HEADLIGHT MUSEUM

The creation of the "Gerriets museum aisle"

Gerriets is actually a specialist in stage and event supplies, particularly in the textile sector. Even though the product range is constantly being expanded, stage lighting is not part of the company's portfolio.

Walter Gerriets, who died in 2013, was one of the founding members and first chairmen of the "Förderverein zum Erhalt historischer Theatertechnik und -Architektur e.V.", one of the two predecessor associations of today's "Initiative TheaterMuseum Berlin e.V.", of which he became honorary chairman. Around 20 years ago, he offered premises in the Alsace factory of the Baden-Württemberg company to house spotlights and other stage lighting equipment, as well as control systems, which were saved from being scrapped by numerous members of the association. This gave rise to the "Museumsgang Gerriets" collection in Volgelsheim.

Since 2001, it is thanks to the "Volgelsheim Group", consisting of Albert Henrich (retired lighting engineer) Dieter Frank (retired lighting engineer), Klaus Viehl (electrical engineer) and Reiner Viehl (mechanical engineer), that this collection has been archived, documented and constantly maintained. Many of the exhibits are still fully functional. And other devices are waiting to be repaired.

Klaus Viehl and Reiner Viehl are particularly concerned with the functionality of the exhibits. The two gentlemen recently restored a projection device for moving and rising clouds, which was inventoried in Bayreuth in 1933 and came to Volgelsheim via the BBS company, to full working order.

However, Dieter Frank and Albert Henrich are also compiling background information on how it works and how it is actually used on and behind the stage. A collection of spotlight lamps that had been started is inventoried, while at the same time the members of the "Volgelsheim Group" continue to search for older lamps from the theater and television sector.

The result is a detailed catalog that can be considered an excellent basis for a larger-scale museum presentation. New short essays of a general nature on the subject have also been added. In addition, the history of the manufacturers and their inventors is presented.