CLOSED: [2019-11-23 Sat 17:32] :PROPERTIES: :CREATED: [2019-11-23 Sat 16:55] :ID: 2019-11-23-Johann-Puch-Museum :END: :LOGBOOK: - State "DONE" from "NEXT" [2019-11-23 Sat 17:32] :END: Yesterday, I visited the [[https://www.johannpuchmuseum.at/][Johann Puch Museum of Graz]]. [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Puch][Johann Puch]] founded a company in Graz that got famous for their bicycles, motorcycles and cars. I do recommend you to visit the museum on your own since there are many cool artifacts to see. Here are just a few impressions from my trip. *** Bicycles The longest time, Steyr was producing very reliable bicycles. I was not aware of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMX_bike][BMX]] and a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vindec_High_Riser_(bicycle)][high-riser]]: #+CAPTION: Steyr Bicycles #+ATTR_HTML: :alt alterantive-text for the image #+ATTR_HTML: :align center :width 560 :linked-image-width 1500 [[tsfile:2019-11-22T14.31.01 Highriser und BMX von Puch -- publicvoit.jpg][2019-11-22T14.31.01 Highriser und BMX von Puch -- publicvoit.jpg]] Nearly indestructible were the famous bicycles named "[[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffenrad][Waffenrad]]". You can find many of them still being used by hipsters and such: #+CAPTION: Steyr Waffenräder #+ATTR_HTML: :alt alterantive-text for the image #+ATTR_HTML: :align center :width 560 :linked-image-width 1500 [[tsfile:2019-11-22T14.31.46 Waffenraeder -- publicvoit.jpg][2019-11-22T14.31.46 Waffenraeder -- publicvoit.jpg]] This was my personal high-light of the show: when I was working as a consultant at Steyr Daimler Puch in the 90s, I was doing business also in the styling and design department. It was there, when I saw this awesome Steyr Puch concept bicycle standing elevated on one of the shabby wooden shelves. The designers themselves explained me their ideas. For example, below the saddle you can see a small compartment. It was used to store tools and had some spare space for other stuff. The front and back lights were integrated. I instantly fell in love with it. And now I found it in the museum: #+CAPTION: Konzeptfahrrad #+ATTR_HTML: :alt alterantive-text for the image #+ATTR_HTML: :align center :width 560 :linked-image-width 1500 [[tsfile:2019-11-22T14.34.18 Konzept-Fahrrad -- cliparts heritage bicycle publicvoit.jpg][2019-11-22T14.34.18 Konzept-Fahrrad -- cliparts heritage bicycle publicvoit.jpg]] Here is a nice adaptation of a standard bicycle for riding in show. Instead of a front wheel you can see a skid. The back wheel has some spikes for improving traction: #+CAPTION: Schneefahrrad #+ATTR_HTML: :alt alterantive-text for the image #+ATTR_HTML: :align center :width 560 :linked-image-width 1500 [[tsfile:2019-11-22T14.52.46 Puch Schneefahrrad mit Spikes -- bicycle cliparts fun publicvoit.jpg][2019-11-22T14.52.46 Puch Schneefahrrad mit Spikes -- bicycle cliparts fun publicvoit.jpg]] *** Motorcycles Puch motorcycles were a major market share for many decades in Austria. Although, it did not really begin that early as suggested by the following photograph: #+CAPTION: Deco #+ATTR_HTML: :alt alterantive-text for the image #+ATTR_HTML: :align center :width 560 :linked-image-width 1500 [[tsfile:2019-11-22T14.41.35 Motorrad mit Ritterruestung als Fahrer -- fun automotive publicvoit.jpg][2019-11-22T14.41.35 Motorrad mit Ritterruestung als Fahrer -- fun automotive publicvoit.jpg]] Beautiful old machines are displayed like this sidecar motorcycle: #+CAPTION: Sidecar Motorcycle: Puch-Typ 6 HP V #+ATTR_HTML: :alt alterantive-text for the image #+ATTR_HTML: :align center :width 560 :linked-image-width 1500 [[tsfile:2019-11-22T15.00.25 Puch-Typ 6 HP V - Beiwagenmotorrad -- publicvoit.jpg][2019-11-22T15.00.25 Puch-Typ 6 HP V - Beiwagenmotorrad -- publicvoit.jpg]] The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puch_Maxi][Puch Maxi]] was the first motorized vehicle for many generations. And to my surprise, there were some models with an electric drive: #+CAPTION: Elektro Puch-Maxi #+ATTR_HTML: :alt alterantive-text for the image #+ATTR_HTML: :align center :width 560 :linked-image-width 1500 [[tsfile:2019-11-22T15.13.36 Elektro-Puch-Maxi -- publicvoit.jpg][2019-11-22T15.13.36 Elektro-Puch-Maxi -- publicvoit.jpg]] These are just beautiful to watch: #+CAPTION: caption #+ATTR_HTML: :alt alterantive-text for the image #+ATTR_HTML: :align center :width 560 :linked-image-width 1500 [[tsfile:2019-11-22T14.42.33 verkleidetes Motorrad -- publicvoit.jpg][2019-11-22T14.42.33 verkleidetes Motorrad -- publicvoit.jpg]] *** Cars The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puch_500][Puch 500]] is a very well-known classic here in Austria. This one looks particularly funny with its rally-adaptations: #+CAPTION: Ralley-Puch 500 #+ATTR_HTML: :alt alterantive-text for the image #+ATTR_HTML: :align center :width 560 :linked-image-width 1500 [[tsfile:2019-11-22T14.26.40 Ralley-Puch 500 -- fun automotive publicvoit.jpg][2019-11-22T14.26.40 Ralley-Puch 500 -- fun automotive publicvoit.jpg]] Everybody who served in the Austrian army knows the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haflinger_(vehicle)][Haflinger]] which is a very small all-terrain vehicle. Or at least it tries to be. In the museum, you can find a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowcat][snowcat]] version of it: #+CAPTION: Leichtes Pistengeraet #+ATTR_HTML: :alt alterantive-text for the image #+ATTR_HTML: :align center :width 560 :linked-image-width 1500 [[tsfile:2019-11-22T14.29.04 Leichtes Pistengeraet -- publicvoit.jpg][2019-11-22T14.29.04 Leichtes Pistengeraet -- publicvoit.jpg]] As the Haflinger got a bit old-fashioned for the general market, Steyr Daimler Puch tried to come up with a modernized version with an electric drive. Sadly, it never got into mass production: #+CAPTION: Elektro-Milla Haflinger-Nachfolger (Konzept) #+ATTR_HTML: :alt alterantive-text for the image #+ATTR_HTML: :align center :width 560 :linked-image-width 1500 [[tsfile:2019-11-22T15.10.11 Elektro-Milla Haflinger-Nachfolger -- publicvoit.jpg][2019-11-22T15.10.11 Elektro-Milla Haflinger-Nachfolger -- publicvoit.jpg]] Since [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steyr_Daimler_Puch][Steyr Daimler Puch]] Fahrzeugtechnik and later [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Steyr][Magna-Steyr]] worked for many different automotive companies, they also did some research work for them. This, for example, is a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vw_golf][VW Golf]] with a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_cell][fuel cell]] drive: #+CAPTION: Brennstoffzellen-Golf #+ATTR_HTML: :alt alterantive-text for the image #+ATTR_HTML: :align center :width 560 :linked-image-width 1500 [[tsfile:2019-11-22T14.54.41 Brennstoffzellen-Golf -- publicvoit.jpg][2019-11-22T14.54.41 Brennstoffzellen-Golf -- publicvoit.jpg]] Before I stopped working with and for Magna, there was a very interesting internal project named MILA ("Magna Innovation Lightweight Auto"). It was kept secret even among the employees until it was presented to the public. It is a concept car to demonstrate the ability of Magna to build a modern vehicle from scratch: #+CAPTION: Magna Steyr mila #+ATTR_HTML: :alt alterantive-text for the image #+ATTR_HTML: :align center :width 560 :linked-image-width 1500 [[tsfile:2019-11-22T15.03.24 Magna Steyr mila -- cliparts automotive publicvoit.jpg][2019-11-22T15.03.24 Magna Steyr mila -- cliparts automotive publicvoit.jpg]] The MILA was not just one single car, it was a concept for a range of vehicles. Therefore, there were several MILA cars that got produces for automotive fairs such as the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Motor_Show][Geneva Motor Show]]: #+CAPTION: Magna Steyr mila #+ATTR_HTML: :alt alterantive-text for the image #+ATTR_HTML: :align center :width 560 :linked-image-width 1500 [[tsfile:2019-11-22T15.04.39 Magna Steyr mila -- cliparts automotive publicvoit.jpg][2019-11-22T15.04.39 Magna Steyr mila -- cliparts automotive publicvoit.jpg]] If you want to see the other concept cars, many more prototypes and single-car adaptations, go and visit the museum in Graz. Explore history.