Shot by an unknown American tourist, this silent home movie shows a European trip with images shot in Austria, Czechoslovakia, Germany and Italy. The film shows images of nature and famous architecture including the Hofburg Palace, the Carola Bridge, St. Peter’s Cathedral and the angel wing adorned Prague Clock astronomical clock. It also features the famous Kugelhaus; a spherical structure erected in Dresden between Exhibition Palace and Hercules Avenue designed by Peter Birkenholz, which was demolished by the Nazis. This spherical building starred in 1928’s ‘Technological City’ exhibition. Kugelhaus had six had six levels, a passenger lift and was designed in such a way as to incorporate more light within. It was anathema to the Nazis and was destroyed in 1938. The middle of the film shows Austria and end Italy.

00:00 The Loschwtz Bridge runs over the Elbe (:16) snaking through Dresden. The Albrechtsberg Palace (:31), The Kathedrale St. Trinitatis (:54) and the equestrian statue of King John of Saxony in Dresden’s Theaterplatz (1:01). Altmarkt follows (1:18). Shots capture a miniature steam engine and passenger railroad cars (1:20) carting guests over exhibition grounds. These locomotives were designed by Roland Martens. (See note below). The Augustus Bridge (1:45) precedes the Ministry of Finance near the Carola bridge (Carolabruke) (2:00). Shots sweep over the pier on the Elbe and steamers in the water near Dresden and Saxony (2:06) for Zwinger Palace (2:14); one of the most famed German baroque structures (2:14). Point of view images float down the river (2:29) and rail line (2:37) paralleling the Elbe. A Sachsische steamship rushes by (2:40) before images of Bad Schandau (2:43). The Prague Astronomical Clock was built in 1410 by Mikulas of Kadan (3:24). 9th Century Prague Castle 9th (346) and panoramic city shots (4:00) follow. A view runs over farmlands as we head to Vienna, Austria (4:15). Hofburg Palace, Vienna (4:13), the Archduke Karl monument in Heldenplatz square (4:41), St. Peter’s Catholic Church (4:46), St. Stephen’s Cathedral (4:48), Schonbrunn Palace (4:54) and the Australian Parliament building follow (5:47). The Outer Castle Gate (6:04), built in the 1800’s replaced the former gate destroyed by Napoleon. A delivery motorcycle zooms by with a sign for Helm on the front (6:09). Stadtschulrat für Wien; Osterreichische Galerie Belvedere (6:15), the Hofburg Palace (6:23) and a German 88mm gun follow (6:27). The Reloj Anker (6:31) also known as the Ankeruhr clock; a Jugendstil mechanical clock was built in 1914. The Tegetthoff-Denkmal (6:49), a very rare Steyer 30E Cabriolet (6:52), Schonbrunn Palace (7:04), Vienna’s Donaukanal (7:05) and the Dianabad Bathhouse (7:08) precede the haunting Gothic Ulm Minister church tower (7:13). The tour goes to San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice (8:54) for the monumental waterfront Riva Delgi Schiavone (8:54), the Basilica Santa Maria della Salute (9:14), gondola boats (9:17), Doge’s Palace (9:24), St. Mark’s Clock tower (9:45), archways of Piazzo San Marco (10:04) and the St. Mark’s Basilica (10:10). The Ca’d’Oro (10:26), Ponte di rialto (10:36) city wide shots of Venice (11:07) including the Church of San Zaccaria (11:13). Closing shots watch two men feed pigeons (11:59).

The story behind the Martens locomotives is this: In 1925, a series of three identical miniature steam locomotives and matching trains were designed by the engineer Roland Martens, following a study trip to England. The locomotives were based on full-sized Pacific locomotives of the Deutsche Reichsbahn, and built by Krauss & Co., who subsequently went on to build 15 locomotives of this type, most of which are still in use on various miniature railways around the world. Originally, the three locomotives were used on temporary tracks at various trade fairs or exhibitions, the first of which was the 1925 German Transport Exhibition in Munich.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com