As we gear up for a series of new fischertechnik product releases in the coming two months…including the all-new Optics set, the huge Power Machines set (the largest fischertechnik set to date!), and the new Oeco Energy and Fuel Cell Kits…I thought it might be interesting to take a look at a few of the cool products from the earlier days of fischertechnik.

History of fischertechnik Models

Here are a few websites we found that provide a bit of background and history,and which I hope you will find as interesting as I did:

1. Electronics for fischertechnik  This site is authored by German ‘fischertechnician’ Dirk Uffmann. On this particular page, Dirk shares photos and memories of some of the original fischertechnik electronics sets, as well as some of the early fischertechnik computer interfaces. More than just a history lesson, Dirk also has links where you can download schematics and board layouts, so that you can reproduce a version of the board yourself, as well as links to some projects he’s worked on, including a two wheel balancing robot, and a fischertechnik elevator with four levels and automatic sliding doors.
2. fischertechnik on flickr Less informational, but still a lot of fun to look at, this flickr page offers a gallery of images of some vintage seventies fischertechnik sets. There is also a flickr fischertechnik Group you can join.
3. fischertechnik Robotic Arm – for use with Apple IIe Computer
   fischertechnik was the very first of the major construction set manufacturer’s to create robotic models that could be programmed using a desktop computer. That’s right, even before Lego, and way before Vex. This YouTube video provides some proof, with a pre Macintosh Apple IIe computer (circa 1984) controlling the movements of a fischertechnik robotic arm that has been programmed to stack blocks. This link on Applefritter.com provides you with a photo of the actual interface used with the old Apple II computers. If you’re a garage sale shopper, you should definitely keep your eyes open for the old fischertechnik/Apple II sets, as with the mania for all things Mac related continues to grow, these early items have recently sold for big bucks at auction, and on sites like eBay.

4. Vintage fischertechnik Manuals available for download from the fischertechnik Community site: This page offers a selection of free downloads of construction manuals for older fischertechnik kits. While all of the kits feature the old red and gray fischertechnik parts, astute fans should be able to easily find the modern-day equivalent to most of these parts, and be able to duplicate older models like 50S, 50 S/2 and 50 S/1 based upon the fischertechncik assembly instructions found here.

This is of course only a small sample of what you can find regarding fischertechnik on the web. If you like what you’re seeing here, let us know, and we’ll post more of our favorite sites in the near future. In our next blog, I’ll provide you with a more detailed look at the new fischertechnik kits, and in particular, the highly anticipated “Optics” set. Until then, happy building!

Author: Lance Zurek