Kovács László: Ganz Ábrahám (Öntödei múzeumi füzetek 16., 2006)

Preface The Foundry Museum ofthe Hungárián Museum of Science and Technology is housed in one of the oldest and most significant industrial monuments of Hungary. Both the interior and the exteriőr of the building partially reflect the way its owner, Ábrahám Ganz created it in 1858. At first, Swiss-born Ganz worked in the foundry ofthe József Rolling Mill, which he later became a manager of, by 1845, however, he was granted a licence to establish an independent foundry. During the 23 years Ganz spent in Hungary, his foundry developed into afactory of international repute with its main production line being railway components, and Ganz himselfbecame a prominent figure ofthe Hungárián industry. The Foundry Museum of the Hungárián Museum of Science and Technology has recently acquired a number of replicas and relics (among them objects from the BieberauerBodoky Priváté Collectíon and the Ganz Holding Collection) to create a new, expanded exhibition ofGanz's life and work. These objects include his Swiss passport, which shows that Ganz remained afaithful citizen ofhis homeland throughout his life, even while he worked tirelessly on the industrial development ofhis adopted country, Hungary. Hungary was grateful for these efforts and granted Ganz several awards. Most significantly, he received an honorary citizenship of Buda; Emperor Franz Josef paid a personal vísit to his factory; and later he was awarded the Order of Franz Josef. Ganz cared and provided for his Swiss relatives, supported the Protestant Church and offered exemplary health care to his workers. Following in the footsteps of his homeland and hometown, the museum residing in his old factory hereby pays tribute to factory founder Ábrahám Ganz. Budapest, June 2006 dr Erzsébet Kóczián-Szentpéteri Director-General