Schiffshebewerk Niederfinow als Modell im Deutschen Technikmuseum Berlin

Niederfinow Boat Lift Model in the Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin.

The 1 : 50 scale model of the Niederfinow boat lift has enriched the permanent exhibition at the Deutsches Technikmuseum (DTM) since 8 December 2014. Around 140 000 miniature rivets, over 36 000 mostly unsalaried hours of work and countless authentic details went into the construction of this functional model. This masterpiece of model-building consists almost entirely of brass, but also in part of steel, aluminium, plastic, wood, and lead; above all, it is the product of 20 years of tinkering, exactitude, passion, patience, ingenuity and craftsmanship. The model shows the boat lift located near Niederfinow, around 70 km north-east of Berlin. It raises ships 36 m from the lower Oder reach to the upper canal reach and also lowers them in the other direction. It is the oldest boat lift in Germany which is still in commission today. Various models were commissioned during and prior to the building phase of this construction, which began operation in 1934. These models as well are described in brief below.