified shorthand. There is also a crash course to familiarize non-stenographers with the system.

Gabelsberger's roots in Mainburg also have a special place in this book, from the master baker's family, from which three mayors emerged, to the “warm money rain” through the “Lower Bavarian inheritance” to the grammar school that bears his name and the Gabelsberg pharmacy.

And Horst Pinsker can also report on a great party in 1927 - the unveiling of the memorial plaque at the main building at Gabelsbergerstrasse 12 (at that time it was still possible to celebrate!).

It is true that the gods had put sweat before success with Franz Xaver Gabelsberger too - economic success and recognition for the height of his invention almost never reached him. A blow hit him on January 4, 1849 on the way to the post office in Munich's Theatinerstraße, where the Hypo- Kulturstiftung's art gallery is today.

The honors, indeed the veneration, took place mainly posthumously - but these were very extensive and above all very moving. There are touching obituaries, stenographers' associations that sprung up in all countries, Gabelsberger monuments that have been erected and a Gabelsbergerstrasse has been dedicated in many cities, and commemorative publications that have been published for the anniversaries.

The “master” was not only highly recognized for his groundbreaking invention, but also loved and valued as a self-sacrificing family man, humble civil servant and loving teacher. "He was just as distant from pride in success as complaining of failure," writes J. G. Schwäbl in his memoirs.

The friendly relationship Gabelsberger had with the inventor of lithography and stone printing, Alois Senefelder, naturally interested printing technician Horst Pinsker in particular. He describes the genesis of the textbook, which was finally ennobled as a “shorthand Bible” and takes the reader on a short journey through time to the lithographic workshop of the 1830s.

The Werkstatt für Schwarze Kunst has also packed a lot of high-quality details into this homage to its “almost neighbor”: the classicist font matching Gabelsberger's lifetime, a reader-friendly make-up, really good typography, the silky fabric tape with two handmade paper cards glued into the book cover, noble Paper from the handmade paper factory Gmund am Tegernsee, a resealable banderole with the “Thron_Rede SKM v. Bavaria (...) on November 17, 1827 "and much more. - just as the master deserves.

Horst Pinsker's little book with lovingly researched facts is both very interesting and amusing, e.g. with the curious story about the inauguration of the Gabelsberger monument, with a smart anecdote from the Bundestag, and the master also passed on a nice "bedtime story"!

Herzlichen Dank sagen wir Danny Devriendt für diese positive Rezension und die Erlaubnis der Veröffentlichung auf unserer Website.