Slightly OT - Edison's electrification of Schonbrunn Palace

[Valecnik]

Last November we took a tour of Schonbrunn, the summer palace of the Hapsburg Monarchy in Vienna.

The tour guide mentioned that around 1900 the then current emperor Franz Josef II, (of WW1 fame) has the place electrified and the project was overseen by none other than T.A. Edison himself. Of course the tourguide did not know many details but did mention many miles of wire had to be strung and hidden and that hundreds of chandeliers designed to hold candles had to have wires strung through them so they could be fitted with electric lights. Apparently Edison also visited there but I don't know how much he was directly involved with the project.

I also read some time ago that when an early predecessor of Franz Josef, Empress Maria-Tereza, lived at Schonbrunn, she had about 2,000 servants attending to her there and that about 200 of them were largely charged with keeping the place lit with fresh candles. It gives you and idea of what a job the electrification must have been.

Just thought I'd throw this out in case any of you might find it interesting or had read/heard about it and could provide more information.

[Paal1994]

Bruce,

Very interesting! I was on a tour of Schönbrunn in 2004 when we visited Vienna and I didn't notice any info that Edison overviewed the electrification project in the Schloss.

Schönbrunn is a beautiful part of a beautiful city.

Paal.

[Valecnik]

Paal,

We've visited Schonbrunn 4 or 5 times. Vienna is one of our favorite cities and a relatively short drive from here.

Only on this last visit was anything mentioned about Edison. I don't know if it's because they changed the "standard tour" presentation or due to the fact that we had an exceptionally knowledgeable tour guide and we were there out of tourist season when they could take more time.

Unfortunately not one phonograph to be seen there although I'm sure Franz Jozef could have afforded a nice one!

[Starkton]

The tour guide mentioned that around 1900 the then current emperor Franz Josef II, (of WW1 fame) has the place electrified and the project was overseen by none other than T.A. Edison himself. [...] Apparently Edison also visited there but I don't know how much he was directly involved with the project.

Schönbrunn was electrified early on, during the 1890's, but Edison never visited the place and wasn't involved with the project. Don't trust tour guides

[Starkton]

Unfortunately not one phonograph to be seen there although I'm sure Franz Jozef could have afforded a nice one!

Franz Josef II ordered a large phonograph to be bought in 1904, but as he was hard of hearing the instrument was presented to a court official a few months later.

[Valecnik]

Thanks Norm,

Well the credibility of the Schonbrunn tour guides certainly drops a few notches with this.

As I was trying to find out more information on the topic I found a hotel next to Schonbrunn that purported to have had Thomas Edison as one of it's distinguished guests. Would you think that is also not true?

Regarding the phono apparently ordered by Franz Jozef, do you know what kind it was?

Regards,
Bruce

[Starkton]

As I was trying to find out more information on the topic I found a hotel next to Schonbrunn that purported to have had Thomas Edison as one of it's distinguished guests. Would you think that is also not true?

I stand corrected! Edison visited the continent of Europe about 1911. I have a photograph of him in Hungary. Of course, the palace of Schönbrunn was long electrified then and the tour guide seemed to mix both occurences.

Regarding the phono apparently ordered by Franz Jozef, do you know what kind it was?

Regards,
Bruce

No, press reports I have read only mention a "large phonograph."

[Valecnik]

Thanks Norm,

If you don't mind sharing, it would be great to see the picture of Edison in Hungary.

[Starkton]

Thanks Norm,

If you don't mind sharing, it would be great to see the picture of Edison in Hungary.

This is Edison with Mina in Hungary, in 1911. The photo was processed in a studio in Pozsony, the old capital of Hungary.

[bostonmike1]

Valcenik---- Regardless of what the tour guide purported the "facts" be, your credibility is still intact. Your posts are enlightening. Just to back you up, I will tell you what happened to me. During the years of 1966 through 1969, I served in a 6 man recon unit in Vietnam. In 2004 I returned on business---this time without 40 pounds of gear on my back and an M16----but with my wife (145 pounds presently after three children) and a bit of trepidation because of the past in my own mind. What a waste of concern that was. They do not hate us because we turned their country (both North and South) into a gigantic landfill, but simply because we are American. I found that comforting once we arrived----not one mention of gratitude for their independence or a better life. It was as if we were never there and lost 52,000 of our own. WHAT REVISIONIST HISTORY! This dovetails as to the information you received from your tour guide. They recite from a script, and what people are told they believe as fact. I personally hold you in high regard for the clarity of your postings and the information you provide to us "little people" devoid of you know it all, as is rampant on these forums. No one "knows it all" but you respond with class and humility. I thank you. Michael If you ever write a book with Valuable information and not just a PICTURE book I would be your first purchaser. I have two, one from 1959 and the second I bought when I was 22 years old out of the ARMY---everything to this day is just regurgitated "facts" with incorrect information with higher quality pictures! I have seen in the last 20 years ----especially in the last 10 years-----what is available to a hobbyist or anyone of interest----it is pure crap.