Wüllner, Adolf

in Neue Deutsche Biographie, Bd. 28 (in press)

Wie erzählt man Geschichte(n) für ein breites Publikum? Minett-stories.lu als ein Versuch des Transmedia Storytellings

Presentation (2022, October 26)

Zum (vermeintlichen) Verschwinden des Reparierens seit den 1970er Jahren

Scientific Conference (2022, September 15)

In der Technikgeschichte wird oftmals angenommen, dass die industrielle Massenfertigung und die Herausbildung der so genannten Wegwerfgesellschaft zu einem Rückgang bzw. Verschwinden des Reparierens von ... [more ▼]

In der Technikgeschichte wird oftmals angenommen, dass die industrielle Massenfertigung und die Herausbildung der so genannten Wegwerfgesellschaft zu einem Rückgang bzw. Verschwinden des Reparierens von Konsumgütern geführt haben. In „Shock of the Old“ spricht David Edgerton z.B. davon, dass sich aufgrund der gesunkenen Anschaffungspreise, das Reparieren einfacher Haushaltsgeräte nicht mehr lohne. Das Hauptargument dieser These verweist also auf das sich seit der Vormoderne wandelnde Verhältnis von Personal- und Materialkosten, das letztlich den Neuerwerb von Konsumgütern günstiger gemacht habe, als die Reparatur gebrauchter Güter. Während der Begriff der Wegwerfgesellschaft bis in die 1950er Jahre zurückreicht, werden für westliche Industriegesellschaften vor allem die 1970er und 80er Jahre als Wendepunkte im Verhältnis von Neuanschaffungs- zu Reparaturkosten beschrieben. Ausgangspunkt für den Vortrag sind Zahlen der Luxemburger Statistikbehörde Statec, die zeigen, dass der Reparatursektor in Luxemburg in den 1980er Jahren einerseits zwar in Bewegung, andererseits keineswegs im Verschwinden war. Ausgehend von einer eingehenderen Betrachtung der verfügbaren Statistiken beschreibt der Vortrag die Veränderungen des Luxemburger Reparatursektors und diskutiert daran die These des vermeintlichen Verschwindens des Reparierens von Konsumgütern. [less ▲]

The delicate balance between expansion, innovation and maintenance of the Luxembourg Telephone Network

Scientific Conference (2022, February 24)

Since its establishment in 1885, the Luxembourg telephone network was characterised by bottlenecks in network expansion, which were in the course of the 20th century to be remedied by new cables ... [more ▼]

Since its establishment in 1885, the Luxembourg telephone network was characterised by bottlenecks in network expansion, which were in the course of the 20th century to be remedied by new cables (expansion) and new distribution technology (innovation). However, the envisioned expansion was repeatedly slowed down by a lack of trained technical staff and resources. For example, requests for new connections had repeatedly to be rejected and already planned expansion measures had to be postponed. Due to the one-sided focus of government and Luxembourg Post (PTT) administration on network expansion, the maintenance and repair of the network suffered at the same time, so that more frequent defects occurred. At the same time did the repair of defects tie up human and material resources that were then not available for expansion works. The PTT was thus confronted with a constant balancing act between the expansion and modernisation of the network and its maintenance, with the management level prioritising expansion and innovation. The problem was particularly virulent during the rapid expansion of telephony in the 1960s and 70s, but the paper will trace the fundamental conflict of interests for the first one hundred years of telephony in Luxembourg. The paper draws on legal documents and PTT reports to show how the construction, expansion and maintenance of the telephone network was envisioned, and how the shortage of technical staff and resources hampered the smooth operation of the system. [less ▲]

Identity disputes

Computer development (2022)

"Liewen am Minett" was a government photo project meant to document the people and life of the changing, declining Minett of the 1980s. However, the very workers publicly disagreed with the ways they have ... [more ▼]

"Liewen am Minett" was a government photo project meant to document the people and life of the changing, declining Minett of the 1980s. However, the very workers publicly disagreed with the ways they have been portrayed. Together with the photographers from the publication, discover more about this dispute and join the discussion about the (visual) identity of the region and its people. [less ▲]

Das "Italienerviertel"

Computer development (2022)

Nicht nur ein Ort zum Schlafen

Computer development (2022)

Steel, smoke and dust

Computer development (2022)

Questioning the Decline of Repair in the Late 20th Century: The Case of Luxembourg, 1945-1990

in Bernasconi, Gianenrico; Carnino, Guillaume; Hilaire-Pérez, Liliane (Eds.) et al Les Réparations dans l’Histoire. Cultures techniques et savoir-faire dans la longue durée (2022)

Biller aus dem Minett

Computer development (2022)

Between 1959 and 1961, the national newspaper Luxemburger Wort published a photo series dedicated to the Minett. These so-called “Biller aus dem Minett” (Images from the Minett) were intended to serve as ... [more ▼]

Between 1959 and 1961, the national newspaper Luxemburger Wort published a photo series dedicated to the Minett. These so-called “Biller aus dem Minett” (Images from the Minett) were intended to serve as a platform for amateur photographers, allowing them to show everyday aspects of life in Luxembourg’s industrial region. Today, the approximately 150 “Biller” are a collection of historical interest, which provides a unique view on Luxembourg’s industrial region shortly before the economic downfall. [less ▲]