Model Satellites and Historical Machines In Perfect Working Order
In IET Germany’s first event after the summer break a group of interested members, family and friends was able to enjoy two fascinating technical tours in my adopted home town of Backnang.
With its timber-framed houses and landmark medieval tower Backnang might give the impression that it slept through the industrial revolution. But for engineers interested in the history of technology it is worth taking a closer look: an impressive museum, the Technikforum, shows how four industries have made their mark on the town and, even today, roadside signs proudly proclaim Backnang to be a centre of satellite technology. Nothing illustrates this better than the DeSK Showroom, set up in Backnang by a lobby group of companies from the whole of Germany. On a warm and sunny Saturday in September we were able to visit both the DeSK Showroom and the Technikforum.
In the morning Reinhard Schnabel showed us around the DeSK exhibition room. Herr Schnabel, a former CEO of Bosch Telecom Raumfahrt, certainly knows what he is talking about. In a fascinating tour we learnt about the history of satellites starting with Arthur C. Clarke’s proposal of geostationary satellite communications in 1945 - which was to become reality just 20 years later with the launch of Intelsat I Early Bird – through to the Heinrich Hertz satellite now planned to be launched in 2021. The DeSK Showroom contains scale models of satellites, many of them built by students in local technical colleges and schools and with motorised solar panels and antennas that can be unfolded at the touch of a button. Also to be seen: travelling wave tube amplifiers (TWTA s) designed and built in Backnang by TESAT, a local company currently employing 1200 people, that carries on the tradition of communication technology started by AEG Telefunken, Bosch and Marconi in the town.
After lunch we made our way to the Technikforum in its newly opened location, itself a former production hall built in 1936 for the local engine and HGV manufacturer Kaelble. The Technikforum is owned by the town of Backnang and run by an enthusiastic team of volunteers many of whom learnt their trade in the local industries. We had the run of the building – the museum had been opened especially for our IET group. There are four main exhibition areas: the weaving industry, leather industry, telecommunications and Kaelble but we had chosen to hear more about the latter two for our tour.
From Bernhard Holtmannspötter we soon learnt that the rows of gunmetal-grey instruments in their racks are not just gathering dust. Many of them have been lovingly restored and are in working order. The youngsters in the group looked on puzzled as old rotary telephones were used to dial and ring the other side of the hall but it soon became clear how the mechanical exchanges select the correct connection. As well as telephones the exhibition contains TV equipment and military radios some of which were designed and built in Backnang.
But it is not only the communication equipment that still works perfectly at the Technikforum. The Kaelble road rollers outside and the old diesel and steam engines can be driven or started, if you know how. Fritz Hiller, our guide, certainly knows how to prime the Kaelble Stationärmotor and, with a little help from me on the starter handle, the 8 hp motor built in 1934 was up-and-running in moment.
On behalf of the IET Germany I would like to thank Reinhard Schnabel from DeSK and the volunteers from the Förderverein Technikforum Backnang e.V. for giving up their time on a Saturday for our group. We all learnt a great deal and especially that the industrial revolution certainly left its mark in provincial Swabia.
–
Howard Gray
