SoDA WORKS 2013

The Théâtrophone was a telephonic distribution system, first presented by Clément Ader in Paris in 1881, that
made it possible to broadcast a live opera or theatre performance over telephone lines. People could basically
listen to the performance and stay at home. This system proposed the sound layer as the most important aspect
of theatre.
Searching for the windshield wiper motor
A car vehicle windscreen wiper motor is very useful for installation art. It usually has 3 firm attachment points
(6mm). It turns slowly but powerfully and is not easy to hold but most importantly, it runs on a 12 volt power supply,
so safety measures are not required when testing.
My search started in Prenzlauerberg on an industrial site between the Volkspark and the Velodrom. Standing in
front of the gate, a neighbour informed me that the car parts recycling company had had to declare bankruptcy.
Next stop was Ziegrastraße in Neukölln. The Autoverwertung Berk GmbH takes old cars apart and sells the parts. I
was asked first for the car model. I told them it was for an art installation. There were too many options, so the man
advised me to choose a car model that would fit my project. He also informed me that most modern wiper motors
do not have a simple ‚plus‘ and ‚minus‘ electric connection. He referred to Robert Kearns‘ intermittent windscreen
wipers and the rain sensitive intermittent wiper. “I would have to sell you extra electronics and dashboard parts to
make it work”. He advised me to visit the Autopresse in Gottlieb-Dunkel-Straße in Tempelhof. Autopresse Juschkat
und Schmidtke turn cars into small cubes but salvage popular parts to sell. Their business deals more with older
cars, so the chances of finding a motor with a classic ‚plus‘ and ‚minus‘ connection are greater. Of all the items
that turned out to be suitable, I chose a front windshield wiper motor from a Volkswagen Jetta, produced in 1980.
Price: 19€