MOTnews 35 (28/06/2002)

Free Drinks at the MOT

In 2002 it's been 20 years since the first exhibition was officially opened at the Museum for Old Techniques and this is an occasion we would certainly like to celebrate.

It's taken us some time to come up with an original idea for this anniversary but we've finally decided to do what everyone else does on their birthday: buy a round of drinks for everybody!

So drinks for all visitors are on us.

However, MOT wouldn't be MOT if we made it too easy for you. Visitors will be expected to make an effort as well...

With the purchase of a ?2.50 ticket (adult entry ticket), each visitor receives a few simple questions about the three museum departments. If you can solve the questions for at least two of these museum departments, you will receive a voucher for a Grimbergen Abbey beer from the attendant at one of the three locations. The voucher can be exchanged at one of the taverns at Liermolen and Tommenmolen for a well-earned drink.

You are of course more than welcome at our festive weekends (which will be held every weekend from June to September)!

TRUE or FALSE?

The material of asbestos was known by the Romans.

True or false? Read all about it in the next MOT News.

ANSWER to TRUE or FALSE in MOT NEWS 34 (31/05/2002)

The first wheel was a disc made by cutting through a tree trunk crossways.

FALSE

It's often claimed that the discovery of the wheel was the result of a logical process: pre-historic man saw a stone or a tree trunk rolling down a hill, he sawed or cut a disc out of a tree trunk and the wheel was invented, and a few centuries later we had vehicles on wheels.

Actually, this is no more than hearsay and the first wheel was definitely not made from a tree trunk, for a number of reasons.

In the first place, a stone or tree trunk that rolls down a hill is in fact a rolling cylinder, and still far from a wheel.

Secondly, it would be very difficult to make a wheel from a slice of tree trunk, because the wood would split immediately.

And finally, there is no archaeological evidence that a disc was cut from a tree trunk and used as a wheel.

So we can be certain that these stories about the discovery of the wheel are indeed no more than fairy tales.

SAY WHAT?

In this MOT-news item we try to explain proverbs and sayings that have their roots in our technical history. Similar proverbs are found in different languages, but each language has it's own typical sayings. Therefore we do not translate this item in English.

KIDS News: a bed-time story for your children

In this edition we haven't included our usual fun news item for your children but we would like to invite them to an exciting kids' party in the MOT: the MOT Bed & Breakfast.

On the night of 10 to 11 July 2002, all museums in Flanders will be celebrating "The Night of the Museums".

The MOT will be participating with some very special festivities for children.

Any brave children between 10 and 12 can stay the night!

We'll be travelling back in time to the year 1302 to experience life in the Middle Ages without electricity or running water.

We will prepare a Medieval meal and for once we will be allowed to eat without a fork and knife. We'll make our own torches and candles so we can find our way to our bed in the dark. We'll sleep in the tower of a real Medieval castle. But only after our walk in the middle of the night. Hopefully we'll still get some sleep and the ghost of the Prince's castle won't bother us too much... Sleep tight and sweet dreams!

For more information about this project (reservation required, limited places available), send an e-mail to: info@mot.be