Transport
Aviation
The collection of
aviation of the National Technical Museum is oriented mainly on documentation of
the domestic civilian aeronautics. It contains 34 aeroplanes of which
18 are displayed in the permanent exhibition. Undoubtedly, the most
interesting exhibit is the plane Bleriot
system JK Kaspar from 1911 that was used by ing. Kaspar in his first
long-distance flight in the history of Czech aeronautics. Connoisseurs will be
attracted by three world-wide unique army planes from the World War I –
Russian Anatra Anasalj, American LWF Tractor and Austrian Knoller CII. The
gallery contains a permanent exhibition of the history of domestic and world
aviation presented by a large collection of models. Another aeroplanes in
ownership of the National Technical Museum are displayed at the exhibition of
the Army Aviation Museum in Prague-Kbely. Here, visitors can appreciate the
fighter planes Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk.IXE and Lavockin La-7 that were
used by Czechoslovak pilots during the World War II.
Shipping
The collection of shipping transport of the
National Technical Museum reflects the fact that the Czech Republic is an inland
country and more important role has always been plaid by river transport.
Therefore, the collection is neither large nor thematically important and it
contains mainly models of river boats and sea-going vessels. The most important
part of this collection is displayed in the permanent exhibition of the
Museum.
Automobiles
The collection of automobiles of the
National Technical Museum belongs to the highest-quality collections on the
European continent. It documents the development of domestic car production on
the background of world production. The main part is, therefore, devoted to
automobiles of domestic production, in particular cars produced before the World
War II. The collection contains several distinguished exhibits associated with
important milestones of the history of automobile in the Czech lands. These are,
for instance, the first automobile driven in Bohemia – Benz Viktoria from 1893, the first
automobile produced in the Czech lands – NW President from 1898, as well
as the first Czech racing car – NW 12 HP from 1900. Of a
particular value is also the collection of cars connected with important
historical events and VIPs. Historically most precious automobile of this
collection is the 6-litre 12-cylinder Tatra
80 from 1935 used by the first Czechoslovak president T.G.Masaryk.
The collection, however, comprises not only automobiles of a territorial
significance but also, for instance, the car Bugatti 13 from 1910 – the
worldwide oldest preserved product of the Molsheim factory of Ettore Bugatti,
the 12-cylinder racing car Mercedes-Benz W154/M163 of Rudolf Caracciola or the
worldwide oldest preserved car of the brand AUDI. The automobile collection of
the National Technical Museum contains about 120 cars, of which about one
third are displayed for the Museum visitors at the permanent exhibition.
Horse-drawn railway
The collection of horse-drawn vehicles of the National Technical Museum contains almost items. These are particularly passenger carriages manufactured by domestic producers. Also interesting is, however, a small collection of horse-drawn fire engines.
Due to a limited space in the Museum, the greatest part of horse-drawn vehicles of the National Technical Museum is stored in depositories and displayed to the public only occasionally.
Motorcycles
The collection contains machines associated with the history of motoring. These are, in particular, motorcycles of domestic producers, a significant part is, however, represented by foreign products that had been driven on the territory of the Czech Republic in the past. The largest part of the Museum collection is represented by machines manufactured before the World War II.
About one hundred producers of motorcycles have operated on the territory of the Czech Republic in the past. The oldest period is represented in the collection by motorcycles of the factory Laurin & Klement from Mlada Bolestav that belonged to top-quality European products in the early 20th century and were also very successful in motorcycle racing. Historically the most important, as to the volume of production, were the brands JAWA and CZ which have been associated with the history of domestic motorcycle production since the 30s.
The permanent exhibition shows about 40 motorcycles, of which one half are of domestic production. However, an important part of the motorcycle collection of the National Technical Museum can also be found on the castle Kamen in South Bohemia where a permanent exhibition devoted to the history of domestic motorcycle production has been installed.
Cycling
The collection contains machines associated with the history of motoring. These are, in particular, motorcycles of domestic producers, a significant part is, however, represented by foreign products that had been driven on the territory of the Czech Republic in the past. The largest part of the Museum collection is represented by machines manufactured before the World War II.
About one hundred producers of motorcycles have operated on the territory of the Czech Republic in the past. The oldest period is represented in the collection by motorcycles of the factory Laurin & Klement from Mlada Bolestav that belonged to top-quality European products in the early 20th century and were also very successful in motorcycle racing. Historically the most important, as to the volume of production, were the brands JAWA and CZ which have been associated with the history of domestic motorcycle production since the 30s.
The permanent exhibition shows about 40 motorcycles, of which one half are of domestic production. However, an important part of the motorcycle collection of the National Technical Museum can also be found on the castle Kamen in South Bohemia where a permanent exhibition devoted to the history of domestic motorcycle production has been installed.