Rechenwerk Computer & Technology Museum Halle

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The RECHENWERK Computer- & Technikmuseum Halle is a private museum in Halle (Saale) , which primarily deals with the history of computing technology , automation technology and electronics in the GDR .

Booking machine Astra Ascota 170 Chemnitz

purpose

Although there were production facilities and places of use for computer technology, microelectronic systems and their predecessors mechanical calculating machines and machine controls in many places in the former GDR, only a few museums have made this topic their core objective. In addition to the "arithmetic unit", these are the "Automatic Museum" of the HTWK Leipzig and the ZCOM in Hoyerswerda . There are also several other technical museums and collections that deal with local computing technology as a sub-area or that show selected exhibits due to the historical connection to the site.

In the exhibition you can experience the history of computing, starting with simple mechanical adding machines . The collected devices are also reminiscent of the pioneer of mechanical computing technology Christel Hamann , who designed the “Mercedes Euclid” on display. Together with his colleague Heinrich Wilhelmi , he also laid the essential foundations for these calculating machines, which were produced until the 1960s and only then replaced by electronic office computers. With his basic work on analog electronic computing (doctoral thesis 1941), Wilhelmi also laid a basis for industrial electronic computing, regulation and control devices. Thus, the visitor can understand the bridge from the different generations of computer systems and personal computers up to the complete process control system " audatec " based on microcomputers from 1990.

The museum team, formed by the digital computer & electronics working group Halle und Helfern, has set itself the goal of repairing as many of the machines as possible and thus keeping them "alive". In addition to maintaining the exhibits, the search for other devices and historical documents continues.

history

The idea of ​​a permanent technology collection goes back to digital AG Halle , which has been collecting and researching in the field of GDR computer technology since 1996. Over time, however, the inventory of exhibits and documentation material grew so that not just a room but a building was needed. Digital AG Halle has been working with the German Chemistry Museum Merseburg since 2005 and was able to use the existing space. However, these too soon reached their limits, and the building was also threatened with acute demolition due to changes in use at the state level. Therefore, the members of digital AG Halle decided to look for new rooms in the greater Halle / Leipzig area from the beginning of 2012. A solution and an associated (back) move to Halle was found in November 2013 in the form of a former department store . A thematically well-structured permanent exhibition on several hundred square meters is intended to preserve the technical knowledge and achievements of former engineers. The official inauguration took place on November 1st, 2014. By continuing to expand the collection, u. a. due to large devices, the question of space has been raised again since the beginning of 2015. The museum team is currently trying to expand the exhibition through “intelligent compression” without making it inaccessible. At the same time, an interactive visitor guidance system via WLAN is being worked on.

collection

The collection includes around 2000 exhibits, which are documented in bullet points on the digital AG Halle homepage , some of which are documented with photos. Work is underway on an exhibition concept in which the exhibits are meaningfully linked with one another.

Thematic groups

In addition to the technical witnesses of the time, the museum also collects the spare parts, software and documentation required for recommissioning. The latter will gradually be digitized and made accessible for research purposes on the website of the working group.

The museum is currently financed privately.

It is the only museum dedicated to computing technology / electronics in Saxony-Anhalt. Good contacts are maintained with the Dresden Technical Collections , the Chemnitz Industrial Museum and several other institutions.

Museum building

The museum is located in a former department store. The exhibition area currently covers approx. 520 m² and is designed to be largely barrier-free for wheelchair users. A ramp is only required to drive on the double floor area. Problems in the area of ​​handicapped friendliness still exist with the sanitary facilities. The building is located at Saalfelder Straße 11 in Halle (Saale).

literature

  • Werner Kriesel ; Hans Rohr; Andreas Koch: History and future of measurement and automation technology . VDI-Verlag, Düsseldorf 1995, ISBN 3-18-150047-X .
  • Werner Kriesel: Automatic Museum in Leipzig . In: Association of German Engineers, VDI / VDE-GMA (Hrsg.): Yearbook 1997 VDI / VDE-Gesellschaft Mess- und Automatisierungstechnik . VDI-Verlag, Düsseldorf 1997, ISBN 3-18-401611-0 .
  • Lothar Starke: From the hydraulic controller to the process control system. The success story of the Askania works in Berlin and the device and controller works in Teltow. 140 years of industrial history, tradition and future . Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag, Berlin 2009, ISBN 978-3-8305-1715-3 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Axel Kannenberg (axk); Sabrina Gorges, dpa : "Computing wall unit": Computer museum preserves GDR technology. Heise online , September 24, 2015, accessed on September 24, 2015 .

Coordinates: 51 ° 29 ′ 25.5 ″  N , 12 ° 0 ′ 0.3 ″  E