Reprint of article on Driving school models and training

Trodler & Sammler, August 2002

By Reinhard Bogena

Little driving schoolbook

 Who doesn’t remember the time when one was about to acquire one’s drivers license? Times have changed in that regard. For in the old times one had to deal with the technical side of an automobile. The little driving schoolbooks at that time were full of such instructions. With their lovingly drawn illustrations of different traffic situations they also show a bit contemporary history.

 Beginnings

The beginnings of driving schools can be found before the turn of the century, when in cities like Munich ruthless bicyclers had to take riding lessons to acquire their bicycle license. This evolved about 1900 into the driver’s license for automobiles or rather the “ examination certificate for drivers of motor vehicles”. A generally effective new law that regulates automobile traffic was enacted on May third 1909. Ownership of a car was a privilege of the rich for a long time. Since they often had the money but neither the time nor the ability to keep a motor vehicle going, the profession of chauffeur emerged, which could be learned in chauffeur schools. Often the car manufacturers took over the job of training the driver before he would take over the new (luxury) car.

 (1)   Left: The nineteen sixties were future oriented like the illustrations on the                                                    textbook published by Verkehrs-Verlag Remagen.

(2)   Below:  the layout of driving schoolbooks can be pleasant.

 “Self drivers”

Opel published a booklet in the thirties, which was supposed to make the acquisition of a drivers license for “self drivers” easier. It explains all relevant parts of parts of a motor vehicle and how they are used in theory: “after disengaging the clutch one pulls the gear stick (left stick in the middle of the car) towards oneself (lf it is a three speed) to the left back position; then one engages the clutch slowly, while gradually stepping on the accelerator. Now the car is running in first gear. After driving for a short while one disengages the clutch again, moves the gear stick with an easy hand to the right front position into second gear.  Page 169 Then one gradually engages the clutch again while stepping on the accelerator. Now you disengage the clutch again, step off the accelerator, pull the gear shift to the right back position into third gear, engage the clutch and step on the accelerator at the same time….” Understood? Typically the illustrations that go with it show lady’s legs while the ”lubrication of the suspension bolts with a grease gun” and the  “ putting on of snow chains “is done by a man. Only six pages familiarize the future driver with the help of small pictures with same traffic regulations. Traffic signs and further regulations follow this: “driver! Which regulations do you have to know? The law requires that you know and follow them all…”

  (2) This book from 1928 was the equivalent to a theoretical training textbook as an auto mechanic. (Druck- und Kommissionsverlag E.G.Seeger)

Textbooks

In the introduction of the textbook “Kraftfahrer und Kraftfahrzeug publ.1928 (about 4000 pages with 570 illustrations) it says: Next to general easily understandable description of the engine and car we will take a closer look at the most popular makes, and show in detail the proper treatment of the car, its use and maintenance, as well as likely malfunctions and their repairs.” The main area of the training was therefore the obtaining of knowledge of the functioning of a vehicle, which is the equivalent to a theoretical training as an auto mechanic. “Piston rings have to be always installed in such ways that the slits of neighboring rings are in different positions….” The chauffeur and driver in training are being let into all the secrets of the engine and power transmission with the help of several drawings and photos. If one was driving through open country, one had to be able to help oneself often enough, something had to be lubricated oiled or adjusted all the time and when as so often a tire went flat one should be able to repair and mount the flat tire as well as the tube.

(3) A woodcut illustrates the “Schulungsbuch fuer Kraftfahrer von Dipl.-Ing. H.D.Mueller” 1934 (Verlag Haarfeld, Essen)

Traffic regulations

In May 1934 a new “Prussian Police regulation for street traffic” as well as a new Reichsstrassenverkehrsordnung (traffic regulation for the Reich) came out. There we learn for example that there was no rule to drive on the right side of the road, “if safety and lightness of traffic make driving in the middle of the road possibly more advisable. Here it is also explained what the term ‘skid’ means: “a slide to the side of the back wheels”. Such statement might make us smile today but let us not forget that in those days not everybody had grown up with a car. We also learn that two license plates were required for motorcycles. The front one marked on both sides had to be attached to the fender facing the engine. Till the 50s trucks or permanently covered traction engines had to show oncoming traffic that they were pulling a trailer by carrying a lighted yellow triangle on their roofs.

