The coolest thing in Vienna was the Tech Museum, it is walking distance from Schonbrunn palace (pictured above).  The tech museum was a lot like the Deutsches Museum in Munich, maybe even better!  They had a great collection of just about every modern invention you can think of.  Things like tooth brushes, heaters, vacuum cleaners, plumbing, elevators, steam engines, gas engines, turbines, electric motors, planes, helicopters, trains, motorcycles, lathes, CNC machines... any kind of machine you can think of was in this museum.

“This engine comes from the “Weihe” torpedo boat belonging to the Imperial and Royal Navy, 1885.”

“This cookware drawing press was used until 1993 by the Gebruder Riess company in Ybbsitz to make frying pans.”

This “high speed horizontal” steam engine was used until 1977 in the Lainz hospital to power the compressor.  The daily production amounted to 2200 lbs of ice.  Up to the 19th century, the vertical steam engine was the most common type of construction.  At each upstroke, the piston must work against gravity, a factor which has negative effects on efficiency and rotational speed.

From 1912 to 1923 the Ruetz power station supplied electricity to the railway’s locomotives. The smaller housing accommodates the turbine, the larger one the generator.

This machine could be used for turning railway wheels, or complete axles with wheels attached.

Wright aircraft Engine (30 hp), 1908.  Cylinders were made of cast iron, cooling jackets were made of aluminum.

The Worlds first front wheel drive car, only two prototypes were ever built. 1897

In 1898, Ferdinand Porsche left the electrics company Bela Egger to join the Lohner company in Vienna.    This electric car designed by Porsche has a motor in each of the front wheels and is powered by 44 lead acid batteries (80 volts).

Designed and named “Volkswagen,” the Steyr 50 was first built in 1936.  This was the first car to be able to travel all Austrian alpine passes without overheating.  The roof is on rails and can be slid open.

An exhibit detailing the effort to link physical characteristics with criminal behavior.  Of course those with big noses are most suspect.

We had only been in Vienna for an hour, and we heard there was a pride parade.