«It's very rare to find equipment and the building that houses it virtually intact. This plant represents a complete panorama of hydraulic, thermal and electrical energy». (Claude Welty, Director of the Musée Electropolis in Mulhouse from 1997 to 2023, during his visit to the Moulin David in 2004.).
"Until 1950, Divonne was self-sufficient in energy, due to water wheels supplying mechanical energy directly to workshops located on the course of the Divonne, or to electrical power plants located along the same river." (Georges Leskens, president and founder of Divonnelectro)
Dynamo with multiplier gearbox
Characteristics : Type B7.42 -52kW- 108/110 Volts (DC)
1050/1100 revolutions per minute
Shunt excitation
Manufacturer: Anières Giovanelli et Tiranti electrical equipment.
Dynamo and turbine restored by Divonnelectro.
On the left we see the hand wheel which controls opening and closing of the Francis turbine guide vanes to set it in motion
With its impressive 3 tonne flywheel, the Winterthur engine was restored by Divonnelectro. Initially it ran on coal gas, then benzol, which was withdrawn because found to be carcinogenic. It now uses unleaded petrol (95 octane). The engine is started using compressed air. A new compressor was installed in 2019. The old compressor remains in the corner of the room, and also dates from 1907. The engine can be admired in operation during demonstrations carried out by Divonnelectro.
The motor-generator, restored by Divonnelectro and in working order.
The 1902 dynamo is the oldest machine in the Moulin David hydroelectric power plant. The town supplied the Moulin David with 440V DC from the municipal hydroelectric power plant situated at Pont des Iles. This was then converted to 110V DC.
A key feature of the plant is the perfectly conserved marble distribution panel. It consists of:
- Inputs for the production and storage systems on the two right hand panels: turbine dynamo - Winterthur motor dynamo - convertor (motor-generator) dynamo - and batteries.
- Output feeds (light and mechanical) to the three hotels: Grand hotel, Chicago, and Golf on the three left hand panels.
You can consult several logbooks dating from the 1940’s and 50’s at the Moulin David, in which the employees of the « Société des Bains » recorded their activities.
The days were busy
The day began, depending on the season, at 5:30 or 06:00 and ended at 23:00 or 23:30, including Saturday and Sunday. Maintenance of the hydroelectric power plant and its leat (water supply channel) - charging the batteries, dismantling, cleaning, maintenance and repair of the machines – workshop maintenance – collection of rainwater to top up the batteries....
Maintenance and repair of the lamps, chandeliers, and electrical appliances (ice machines, vacuum cleaners...) in the big hotels. Provision of cinema screenings at the theatre owned by the Société des Bains.
These logbooks give us a glimpse into :
life in Divonne
Participation in events in Divonne
11/11/1949: Veterans' banquet.
8/12/1950 :Laying the memorial plaque for those killed during the1939-45 war
The weather
We learn that there was not always good weather in Divonne……….
8/11/1949 « At the grilles dealing with a large leaf fall »
5/7/1950 « Storm, which hit at midnight »
25/8/1950 « Cleaned the access area flooded by the storm, heavy rain and river flooding”
Family life
Growing potatoes, repairing sewing machines, deaths and burials, going on holiday, visits from family and friends..........