(4)”Examination of traffic regulations” This booklet published about 1939 by Verkehrsverlag Remagen impresses with its colorful cover illustration

Traffic signs

Some of the traffic signs that are shown in the appendix have long since been removed and replaced by others. The closed off sign for example consisted of an arrow facing downward that had a circle on top of it. The number of dots within the circle informed about who was restricted from going in: five dots meant all kinds of vehicles were banned. (page170)  If the dots where just circled in black, the restriction was valid only on Sundays and holydays.

Up to the 1950s part of the signal lights was the so-called  “Heuer-Ampel”. It hangs over the middle of the intersection like a lantern and had a pointer on all four sides that slowly moved over a red and green field. While the pointer in one direction was moving in the green field it showed the cross traffic red.

(5) In 1961 the Bunderverkehrswacht (road safety association) published this booklet.

The 1930s

In the 30s the influence of the national socialists extends also to the training of motor vehicle drivers. The “Handbuch fuer Kraftfahrer”publ.1939 also covers the training for vehicles of the Wehrmacht, starting with all terrain trucks and ending with small tanks. These track chain vehicles were given their own chapter. Another chapter explains the function and use of a vehicle that uses fuel substitutes, for example the wood-alcohol-fueled- engine The easy to understand drawings can even today help to explain the basic mechanisms of different engines. Under the new rulers the “special rights” in traffic were expanded too. “ Closed units of the Wehrmacht, police, SS-Verfuegungstruppen and SS-Wachverbaenden, of the Reichsarbeitsdienst, the NSDAP and its sub-groups, funeral- and other processions may not be interrupted or otherwise held back in their movement. Violators were fined of course sometimes even sentenced to prison, depending on the offense. Rather harmless as a punishment was “the letting down of one or two tires” – probably for parking offenders.

(6) Textbook for motorists (1941) published by Fahrschulmittel-Verlag Degener.

(7) Textbook for the old drivers license class 4

(8) Functioning of the “Heuer-Ample” from ‘Verkerhrsschule” (traffic school), Lanser-Verlag  Koeln

Postwar era

After the war one had to reorient oneself in some areas. Now the closed units of the allied troops were the ones that had the “special rights”. Round no entry signs replaced the arrow-shaped ones the division of the former Deutsche Reich into occupied zones made new registrations necessary. White letters on a black background marked the sectors (A=American, B=British, F=French, S=Soviet and KB=Berlin), showed the county (for example B for Bavaria) as well as the registration office (first group of numbers) and the registration number of the vehicle. The numbers AW one on top of the other meant therefore: America sector Wuerttemberg-Baden. (page 171) Starting in 1952 the traffic regulations were was governed by new regulations and laws.

DDR (German Democratic Republic)

The Soviet sector, which became the DDR, follows its own path in the training of drivers. Because of their shared past the same laws that existed in the West form the basis of the regulation of socialist traffic, but the wording of the introduction shown right of in what direction the “Worker’s and Farmer’s state” is going: The V.Prteitag der Sozialistischen Einheitspartei Deutschlands has opened a splendid perspective with its decisions regarding the continuing development of the economical, political, and cultural life in the German Democratic Republic. Enthusiastically, the working population is facing its economical chief task – to proof the superiority of the socialistic social order in the DDR  to the capitalistic system in West Germany.” When it comes to the regulation of traffic with a traffic light it differs from the West in allowing right turns on red if they don’t endanger or obstruct traffic going that way. The illustrations, that picture different traffic situations show lightly stylized vehicles out of Eastern production like Wartburg, IFA, Framo, Horch and Trabant.

(9) Holidays in the mountains in a convertible – dreams in the late 50s

(10) These traffic signs are practically forgotten today

(11) DDR textbook (Fachbuchverlag Leipzig, 1959)

(11 a – picture in low left corner) Cover illustration about 1967, Degener-Verlag Hannover

(12) Examination of traffic regulations (about 1939) publ. By Verkehrs-Verlag Remagen

Page 172

Operational models

An important part of the lessons in the early chauffeur schools was the study of vehicle technology. The schools were convinced that those who had some idea about the operation of power transmission and the steering system would be quicker to learn how to handle them with care. A learner would find himself during the technical lessons often lying under the car. Werner Degener recognized the problems of this kind of teaching (it was uncomfortable and not always altogether clean literally speaking). Since 1934, he was the owner of a publishing company for driving school teaching materials with targeted drivers- and road safety education. On the occasion of a small exhibit Degener noticed Emil Hoehm who had opened up his own Opel dealership in Letmathe/Iserlohn. Together they soon developed a model on which the technical operations of a motor vehicle could be demonstrated clearly.

