I found the beginnings of the Red Cross to be very interesting because I know we see it in our every day lives and at school but never knew how it came to be. The swissman who started all this couldn't stand how many people died because they laid on the battlefield for hours and even days slowly dying. To think that an organization could be neutral in a war and help both sides victims of it was definitely revolutionary. Although, it was mentioned that even though a treaty with three main rules was drawn up and signed by over 100 countries, the countries that signed the treaty and some that didn't sometimes wouldn't follow it and they would persecute and kill the Red Cross doctors and nurses. I also didn't know that there were different symbols to represent the Red Cross in various countries because of their religious affiliations. For example, in Pakistan there is a crescent (that also applies to other countries around Pakistan as well) while of course we have the traditional red cross.
Thanks for listening!
Cheers!
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Textile Industry Museum - Augsburg
Dear blog,
I really enjoyed going to the Textile Industry Museum in Augsburg. It was interesting to see the outside of the building and how they were constructed at the time in order to take full advantage of the sunlight so that workers could easily see their work. I also thought it was interesting to see some of the unrestored buildings that were damaged by bombs during the war, this gave us a better perspective on the war times. I loved that we were able to see the machines run and hear how loud they were, it really helped me to imagine how loud a whole room of 30-60 of those would've been. And at the time there was no form of hearing protection so many of the machine workers would eventually go deaf from all the loud noises. I also found it interesting that many of the fabric books that companies had would become forms of "industrial espionage" because many competitors would steal fabric from the books to try and replicate it and make it cheaper and better. This really helped give me an idea of how important this industry was at the time, and how much the textile industry has grown over the past century.
Jake Wetsch
I really enjoyed going to the Textile Industry Museum in Augsburg. It was interesting to see the outside of the building and how they were constructed at the time in order to take full advantage of the sunlight so that workers could easily see their work. I also thought it was interesting to see some of the unrestored buildings that were damaged by bombs during the war, this gave us a better perspective on the war times. I loved that we were able to see the machines run and hear how loud they were, it really helped me to imagine how loud a whole room of 30-60 of those would've been. And at the time there was no form of hearing protection so many of the machine workers would eventually go deaf from all the loud noises. I also found it interesting that many of the fabric books that companies had would become forms of "industrial espionage" because many competitors would steal fabric from the books to try and replicate it and make it cheaper and better. This really helped give me an idea of how important this industry was at the time, and how much the textile industry has grown over the past century.
Jake Wetsch
BMW GINA Light Vision
At the BMW museum we got a glimpse into the companies past, but we also took a peek into the future. Here we were introduced to GINA. This "vision car" is made from an extremely light weight spaceframe and covered with an elastic fabric. This ensures the car is a light as possible, but that is just the beginning. The car is able to change its shape while it is moving to adjust its aerodynamics. The rear spoiler and side sills can be raised or lowered to adjust the down force on the car. The doors do not have visible hinges, and the headlamps are concealed during the day. Although the car was never put into production due to safety concerns, the concept of the cars body changing shape is still being used for future models.
I enjoyed looking at the women's clothes throughout the years and discovering how the styles have changed. I have never realized how there are two major styles that have changed repeatedly over the decades. The first style being more formal with a fitted torso and a larger, non-fitted skirt. The second style is more of a straight dress that is not fitted anywhere. The fabric of the clothing has changed as well over the past several decades. Fashion closer to today has become more flashy and "look at me"material. However, older clothes were very conservative with simple flower patterns and included more complicated layers of clothing required. Finally, I was surprised by the how much the average height of woman has grown over the years.
The BMW Museum
The BMW museum was the site I've enjoyed most in Germany so far. I have always had a great interest in cars and engines, and since BMW is one of the oldest car manufacturers in the world, it's obvious why I have a huge interests in the museum. I really liked seeing the past of BMW and how the company had progressed through the ages. I never realized how German companys were affected by the World Wars until our guide pointed out that BMW could only manufacture pots after the war to keep the company running. It was amazing to see the cars progression from the machines that could barely run, to the futuristic cars made of flexible materials. It makes me wonder what the future of automobiles will actually bring.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
TIM
Hello fellow travelers,
I would like to talk about the Textile Industry Museum we visited in Augsburg Germany. To be honest I was very impressed at this museum. I thought the tour was very informative about how the industry grew from a manually doing every step to modern machines of today. We started the tour seeing how fabric was made in pre industrial revolution times. It started with cleaning the material whether it was wool, silk, or cotton. After that long process we learned how they spun the raw material by hand and how the technology developed to make this step faster. After that, we looked at different models of looms from the industrial revolution to the late 1990's. I especially liked this part because it showed how the technology grew to make shuttles move faster. Some the earlier shuttles moved by physical hits and by the 90's the shuttle moved my compressed air. Not only the shuttle movement became faster but the complexity of the fabrics became a more common due to the advances of the looms speed and accuracy. My favorite part of the tour was seeing these machines and how complicated they got over the last century.
Until next time fellow travelers.
I would like to talk about the Textile Industry Museum we visited in Augsburg Germany. To be honest I was very impressed at this museum. I thought the tour was very informative about how the industry grew from a manually doing every step to modern machines of today. We started the tour seeing how fabric was made in pre industrial revolution times. It started with cleaning the material whether it was wool, silk, or cotton. After that long process we learned how they spun the raw material by hand and how the technology developed to make this step faster. After that, we looked at different models of looms from the industrial revolution to the late 1990's. I especially liked this part because it showed how the technology grew to make shuttles move faster. Some the earlier shuttles moved by physical hits and by the 90's the shuttle moved my compressed air. Not only the shuttle movement became faster but the complexity of the fabrics became a more common due to the advances of the looms speed and accuracy. My favorite part of the tour was seeing these machines and how complicated they got over the last century.
Until next time fellow travelers.
Monday, July 25, 2016
Blog Post 2
My favorite site from Delft was the Royal Delft porcelain factory. I especially liked seeing the process they use to create their pieces. It is hard to believe that they have used the same process
since the 1650s and only just started modernizing some of their
techniques. I was most intrigued by the painting step. As a dabbler in ceramics I have used cobalt oxide to draw patterns on vases before, however I could never get it to come out quite right. I believe this is because I have not used porcelain clay, but just regular clay. When we return I will have to make a plaster mold and attempt to make some porcelain slip casts. Hopefully I can get the correct mix down. I think it would be amazing to be able to paint patterns as well as the master painters at the Royal Delft porcelain factory...perhaps I may apply there one day if the engineering thing doesn't work out.
Outside of the process, I thought that all of the pieces were incredible and it is too bad that I do not have enough money to bring a handpainted piece home with me. I think that my favorite piece was the copy of Rembrandt's Night Watch. I had seen that very same painting the day before at the Rijksmuseum and their blue porcelain copy of it was just as impressive.
Outside of the process, I thought that all of the pieces were incredible and it is too bad that I do not have enough money to bring a handpainted piece home with me. I think that my favorite piece was the copy of Rembrandt's Night Watch. I had seen that very same painting the day before at the Rijksmuseum and their blue porcelain copy of it was just as impressive.
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