Objects in Dialogue 100 Years of Technological History
Technology is always a reflection of its time. What we consider commonplace today was often revolutionary a hundred years ago and could already be outdated tomorrow.
On the occasion of the anniversary oft he Deutsche Museum, we are presenting, in collaboration with the curators of the Cluster of Digital Projects, selected pairs of objects that reflect this transformation. Each pair tells a story of technological progress, increased comfort or efficiency, but also of changes in production, materiality, handling, and usage culture. With each new object that is developed and with every old technology that fades from daily life, new challenges and opportunities arise. At the same time, the dialogue-based juxtaposition raises questions about how we want to shape this future especially at a time when technological advances are changing them at ever shorter intervals.
Discover a century of technological development through the lens of its time.
At the end of the 19th century, mathematical surfaces began to be visualised in space with the help of models. Here, a solid plaster form represents a helicoid surface.
More than a hundred years later, laser technology allows for much more accurate representations—even of surfaces connected only at sharp points.
Ingenuity in Choice of Material
Tasse aus Nymphenburger Porzellan, 1930, Inv.-Nr.: 8028Espressotasse aus einem Dispersionsverbundwerkstoff, 2020, Inv.-Nr.: 2020-270
This espresso cup, made from a composite material, dates back to 2020. It is composed of used coffee grounds bound together with a biodegradable biopolymer. In fact, composite materials have been known since antiquity. Porcelain was first produced in Germany in 1708, in Meissen.
This bag was made in Manila from discarded juice cartons. Over 500 women earn a living there as co-owners of a cooperative. Named after the Filipino word for “trash” — basura — the Canadian company Bazura Bags sells these bags in over 20 countries.
From Traditional Craftsmanship to Fully Automated Production
Champagner-Flaschenblasmaschine, 1905, Inv.-Nr.: 62106IS Maschine zur Glasherstellung, um 1964, Inv.-Nr.: 78297
Glas bottles were used to be blown by hand over a flame. With the advent of automated processes in the 20th century, single-use bottles began to dominate the market. The champagne bottle-blowing machine from 1905 operates semi-automatically. By contrast, the IS machine from 1964 is already fully automated.
Microphones Become Light as a Feather
Kadophon, um 1925, Inv.-Nr.: 2003-474 Nackenbügel-Kondensatormikrofon, 2025, Inv.-Nr. 2025-112
A hundred years of development, a hundredfold reduction in weight.The 5-kilogram cathodophone from 1925 already offered fairly good sound reproduction, but today, “high fidelity” is achieved with a discreet neckband microphone like this one. Weighing just 6 grams, it can be worn comfortably over the ears and is often barely noticeable to the speaker.
The Fascination of Light Refraction
Refraktometer nach Abbe, 1933, Inv.-Nr.: 1986-148Digitales Refraktometer, 2019, Inv.-Nr.: 2019-524
Light propagates at different speeds in different substances. We can observe this when light rays are bent or refracted at the surface of water. The refractive index is a fixed property of a substance and precisely determine a substance. For this reason, it is frequently measured in chemistry labs.
Rumpler’s teardrop car arrived at the Deutsches Museum in 1925, the same year the museum’s collection building opened. Almost exactly one hundred years later, the Easymile shuttle bus followed. While the teardrop car impressed with its aerodynamic design, the shuttle bus relies on computer-controlled, fully automated operation.
Respiratory Protection for Mine Rescuing
Rettungsapparat von Dräger, 1910/11, Inv.-Nr.: 53154Atemschutzgeräte von Dräger, Ende 20. Jh., Inv.-Nr.: 2021-376
Since the early 20th century, the Lübeck-based Drägerwerk company has been designing respiratory protection devices, such as the 1910/11 model. These devices are essential for enabling rescues after mining accidents. As a result, the devices have been continuously improved, and today, for example, they resemble the Dräger PSS BG 4 Plus.
Mining
Modell Buckelbergwerk, Inv.-Nr.: 2022-21Mining Demonstration für Kryptowährung Ethereum, 2017, Inv.-Nr.: 2023-188
Raw materials are extracted from a mine above ground or from the depths of a mine. When mining for cryptocurrency, the processing power of bundled graphics cards is used instead of hammers and pickaxes, and the energy does not come from human labor, but from a power outlet.