(13) Description of the Hoehm Model in the Degener Teaching Aids Catalog in the 50s

(14) Early Hoehm-model: while the model with the zeppelin radiator emblem was painted blue, its successor (without zeppelin) was dark red in color.

Hoehm –Model

Degener and Hoehm profited from Hoehms experiences, which he gained years before in Friedrichshafen building airships. His first models were flight engines, among other things, for the Focke-Hubschrauber (Focke-helicopter). Since Hoehm as a dealer had access to Opel’s technical documents, the Opel Admiral - a common make at that time -served as a model for the undercarriage model. The official presentation of the first prototypes took place at the IAA (International Automobile exhibit) in Berlin in 1939. They met with much approval, so production began afterwards with only six employees. Soon the government recognized the worth of these models for the technical training of their army drivers. Therefore Hoehm was assigned to build and deliver undercarriage models to the Wehrmacht even after WW II broke out in 1939. Soon after the war, people dreamed of  buying their own car; everywhere new driving schools were opened. Next to various teaching materials the operational models were soon part of the technical basic equipment. (page 173) But money was tight and some driving teachers tried to cut costs by making the teaching materials themselves. A driving teacher from Mannheim for example equipped an original under carriage with a remote control; with it one could transfer all operational functions one was learning onto a little car while sitting in the real cockpit. A chassis like that from Hoehm would have cost about  DM 600 (Deutschmarks) in 1954, roughly twice the average monthly income. 1959 it cost DM 910 , which rose by 1991 to more than DM 4000. More than 7000 of these masterful gems were sold by the company Degener (about 1000 of them before the war). While in the beginning only three to six employees were manufacturing models, later aprox.35 were working on them.  These models were also popular in the training of mechanics.

(15) This was also a functioning model: the old Heuerampel, which could be found hanging over large intersections till the 50s

(16) Modernized Hoehm-model: The glass engine allows a look at what is usually concealed; a tin car shows the scale

Construction

The undercarriage model is mounted to posts, which are screwed unto a wooden platform, so that the wheels can turn freely. Depending on model type and construction one could set the mechanical functions in motion by turning a crank or leave it up to an electric drive, which was available for an extra charge. The driving student is able to follow every single operation from the movement of the pistons in the motor to the power transmission over the clutch to the drive shaft all the way to the suspended rear axle. Since all components are cut open, they allow a study of their centers, even the brake drum. So the mechanics of an automobile can be clearly understood in a very simple manner – the student can actually touch it. Next to these complete undercarriage models there were others, which were used to demonstrate only the workings of a single component, the steering system or engine for instance. According to the former owner Emil Hoehm, a son of the company founder, Hoehm-models covered 60-70% of the market. They also made a name for themselves abroad, a fairly high number of them went to Spain and Finland among others. In 1954 thousands of models were supposedly exported to Indonesia alone.

Page 174

Formeta

Similar to the Hoehm-models were those that carry the abbreviation VVR (Verkehrsverlag Remagen) on the hood. Fritz Fortenbacher, who opened a driving school 1950 and also produced operational models – from 1960 on under the name FORMETA - developed them. They differed from Hoehm models in a bigger size and visual details. They were operated from a dashboard that had switches to run the ignition, lights and blinkers. In 1974 Formeta was integrated into the Gaumann GmbH&Co KG as a production plant and trades under the name of Formeta Fridolin Weber, Sinzheim since 1995. Even today many driving schools have operational teaching models within their general equipment. Unfortunately they often serve as overlooked dusty showpieces in the background or as window decorations, because the charming models are not being used any longer in modern drivers education. For driving teachers of bigger groups it is surely easier to explain the technical functions of a vehicle with the help of overhead projector sheets, many of which can now be ordered with moving elements. But do they “call” to pupils like the mechanical models did? Because of their now fairly long history, nostalgic design and extravagant craftsmanship the operational models have become interesting for collectors of old technology as well.

