International Electrotechnical Exhibition

The International Electrotechnical Exhibition was held from 16 May to 19 October 1891 on the grounds of the former West railway stations in Frankfurt am Main. The exhibition has been demonstrated with the AC transmission Lauffen -Frankfurt for the first time the powerful long-distance transmission of electricity was generated in Lauffen 176 km away on the Neckar. Because of this successful field trial, the three-phase technology for building electrical transmission prevailed worldwide.

History

1881, when in Paris held the first International Electricity Exhibition, was the " Electrotechnical Society" originated in Frankfurt as an association for the promotion of electricity. Priority research was supported its application in industry and technology. Three years later it was in Frankfurt just about ten companies which manufactured electrical equipment. Around the year 1890 around but already some of the later Frankfurt large companies were founded: Hartmann & Braun, Staudt & Voigt ( 1891 Voigt & Haefner ) and W. Lahmeyer & Co. ( from 1893 electricity AG formerly W. Lahmeyer & Co). Even in Frankfurt, recorded the beginning of the " second industrial revolution " from which should bring similar fundamental shifts, as 100 years before the advent of steam engines in the world of work. 1891 was the German electrical industry ready to present to the International Electrotechnical Exhibition their performance to the public. As an exhibition space, the site of the former Main-Neckar - station between the city and the 1888 finished main train station has been selected.

Leopold sun man, editor of the Frankfurter Zeitung, had, inspired by the Paris World Exhibition, the interested Electrotechnical Society for the exhibition project. This began in 1889 with the preparations. Apart from the international overview of the state of the electro-technical industry also an acute Frankfurt problem should be solved; since 1886 the construction of a central electricity power station for Frankfurt was discussed in all political and professional bodies, but there was no consensus on the appropriate power system. Whether better DC, AC or three-phase current should be produced, was controversial. The exhibition has now succeeded in demonstrating an economic power transmission. Electrical power was transferred to the low loss of 25 percent as a highly strained three-phase Lauffen am Neckar to Frankfurt. This energy transfer was the main event of the exhibition, which was shown in the large three-part entrance: The middle part formed the arcade and bore the inscription power transmission Lauffen -Frankfurt 175 km. This entrance arch was flanked right and left by two rectangular signs. On the right side there was the writing of the general Electricitätsgesellschaft founded in 1887, left stood the inscription Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon. The entire entrance system had been provided with 1000 bulbs. As an added attraction, there was a waterfall, which was electrically driven. With 1.2 million visitors from around the world, the exhibition was a great success. The price for a day pass per adult was a massive 15 marks.

As a result of the exhibition was considered solved in Germany the question of the most economical mode of transmission of electrical energy. The power plant in Lauffen took after the end of the exhibition in Frankfurt on the supply of the nearby official city of Heilbronn. The city council of Frankfurt built a power plant in the vicinity of the port, another one was built from a private collection in Bock 's home.

The company Siemens & Halske and Maschinenfabrik Buckau exhibited a processor coupled with a 500 horsepower steam engine dynamo, which attracted considerable attention.

Prominence during the visit of the power plant, photographed by Oskar von Miller. Among Charles of Leibbrand, Emil Rathenau, Marcel Deprez, Gisbert Kapp, Dr. John Hopkinson, Charles Brown, Peter Emil Huber- Werdmüller and telecommunications pioneer William Henry Preece (later Sir)

The powered by a 100 -horsepower pump waterfall

The AC motor with coupled pump behind the artificial waterfall. In the background is a map with the route of the overhead line. This was mostly along a railway line, and required 3,000 posts, 9,000 oil insulators and 60 tons of copper wire Ø 4 mm

Rear view of the engine facing the fittings on the walls

In this lithograph, the pump and transformer house can be seen behind the waterfall

The power plant in Lauffen provided the current

The alternator in Lauffener power plant

And passenger travel by balloon were first offered in the exhibition. Captain was the then famous aviation pioneer George Rodeck

The official poster for the exhibition

A further illustration of the exhibition area

The booth of Siemens & Halske

The stand of the Helios AG

The greeting card design for proud then 5 Pfennig

Stamp of the centenary

The route of the overhead line of Lauffen to Frankfurt