 Caplan, like hundreds of thousands of Americans, was particularly fond of the Chemex Coffeemaker, describing it as “one of the few modern designs for which one can feel affection as well as admiration.” The Chemex was also one of the few products from any designer or inventor of the time to achieve an "iconic" role in popular culture, becoming part of the permanent collections of art and design museums, including New York's Museum of Modern Art.Schlumbohm was born July 10, 1896 in Kiel, Germany, “…the oldest son of a well-to-do manufacturer of paints and chemicals, who was very jolly and very Lutheran.” Only six months after graduating the German equivalent of high school, Schlumbohm was conscripted into the German army, fighting in the landmark battles of Ypres and Langemark as an artillery brigade captain.Immediately upon his return from France in 1918, Schlumbohm gave up his inheritance in his father's chemical business in exchange for an agreement with family members to support his education for as long as he wished to stay in school.