(17) Model from VVR (Formeta). The “sharkgrill” reflect the Fashion of the 50s

(18) Teaching under-carriage VVR 140 Model 1955. A masterwork of model building! The model shows the engine (glass) and all moving processes; it’s electrically run with all parts moving like they do in a big car. Good views of the transmission, which can be put into gear, into the differential, the brake drums and so on. – Electronic horn, lifelike lighting system. All operating systems can be worked from a switchboard like in a real car.

As a stand a table on rolls was newly developed to install the teaching undercarriage safely and effective. The ball bearing wheels make it possible to turn and move the stand in any direction. Finished with a high gloss shelf. Size: 113 cm (44.07’) long, 50 cm (19,5’) wide, 95 cm(37,05’) tall DM 69.- Teaching undercarriage VVR140 DM 900,- transformer for the Teaching undercarriage DM 70.- Dust cover (clear) DM 23,50 Order our newest illustrated publishers catalogue 1995 Verkehrs-Verlag Remagen. Trade publisher for driving teachers.

(19) Advertisement in a magazine for driving schools

Development

At first glance the teaching model “undercarriage”, which is mounted onto a wooden console, has in its main features stayed the same throughout decades, but it was constantly being improved and technologically modernized. The looks of the front changed, the glass-engine was introduced, the rigid front axle with loaf springs had to move over for the independent suspension with coil springs. One can clearly recognize that the Opel Admirals and after the war, the Opel Kapitaen must have been the models for the early Hoehm- teaching-model. The radiator with its zeppelin mascot, the bumpers and even the 6-cylinder engine were obviously modeled after the big Opel. Hoehm himself build the lighting system using parts made by the company Union, which manufactured bicycle lamps. Like a real car, one can switch it to park- dim and bright light. The technical parts of the engine unit could be run manually over a “starter crank”, or (for an extra charge) be set in motion with the help of an electric motor. Through the cut away clutch bell one can study the pedal operated clutch. One can even change gears in the viewable transmission; it transfers power to the drive shaft, which is joined to the cut open differential. (page 175) Of cause the drum brakes are functional through brake pedals and cable winch, also the hand brake, which can be released by pushing a button similar to the one the old VW Kaefer used to have. With the push of a button the starter grabs the flywheels. While working the open steering gear one can study how the steering system functions. They even thought of a removable dipstick. Another loving detail is the claw shaped muffler shield. While the ‘Kapitaen’s” hood front, was still made out of metal, the front of the later - and bigger - models were made out of polyester and had as adjustment to the modern times build-in headlights within a wide chrome ring. The front looked now more like a Peugeot 304 than an Opel. The Hoehm emblem decorated the middle of the pontoon body’s radiator grille.

Plastic is the new material of the 50s and it is being used on the operating models as well. In the glass engine – because of size only a four cylinder – one can recognize tilting levers, vaults, pistons and crankshaft. When all of this is being put in motion by the (hidden) electromotor with the help of V-belts, tiny red lights in the engine even show with spark plug is igniting. While “in motion” one can use the clutch and change gears. Especially interesting and hard to find are those models that were probably not build for civilian use, since they had camouflage headlights, and could be put into four-wheel drive. They were modeled after the civil use model, only the mentioned parts and a “Nato-lightswitch’ were added. The red painted front was not changed.

(20) This FORMETA-model can be operated from a dashboard. The looks of front are being modernized from time to time. To the left is a detailed picture of this model.

TUEV

Just like real cars the models that were used for teaching purposes by a driving school were regularly being checked over by the TUEV. (Safety Standards Authority). Their functions and equipment according to traffic regulations were tested and were given benediction in form of a stamp. Even though undercarriage models are not part of a driving school’s standard equipment today, they are absolutely worth preserving. It is almost unbelievable that something like thiis being left to destruction, but I myself have discovered these mechanical gems – some of them in pitiful conditions - in junkyards. So if you hear of a driving school that is being closed (or changing owners) – check it out. Maybe you’re lucky and can secure one these models for yourself. It does take quite a bit of room, but it serves as a decorative showpiece and shows auto technique from the old days in a way that is easy to grasp.

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