Technikatörténeti szemle 7. (1973-74)

MŰSZAKI SZAKMÚZEUMOK - Pál Vajda: Industrial Museums in Hungary (in English)

Central Metallurgical Museum of Diósgyőr is enhanced by the multitude of old machines and instruments till in operation. While using a telephone, the work of automatic exchange can be followed and, at the same time, the first Budapest exchange studied. One of the most remarkable exhibits is the first detector type apparatus of the Csepel broadcasting station. The first interval-signal apparatus, too, can be seen and its signal heard. Upon pressing a button the well-known tunes of an old Hungarian folk song are intoned. Arranged with expert skill and much care, the exhibition offers a rich survey and detailed information on the past and present of all braches of telecommunication. The Diósgyőr Metallurgical Works have set up three museums to picture their past and present history. The Central Metallurgical Museum of Diósgyőr guides the visitor through the development of Hungarian metallurgy by showing original blast furnaces, models, metallurgical appratus and products. The Museum is settled in the first directorial building of the Diósgyőr Iron Works, built in the years of 1778—1779. Objects and documents are arragned along the walls in four vertical groups. The specimen cases lining the walls stand on low sockets, and in the windows above them relics of ancient metallurgy are arranged: tools from the Bronze and Iron ages, castings from the Roman days and from ancient India wrought weapons, household utensils, spear and arrow heads, wrought jewellery from Egypt, medieval gun barrels, swords and helms. Relics of the metallurgy of bygone days are rather fascinating: traces of ancient rudimentary iron smelting hidden in Hungarian soil, huge porous big iron blocks cut in two by primitive tools to be further hammered and formed into utensils and arms. The built-in row of dioramas above the glass cases tell