Auer von Welsbach-Museum

About the museum

The museum commemorates Carl Auer von Welsbach (1858–1929), the inventor of the gas mantle, the metal filament light bulb and the cerium-iron ferrocerium flint for lighters. He discovered four chemical elements, including neodymium, and in 1898 founded the Welsbach works in Treibach, today's Treibacher Industrie AG. In doing so he laid the foundation for Althofen's economic upswing. He is also regarded as the first sound recordist (1900) and as Austria's first colour photographer (1908).

The exhibition is housed in a building from the 12th and 13th centuries in Althofen's medieval old town. Six rooms cover his biography and inventions, the discovery of the rare earths, the history of lighting from the gas mantle (1885) to the metal filament lamp (1898), and the development of lighters with the Auermetall flint (1903). A further room presents a documentation on Treibacher Industrie AG, including historical sound recordings.

The highlight is Auer von Welsbach's laboratory, which according to the municipality is the only one in the world furnished with its original equipment. The museum also displays a collection of rare lighters and early gas mantle lighting fixtures. The museum is run by the municipality of Althofen and holds the Austrian Museum Seal of Quality.

Highlights

• The world's only laboratory with original Auer von Welsbach equipment
• Gas mantle and metal filament lamp
• Collection of rare lighters
• Discovery of four rare earth elements
• Early sound recordings and colour photographs
• Building from the 12th/13th century

Permanent exhibition

• Leben und Werk von Carl Auer von Welsbach – Six rooms on his biography, rare earths, lighting technology, lighters, Treibacher Industrie and the originally furnished laboratory.

Operated by

Stadtgemeinde Althofen

Director

Roland Adunka

Admission & discounts

With the Kärnten Card, one admission per day is free (photo ID required).

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Tours for school classes are possible from age 6.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in Althofen's old town next to the church, on the B317 between St. Veit an der Glan and Friesach.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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