Long before scanners or copiers existed, drawings needed to be enlarged, reduced, or reproduced. For this purpose, pantographs were used. The image on the left shows a particularly beautiful example: a silhouette circle, which was used to scale shadow outlines to the desired size.
The Art of Spinning In the Course of Time
Spinnrad für Flachs, um 1950, Inv.-Nr.: 2015-1040Elektrospinnapparatur, Bj. ca. 2004, Inv.-Nr.: 2009-278
Whether it is a wooden spinning wheel or a high-tech apparatus, both spin material into threads. With the spinning wheel, flax fibers are shaped through mechanical forces, while in electrospinning, ultrafine threads are created from a polymer solution using electric forces.
How Insulin Supply Has Been Revolutionised
Insulin Hoechst, Durchstechampulle aus Glas, ca. 1925, Inv.-Nr.: 2008-0856T1Insuman Basal 100 I.E./ml, 10 Patronen zu je 3 ml, 2019, Inv.-Nr.: 2023-388
Insulin production began in Europe in 1923. ‘Insulin Hoechst‘ by the Hoechst dye works was made from calves and cattle pancreases. High costs and limited production capacity made treatment difficult. Today, insulin is produced biotechnologically using genetically modified bacteria, highly purified, and available in many variants—from fast-acting to long-acting.
Cooling at the Push of a Button
Kompressions-Kältemaschine mit Schwefelsäure als Kältemittel, um 1900, Inv.-Nr.: 7954Luft-Wasser-Wärmepumpe (Outdoor-Unit einer Klimaanlage), 2015/16, Inv.-Nr.: 2018-655
The first compression refrigeration machine was built in 1834; here we see a machine from around 1900. This principle is still used in modern air conditioning systems today.
Tractors have been and remain the most important and versatile agricultural machines. They pull heavy equipment and power machines: from the cost-effective and reliable Lanz Bulldog from the 1920s, which runs on crude oil, to the compact Fendt 211 with a variomatic transmission and digital communication system.
The first usable threshing machine was built in 1786, reducing the grain threshing time from six months to just a few weeks. It was not until the second half of the 20th century that threshing machines in Germany were replaced by combine harvesters, which mow and thresh in a single pass.
Music by Ghostly Hands
Reproduktionsflügel Steinway-Welte, 1928, Inv.-Nr.: 1995-270Yamaha Disklavier, ca. 2010
The reproduction wings by the Welte company caused a stir at the beginning of the 20th century, as they reproduced pianists' performances with remarkable nuance. The performance was stored on perforated paper rolls. The Yamaha Disklavier can do the same, but instead of a physical medium, it stores the performance digitally via MIDI.
Powered by Electricity on Rails
Erste elektrische Eisenbahn, 1879, Inv.-Nr.: 3720Erster ICE, 1985, Inv.-Nr.: L2007-6
The Siemens locomotive from 1879 was the world's first operational electric railway. In Berlin, it transported exhibition visitors on an oval track. In 1985, over a 100 years later, the first ICE, the InterCityExperimental, laid the foundation for today's high-speed ICE network.
The First Diesel Engine and Its Descendant
Kompressorloser Rohölmotor RI Horo der Motorenwerke Mannheim, vormals Benz Abteilung stationärer Motorenbau, konstruiert von Prosper L’Orange, Bj. 1922, Inv.-Nr.: 56954Mercedes-Benz Dieselmotor OM654, 2021/22, Inv.-Nr.: 2022-343
The first diesel engine equipped with an injection pump, the RI-Horo, developed by the engine works in Mannheim founded by Carl Benz, made diesel-powered vehicles possible. The OM 654 from Mercedes-Benz AG is its modern, greatly improved successor. Today, diesel engines power a wide variety of vehicles.
