ROOM 1
In the entrance the coat of arms of Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach (1858 -1929)with the maxim PLUS LUCIS- MORE LIGHT. Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach often bore this in mind with his inventions (gas mantle light, metal filament light bulb and lighter flint) Left a portrait of his father. He was also an eminent inventor of, among other things, printing methods and ushered the Austrian State Printing Office to its international reputation- a reputation that still holds to this day. Right a picture of the GENIUS LOCI of our town, the most famous of Austrian, and, at the same time, world's inventors- Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach. During his lifetime he was highly honoured for his inventions and discoveries that proved to be valuable to mankind. He was a multiple honorary doctor of several universities and honorary senator of the University of Heidelberg. The status of honorary citizen was given to him due to his social activities and the highest decorations such as the Siemens ring, statues, honorary medallions and the elevation to the status of Baron crowned the works of a lifetime. A list recounts the generous corporate and private donations that he contributed. Some of the personal articles used by Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach such as clips, lighters, compass, missal, magnifying glass, bell etc. A self-portrait in colour identifies Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach as the first colour photographer in Austria. From the family album: the parents, Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach himself in the stages of his life and as a automobile pioneer, the spouse, children, Schloß Welsbach, and the lavish celebration for his seventieth birthday at Schloß Welsbach. Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach's many inventions surround us: light bulbs, lighters and gas mantle light . Elements discovered by him have applications in glass tinting, ceramic paints, lighter flints, super alloys, lasers, and, recently, as high performance magnets in motors, speakers and headphones.
ROOM 2
Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach's discovery of four new elements was made possible through the spectroscopic analysis which was discovered by his teachers Bunsen and Kirchhoff. The pocket spectroscope which aided in the discovery of Neodym and Praseodym is on exhibition as well as a hammerbreak spark coil (constructed by the inventor himself) that was needed for the discovery of Aldebaranium, and Cassiopeium (now called Ytterbium and Lutetium). One can view different spectrums that Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach made in the scratch technic, drew or photographed. Some original slide preparations of the discovered elements and other rare earth elements and minerals from his collection as well as a ionium preparation (Th230- isotope), which Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach successfully isolated reveal the future oriented research work of this world famous scientist. In the showcase there are publications from the most distinguished scientists of the nineteenth century such as Faraday, Kirchhoff, Hofmann, Helmholtz, Justus von Liebig, Roscoe, Julius Lothar Mayer and Wöhler- all of which have personal dedications to Prof. Robert Bunsen. Exhibited is also a book from Bunsen himself acquired from Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach's Bunsen library. Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach's hand-written book concerning atom weight determination and the correspondence with world famous scientists and Nobel prize holders (Aston, Rutherford etc.) testify to the inexhaustible research drive of this man.
ROOM 3
The history of mankind by example of illumination technology 400 millennium ago fire served as illumination, many thousand years ago oil lamps, a thousand years ago candles, two hundred years ago gas lamps, 150 years ago petroleum lamps, over 100 years Gas mantle light (Auerlicht) and only since the Auer Oslicht about 100 years do we have the metal filament lamp. The development of the gas mantle light, from the choice of filament and type of knit to the first gas mantle lamp, is on display. The consequential invention of the metal filament with original preparations of Osmium powder, paste and filaments will be demonstrated. In addition the measuring devices used to determine the resistance of filaments and the apparatus employed for the evacuation of the glass bulbs. Sensational is also the first metal filament bulb constructed by Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach- a cultural asset of mankind which is inestimably implemented today. The first electric pocket lamp with the Auer- Oslicht bulb and first automobile searchlights are also on display. A CD-I player is installed which shows over eighty photos from the University of Heidelberg, the professors, auditoriums and many other depictions (1880- 1929) from the album given to Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach as he received the honorary senator title.
ROOM 4
The development of the lighter in history- beginning with the fire drill up to the fancy and manifold forms of lighters used today. Hundreds of lighters and gas igniters never displayed before, many of which come from the early days following the discovery of lighter flint (Auermetallâ) by Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach and never seen in a museum before. Original trials of different lighter flint- alloys and the oil lighter invented by Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach himself which has hundreds of billions of emulations to this day. (World-wide production of disposable lighters alone: six billion per year!) In the display case is the founding protocol of the Treibacher Chemische Werke on exhibition. This is undoubtedly the most important document for the works in Treibach and for Althofen's local development as a whole. Thousands that found work and earnings here will be led to the core of one of the concerns operating world- wide today. The picture compilation helps one to comprehend the enormous economic development that was made through Dr. Carl von Welsbach. Documents of the foundation of other companies in Austria, USA, Canada, Germany and England including stocks are also part of the exposition. A showcase displays the only banknote in the world adorned with a portrait of a chemist (20 Schilling) and a silver 25 Schilling coin also carrying his likeness. In addition there are the postal stamps honouring Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach and other rarities of philatelist interest. Another showcase is in honour of Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach's father, Alois Auer von Welsbach with original items from ca. 1850 - a realistic self-printing process. Three showcases exhibit Bunsen burners, devices used to measure radioactivity and other scientific equipment employed in the laboratory. On display are also glassware partly made by Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach who was also an accomplished glassblower. One can also see relicts from his estate such as an old Kodak camera dating from 1890 and colour photos from around 1910. A glass case of the TREIBACHER AUERMET with the lighter flint-Original Auermetallâ- produced in Treibach traces the continuity of his foundation in Treibach.
ROOM 5
A seven minute video about the Treibacher Industie AG confers a look into the firm's large offer of products and traces the impressive growth from its founding in 1898 by Dr. Carl von Welsbach up to this day.
ROOM 6
The laboratory furnished with original equipment. All of these implements and devices were used by Dr. Carl von Welsbach in his untiring fifty- year research and innovation work. It is in a cellar similar to the one rented by Dr. Carl von Welsbach from Prof. Lieben in Vienna where Dr. Carl von Welsbach invented and produced the first gas- light bulb. To the left is the wet chemistry (discovery of the elements, invention of the gas- light bulb, and work with the radioactive elements) and in the middle is the Spectroscope in the same arrangement used in the discovery of the elements Ytterbium and Lutetium. To the right is the invention of the metal filament lamp and the fusion electrolysis (for the invention of lighter flint) with the electric cells. These are set up in an authentic manner. In the cabinet are original chemicals, many of which were labelled by Dr. Carl Auer von Welsbach himself, as well as diverse laboratory tools. The exhibited books- standard chemistry literature- were utilised by him in his scientific research work. A plate camera that Carl Auer von Welsbach used in his activities as colour- photography pioneer, a Stirling- hot gas motor and analytical balances (long beam 1880, short beam 1893) are of particularly remarkable. A wall panel of the periodic table of elements demonstrates the manifestation and the possibility of use of the elements.