radio technology museum Königs-Wusterhausen, part 2, the Dieselgenerator
There was a bit of discussion going on about the last image in the last post which displays two emergency switches on a wall in the radio museum. On the switches there were the words “Diesel” and “Schaltfeld (switch board).” Above the switches there were two signs, each with the message: “Es darf nur eine Laufkatze betrieben werden” (There musn’t be more than one hoist in operation”). I was guessing that “Diesel” meant eventually the Diesel generator within the museum building which served -if I understood correctly- mainly as an emergency power system. So here now images from the Diesel generator.
The generator has its own room and it sits on a thick concrete foundation. The generator is still fully functional and at least until lately brought to full action on major visitor days and upon appointment. I entered the room when the generator was about to pause, but the floor was still trembling and shaking. When the generator is in full operation it is very loud and the whole room is shaking.
The inside of the Diesel engine of the generator looks probably a bit like this. As said the generaltor still works and as I was told even for the tubes and pistons – no problem there.
The generator was produced by the company Magirus Deutz, which is still well-known for its fire-fighting vehicles. The generator was probably bought in 1938/39 for the radio transmitter in Tegel and then transported to Königs-Wusterhausen in 1948, when the transmitter in Tegel was demolished.
The writing “Erst Hahn öffnen, dann schalten!” and “Hahn wieder schließen! means “First open faucet crank/stop-cock and then operate” and “Close cock again!”
A sign for a fire extinguisher (“Feuerlöscher”) which is apparently a $latex CO_2$ extinguisher especially suited for gasoline.
The words “Alte Maschinen und Schwungräder können gefährlich sein.” and “Bitte halten sie Abstand und achten Sie besonders auf Ihre Kinder!” mean “old machines and fly wheels can be dangerous.” and “Please keep at distant and especially mind your kids!”
“Netzersatzanlage” means literally Network-ersatz-facility, i.e. emergency power system. ” and “Wie kam ich her?” means “How did I end up here?”
The administration room. The sign says: “Beware the slip hazard.”
The hoists. The german word for hoist is “Laufkatze”, literally “running cat.”
As I already said the museum is in a not too good shape.
And of course alone keeping the engine “chugging” (as written on the sign) costs money. So here people ask for donations for the diesel generator.
“Alle Erlöse werden für den Diesel verwendet, damit er weiter tuckert” means – “All revenues will be used for the Diesel so that it can keep on chugging.”