All these are Veith`s intellectual „children“!
The inventor from Germany is particularly proud of his anti SARS spray, which is a desinfection spray against Corona viruses, as well as of a cleaning and desinfection procedure for mattresses. By means of high frequency vibrations mites and their excrements are pulverized and removed by vacuum; the mattress is treated entirely without chemicals.
For this reason Horst Veith has been invited to numerous TV broadcasts as a hygiene expert.
His inventions have brought an improvement in the quality of life for allergic persons. Horst Veith`s products in the hygienic area can be seen more as achievements rather than ‘plain’ inventions. We requested an interview with one of the most successful inventors worldwide of our time – and found a brilliant mind bubbling over with ideas, creativity and humour.
Mister Veith, were you endowed at birth with an inventive mind?
An inventive mind results from the coincidence of special features and capabilities. In my case these were and still are: curiosity and consequently the desire for experimentation, self confidence, a wealth of ideas and creativity and an adequate I.Q.
„adequate“ meaning…?
Well, a bit over 140.
That`s quite a lot that you had to start off with…
I used my capabilities: right from the start I was an autodidact who did not need to be encouraged, who acquired knowledge from the world around him and from literature. I viewed the world and above all I tried everything out.
What about the childhood of one of the most successful inventors of our days?
You could say turbulent. I did not only perform autopsies on mice, I took everything apart that I could get my hands on. I built a sort of air pump out of the engine of my mum`s food processor. Once I wanted to create an electric arc - with high voltage. It could have been fatal! Not only that, my flash of inspiration caused a black out, I paralyzed the whole district. And I did not only do this once. When the electric power station had to come a second time, they switched off the electricity. So I put up little wind wheels in the air draught between window and door. They ran torch light bulbs and at least we had some light.
Were you a challenge to the patience and strength of nerves of your parents?
Of course. They often said: „That fellow has been up to something again.“ I liked to experiment with electricity and water. For my family this often meant: No electricity and quite frequently lots and lots of water.
Did your joy at experimenting fall on fertile ground in school?
No. My way of learning by observation and experience was not compatible with the school system at that time. For example, I wanted to discuss more and exchange views on the field of physics. This was much too innovative and found no support from the teachers. But my classmates knew me, I was known for always having good ideas for everything.
So you were not the outsider who got lost in his world of ideas?
Not at all! My ideas were good for everybody. From an early age on I was aware that I had ‘more potential’ than others my age. At the age of five I was already reading the newspapers. This was where I got my best ideas. For example, I read that by law windfall (fruit) does not belong to anybody. So I organized about 30 classmates who collected the windfall and we took it to a fruit press to have it made into cider. I used the money to buy bicycles with trailers. This was my first small flourishing enterprise.
How old were you then?
Between nine and eleven. After that I expanded into the „fern business“. The pharmaceutical industry – I knew that from the newspaper, too – was producing something out of it, I don’t remember what it was. Anyway, we collected lots of ferns and earned good money.
Was money your motivation in those days?
Look at it like this; I knew early on that money is the basis for a certain level of comfort, satisfaction and happiness. In this I see the acknowledgement of my success.
Which experiences formed you in your childhood and adolescence?
A key experience was a raft tour on our millstream. I built a raft and for a fee my classmates could come for a ride with me. It was great fun until my raft collided with the millwheel. Much to everyone’s relief there were no victims except the raft. But this need not have happened, if the millstream had had movable catch grating, from which one could easily free branches etc. This was when I realized that it is decisive to see the world in detail, particularly where it is in need of improvement.
Did you develop a sense for deficits?
To begin with I analyse the deficit and impose my idea, my invention over it. This happens out of a situation. With regards to my first invention: The concertina barrier for doorframes to prevent little children from running out of the room. At the age of seventeen I saw a farmers wife tying some string crosswise to the door, held there by about 20 screws and nails. This construction was meant to prevent her children from disturbing her at work. I immediately realized that there something was wrong, illogical. I found an esthetical solution with my ‘easy to install’ concertina barrier with safety lock.
Do the ideas for your inventions come to you?
I constantly have many ideas. Like a machine that ejects popcorn. But for many ideas the time is not yet ripe. Intuitively I get up at 3 o’clock at night when I notice that my ‘hard disc’ is full. Then I have to write down my thoughts. That’s why you will find notepads everywhere in my house. When an idea pops up I have to grasp it, retain it and immediately manifest it. At the same time a kind of grid search starts off in my head: is something incorrect, where? Where are the deficits? And of course, what can be done about them? As for example with the anti-SARS spray. I was the first and only person in the whole world able to come up with a practicable and accepted solution.
Stop, not that fast! So you have an idea and put it down it in black and white?
What is the next step?
I check if there is a demand for it and if it is fit for market, that is to say if it would find buyers. That is not necessarily the same thing.
Do you have market analysts? People evaluating statistics for you?
That would be a waste of time. I can feel it when it is right, when the time and market is ready for my idea. I get a special feeling then, I break out into a light sweat and I become restless. This is a sure sign. Further confirmation that I am right comes in the form of telephone calls from leading economists, who have millions in development money at their disposal and who have to justify to their Board of directors, why they and their team could not think up, what one person in the backwoods of Bavaria managed to do.
How long does is take from the birth of an idea to a patented invention?
With the anti SARS spray it took 14 days, with the biological mattress spray a few months. I can’t give you exact details since at these times I tend to be in a sort of energetic ‘state of emergency’, which is – frankly – not very agreeable for my environment. Everything has to subordinate itself, because at this moment nothing is more important than concentrating on my idea. Any trifle is felt as a disturbance to my highly sensitive mood. I am completely energized, full of power and loose track of time and space.
Do you form your environment to be an optimum medium for your creativity?
There are special places, where I aim to get a mental energy boost. Apart from that, I only stay in places and with people where I am comfortable. I never lived in a place where I didn’t get a boost from the environment. So I can say without a doubt: I have always only had good experiences.
Where did you run into obstacles for the first time? And how did you overcome them?
I never perceived anything to be an obstacle. There are no real problems, only insufficient solutions.
Is there a good climate for inventors in Germany?
I do not mind where I am. But I have the impression, that the individual inventor is too little appreciated in Germany. This is noticeable as it is very difficult, bureaucratic and exasperating to become eligible for aid money. Politics does not have a soft spot for inventors and if anybody receives support and appreciation, it is the institutes rather than individual free-thinkers.
Which of your inventions are you especially proud of?
All of them, because they are all my „children“. There are over 100 and all of them are successful. The anti SARS spray, scientifically proven by the Virological Institute of the Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-University and found to be good, is not only a worldwide success. It gives me a great feeling, since further spreading of the SARS epidemic, which was rampant in China in 2002, could be prevented. Due to my invention thousands of people were protected from the virus.
Do you consider yourself a social person?
Yes, absolutely. Apart from being active for social organizations my inventions are proof of my capability to understand others and of my effort to help them. Some of my inventions just make life easier and more agreeable. Others have saved people from harm.
This interview was held by Alexandra Korimorth.
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