The Istanbulite Who Designed Metro Turnstiles and Distributed them to the World

Nowadays, there are many devices used almost every day, such as subway turnstiles. industrial design; Have you ever heard that it belonged to John Vassos, a Robert College graduate who passed through Istanbul for a while?

In addition to the turnstiles we encounter every day, industrial design like a record player Even though he is a name that has written his name in history, the number of people who are aware of Vassos is very few. That’s why we want to introduce you to him.

John Vassos was born into a family of Greek origin.

On October 23, 1898, He was born in Constantinople, that is, Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire at that time. Living a life in Istanbul with his family also corresponds to these periods.

His father was the principal of a private school and the editor of a local Greek newspaper. Vassos’ education life first started at Hatzichristou Gymnasium and then continued at the famous Robert College.

Robert College There is no one we haven’t heard of. It is a prestigious school that has graduated many of the best minds of our country. In addition to the education he received at that time, his life in Istanbul; He also helped Vassos take his first steps into the art world.

Streets, historical texture and cultural diversity of Istanbul It seems to have profoundly influenced Vassos’ design aesthetic. We can say that this atmosphere formed the basis of the contemporary and unique touches he added to the world of industrial design in the following years.

Drawing has always been a priority in his life, and he was supported by liberals at the age of 12.

At this age, he drew political cartoons for a Greek newspaper for several years. When he was 16, he won an award for a cartoon in which he mocked the Turkish Senate. However, in order to avoid being arrested, he found himself working on ships going to East Asia to transport soldiers to Europe, when World War I broke out in Europe. So it was a kind of escape method.

Although Vassos’ Istanbul adventure represented an unforgettable episode in his life, leaving the city was also a step that opened his doors to art. He would later study under John Singer Sargent at the Fenway School of Art. Then, his first step into the profession was He worked as a stage design assistant.

In the 1920s he served as a consultant for the Radio Corporation of America, a radio company.

Industrial design for RCA and other customers In addition to his work, he drew images for books and advertisements, painted murals, modernized interiors, developed promotional strategies, created training curricula for industrial designers, and founded an organization for design professionals. So, as you can see, he did many things during this period of his life.

However Vassos’ extensive contributions to this field However, he was not taken into consideration in the art community. Maybe even we have heard of it by now. But he is an industrial designer who has worked with very successful names in his field.

Let’s come to the design that made its name known: turnstiles!

One of his most enduring designs was the turnstile that we all know. Vassos covered the device’s propeller-like arms and bulky base with metal cases. A design that covers sharp edges created.

He later developed the Passimeter, an automatic turnstile; In this design, he removed the propellers in favor of three forward-moving arms instead of a circular pattern, which It has continued to exist as a marvel of design that has survived to this day.

He also took part in the promotion and sales of his products.

Iconic design by Vassos, who designed record players for RCA RCA Victor Special, Today it is in the collections of many decorative arts museums. And when television was introduced to the American public in 1939, Vassos’ streamlined TRK-12 receiver model was on display everywhere.

As you can see, he is the inventor of most industrial designs that we frequently encounter in daily life. Even though we haven’t heard your name before Seeing that his path once fell into our country It’s actually a matter of pride.

II. With the start of World War II, the young designer He was assigned to the intelligence agency with the rank of captain. If you thought you stopped in this process, you were wrong! He has undertaken various projects, especially films and publications on camouflage.

Throughout his publishing career, he produced the highest level works of its kind. His work was presented at a 1995 conference at the Ward M. Canaday Center at the University of Toledo. “The Ardent Image: Book Illustration for Adults in America, 1920 – 1942” was exhibited in the exhibition.

Istanbul, which was the turning point of his life in his early years, opened many doors in terms of education for Vassos. Maybe if he hadn’t boarded the ship and escaped, will never be able to force the doors of the design world; He would not be able to realize his potential.

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