Schreibmaschinenmuseum Wattens

About the museum

The Typewriter Museum of the municipality of Wattens goes back to the collection of Jörg Thien. The office machine mechanic and collector first restored historic typewriters at the Pädagogische Akademie (teacher training college) in Innsbruck, where they were shown in lessons, and added pieces of his own. When the municipality of Wattens was looking for a cultural offering, the collection found a new home there; in 2002 the municipality bought the rooms in the town center, set up the showroom and has run it ever since.

The museum is considered the only publicly accessible museum of its kind in Austria. The collection spans from the wooden writing apparatus of the South Tyrolean Peter Mitterhofer from 1864 to today's electronic devices. It includes office and travel typewriters, models for Braille and shorthand, toy typewriters, teleprinters and other office machines; sectional models show their inner workings. Part of the holdings is housed in the Schaudepot (display storage) as a study collection.

The machines are restored and in working order; during guided tours, the staff tell the stories of the inventors, designers and manufacturers. The museum is open all year round, admission costs nothing, and groups can arrange appointments outside opening hours.

Highlights

• Over 450 working typewriters from 1884 to the present
• Peter Mitterhofer's writing apparatus from 1864 (copy)
• Braille, shorthand and toy typewriters
• Teleprinters and sectional models
• Admission free

Permanent exhibitions

• Geschichte der Schreibmaschine – Over 450 working machines from the Jörg Thien collection show the development from 1884 to the present day.
• Besonderheiten und Schnittmodelle – Typewriters for the blind, shorthand and children, teleprinters and sectional models with a view into the inner workings of the devices.

Founded

2002

Operated by

Gemeinde Wattens

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The facility is set up to be wheelchair-accessible.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is close to the town center, on the ground floor of a residential building at Andrä-Angerer-Gasse 1 in Wattens.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit