Brno Steam Engine on the Border of Monarchy (and One Unique Technical Monument)

Ondřej Merta

Archeologia technica, vol. 34 (2023)
Pages: 66–74
Language: Czech
Type of article: scientific article
DOI: n/a

Abstract:
In the Italian village of Ruda, in the province of Friuli Venezia Giulia, there is a starch factory founded in 1865 by the chemist, inventor and entrepreneur Luigi Chiozza, Amideria Chiozza. In 1902, the factory was rebuilt and modernised and continued to operate until 1986. Thanks to the fact that the industrial complex has been protected as a heritage since 1989, its appearance and complete machinery have been preserved to this day. During the 1902 reconstruction, a steam engine manufactured in První brněnská strojírna (First Brno Engineering Company) was installed in the factory. The reconstruction and opening of the factory to the public is the aim of the association of the same name (Associazione Amideria Chiozza), which invited the Technical Museum in Brno to help with the reconstruction of the steam engine. The text presents the history of the factory, the life of the founder, the technology of starch production and the restoration of the steam engine.