The Zug Depot for Technical History (Zuger Depot für Technikgeschichte) will open its doors again on Saturday, 12 September at 10.00, 12.00 and 2.00 p.m. (the tours last approximately 90 minutes). The exhibition provides close-up insights into the technical and transport achievements of the last 100 years in the canton of Zug. The unique objects from the fields of public transport, fire brigade, military and industry have been lovingly restored by their owners and are operational. Take a look and discover, for example, the oldest bus in Europe.

Children enthusiastically climb into the fire trucks, a family sits on the wooden seats of the "Elephant" tram, older gentlemen stand next to army rifle exhibition and exchange stories from their days in the military, and some people are already enjoying a bratwurst while sitting on the festival benches – and even the weather is marvellous on this year's ‘open gate’ day in the Technical Depot in Neuheim.

"We’re glad we’re able to make so many important exhibits of the history of Zug Technology available to the public here in the former Zeughaus," explains Lorenz Strickler. He is one of the founding fathers of the depot, and his enthusiasm is contagious. On the tour of the three-storey building, Strickler knows the background to the exhibits and tells anecdotes. He remembers how a calf from Oberägeri was once carried along in the luggage trailer of the bus to Zug on its way to the butcher. "That would be unimaginable today," he says.

Photo 1: The exhibition includes 'Orion', the oldest bus in Europe
Photo 2: The exhibition tells of the history of industry and military personnel, as well as the development of public transport in the canton of Zug.
 

Or that he once had to bring a basket full of raw eggs from Menzingen to his aunt's general store in Zug. "When I got off the tram at Kolinplatz, the basket accidentally hit the tram. Half of the eggs were broken, but the aunt forgave me." But it is not only the large exhibits that are impressive; smaller devices such as equipment for measuring the water level of reservoirs can also be found in the exhibition. Club member Toni Iten dismantled, cleaned and reassembled these in hours of detail work.

Five organisations support the association
Founded in 2009, the association is supported by five organizations and has about 50 active members, who, with great passion, want to keep the memory of the technical achievements in Zug alive. The result is not a typical museum or camp, but a place that lives. "This is where work is done, and visitors can touch things," says Bernhard Stadlin, one of the initiators of the collection. "The exhibition is an interdisciplinary mix of industrial and military history, or of the development of public transport in the canton of Zug." Many efforts are made to preserve and exhibit art, architecture or the rural heritage in Switzerland. "But the history of technology and industry is often neglected," says Stadlin. For example, few people know about the precision with which the gearbox of the Swiss-built 65/88 recovery armoured vehicle works. "It is very impressive how exactly crane work can be carried out with the tank."

Thomas Lötscher from Neuheim has recently become president of the association, and wants to set priorities following the development and growth phase of recent years; the capacity of the depot had now been reached, and the question of how the association should develop has now arisen. It’s also important to distribute the know-how more widely. "Many of the active members are retirees. So we need to inspire younger members to join the cause."

The exhibition brings back memories
The 700 or so visitors were thrilled last Saturday. "It's great what has been collected here. I think the connection to Zug in particular is important," says Gian-Luca Franchini from Hünenberg. Josef Schuler from Lucerne remembers: "I drove trucks myself 50 years ago. The exhibits here remind me of those times." Agnes Bokane from Zug is also enthusiastic: "Our children love to get into the fire trucks, but the dads are also very enthusiastic!"