Bringing the Stars Down from the Sky
Planetariumsprojektor Zeiss Modell I, 1923, Inv.-Nr.: 53966Planetariumsprojektor Zeiss SKYMASTER ZKP 4, 2014, Inv.-Nr.: 1988-16
On behalf of the Deutsches Museum, the company Carl Zeiss Jena developed the world's first planetarium projector. The starry sky, featuring 4,500 fixed stars, is created by 31 star field projectors, powered by a 500W incandescent lamp. In 2015, after a two-year renovation, the planetarium of the Deutsches Museum was reopened with the SKYMASTER ZKP 4 by ZEISS. The projection system with fiber optics enhanced the quality of the starry sky display. Today, the motion control of the Sun, Moon, and planets is managed by direct drives using astronomical software.
The Evolution of Rocket Propulsion
Rakete von Johannes Winkler, 1932, Inv.-Nr.: 73100Brennkammer Vulcain 1 von Trägerrakete Ariane-5, Bj. 2002, Inv.-Nr.: 2002-198
The HW 2 rocket by Johannes Winkler and the Vulcain 1 combustion chamber of the Ariane 5 illustrate the development of rocket technology. While the HW 2 reached low altitudes of just a few kilometers, the Vulcain 1 engine powers satellites into orbit. Both share the principle of rocket propulsion for exploring the atmosphere and space.
From Bulky Boxes to Smart Assistants
Elektrischer Hörapparat, Typ C IV GROSS, ca. 1925, Inv.-Nr.: 57141Hörgerät, digital, Styletto X, links und rechts, Inv.-Nr.: 2025-74
In 1925, electric hearing aids were bulky boxes with batteries that were carried in a pocket. They amplified sound but without filtering out disturbing noises. Today, hearing aids are small, digital, and intelligent: they automatically adjust to different environments, suppress noise, and can connect to smartphones. Modern technology makes hearing more natural and life more comfortable.
Electronic Sounds
Theremin, Koch & Sterzel, 1929, Inv.-Nr.: 66467Software-Instrument „GeoShred“, Jordan Rudess & Wizdom Music LLC, 2020
The theremin, invented by Russian physicist Lev Termen, marks the beginning of portable instruments with electronic sound generation.
Today, tubes are no longer necessary: the ‘Geoshred‘ program developed by Jordan Rudess, allows expressive playing of various timbres and instruments on a tablet.
The Precise Look into the Eye
Einfacher Augenspiegel mit elektr. Beleuchtung, ca. 1930, Inv.-Nr.: 1977-1131Ophthalmoskop Beta 200S LED mit Ladegriff Beta 4 USB und Ladestation, Inv.-Nr.: 2018-335T1
In 1925, the ophthalmoscope, a simple optical instrument, was the first of its kind to be equipped with an electric light source. Today, ophthalmoscopes are state-of-the-art devices with specialised optical systems, rechargeable batteries, and LED lights, capable of providing detailed images of the retina and other eye structures, even in mobile settings.
Substance Separation through Chromatography
Dünnschichtchromatographie im LaborKombiniertes Analysensystem für Gaschromatographie und Massenspektrometrie GC-MS Agilent, 2019, Inv.-Nr.: 2019-434
Mixtures of substances can be separated by applying them to a carrier material and then allowing them to migrate with the help of a solvent. In thin-layer chromatography, this process is carried out using silica gel plates in the laboratory. Modern devices use the same principle for separation and analysis: in gas chromatography, a gaseous mixture is separated from a solid substance.
The Folding Bike in the Course of Time
Klapprad Express, Bj. 1918, Inv.-Nr.: 55300Faltrad Dahon MU XL, Bj. ca. 2006, Inv.-Nr.: 2007-1167
Today, the folding bike is a practical companion for everyday life, train journeys, or camping trips. In the past, it was primarily used by the military. The initially bulky and wobbly vehicles have evolved over time into fully functional, comfortable bikes.
Mechanisation and digitisation in the kitchen
Modellküche, um 1900, Inv.-Nr.: 1992-756Modellküche, um 1990, Inv.-Nr.: 1992-757
Where is the induction range, the steam cooker, the fully automatic coffee machine, the air fryer, the juicer, or the sensor-controlled oven with AI? Today, the ‚modern fitted kitchen from 1990‘ feels almost as historic as a kitchen from 1900.
A digital exhibition in cooperation between the DMD and the Digital Projects Cluster to mark the 100th anniversary of the Deutsches Museum in 2025.
