Industriekultur in Berlin

Ungefähr anderthalb Meter im Durchmesser, etwa 3 Meter hoch und voller Plakate: Litfaßsäulen sind jedem Berliner so vertraut wie den Londonern ihre roten Telefonzellen und den Parisern ihre Metro-Stationsschilder.

Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts kommt der kreative Unternehmer Ernst Litfaß auf die Idee, sogenannte „Annoncier-Säulen“ in ganz Berlin aufzustellen.

Weiterlesen

The history of the postcard in Germany is closely connected with a Berlin official: Henry Stephen

In 1865, at the 5th conference of the German Postal Union, he makes the decisive proposal - the introduction of a "Postpaper". A piece of white cardboard, simple, without illustration. But with a stamp already stamped. The perfect alternative to the letter, especially for the broad mass of the population: the "Postpaper" would be easier to send, shorter in content and cheaper.

Weiterlesen

The history of this mode of transport is inextricably linked to the capital: the first electric streetcar ran here in 1881, before it began its triumphal march around the world. This success is no coincidence, as two of the most common propulsion methods used up to that time have decisive disadvantages. Horses that pull streetcars on rails in Berlin do not have enough power. Another drawback: their horse droppings pollute the streets. The steam technology used as an alternative, on the other hand, disturbs the inhabitants by the noise and flying sparks.

Weiterlesen

As late as 1873, the physicist Hermann von Helmholtz said that a human being can never maintain his own weight at a height in the long term. On a small hill in the south of Berlin, a man proves that it is possible.

Otto Lilienthal has dreamed of flying since his childhood. He observed storks during their flight at an early age and thought about the connection between the air currents around the slightly curved wings and lift.

Weiterlesen

"Did you get a world sensation?" - This is what the director of the Berlin Varieté Wintergarten asked the 1500 invited guests on November 1st, 1895, who had just witnessed the world's first public presentation of moving pictures.  

The enthusiasm of the audience speaks for itself: Yes, it was a world sensation. The screening lasts a total of 15 minutes and eight short scenes can be seen. Accompanied by live piano music, the visitors see, among other things, sequences entitled "Italian Peasant Dance" and "Boxing Kangaroo".

Weiterlesen

The history of hair styling is as old as mankind. Countless tools are invented by man to create the splendor of hair. But one thing does not succeed for a long time: drying hair faster after washing.  

In 1899, the Berlin company AEG came up with the decisive invention. The company supplies the entire capital with electricity via the Berliner Electricitäts-Werke. AEG's engineers are constantly working on ways to make electricity usable for private consumption. The market for hair dryers for private use offers enormous potential.

Weiterlesen

Hardly any household can do without them - thermos flasks keep hot drinks warm and prevent cold liquids from heating up. This household utensil, used by billions of people worldwide, originally comes from Berlin. At the beginning of the 20th century the inventor Reinhold Burger further developed so-called Dewar vessels. The problem: Dewar vessels are too fragile to transport.   

Reinhold Burger builds on this principle.

Weiterlesen

Berlin, around the turn of the century: Machines rattling in the factories, motorized vehicles conquering the streets next to horse-drawn carriages, ringing and hooting everywhere. Noise is becoming a problem for stressed city dwellers, because sleep is out of the question in some parts of the city. Not to mention concentrated study and work.
The solution to the problem comes from Maximilian Negwer, a pharmacist from Schöneberg. He runs a "factory of pharmaceutical and cosmetic specialties" on Bülowstrasse, where cough syrup and homemade creams are available. In 1907, Negwer applied for a patent for "ear plugs".

Weiterlesen

For the longest time in human history, sex has always been associated with certain risks: an unwanted pregnancy and the transmission of venereal diseases. Again and again there are attempts to reduce the risk by using barriers made of pig intestines, fish bladders, linen and leather. Both the protection factor and the practicability are limited. 
In 1893, it is possible to vulcanize rubber and thus produce rubber. The material is much more suitable for the production of condoms. But the first proto-condoms consisted of rubber strips sewn together. The seams scratch and reduce the safety of the product.

Weiterlesen

At the beginning of the 20th century, there are two relatively new entertainment media: film, which is still limited to cinema screenings, and radio, which allows people to listen to programs at home via radio waves. The question is: is there a way to watch moving pictures via a device at home? And to follow an event even live while it is happening?
Hamburg-born tinkerer Manfred von Ardenne is working on finding a solution to the problem. He already has initial experience with the technology of radio receivers. He is developing an improved version of the Braun tube for the Loewe company.

Weiterlesen