Otokoç 80th anniversary celebration

Our founder, Mr Rahmi M. Koç (pictured left with members of his immediate family) proudly celebrated 50 years of working life during the celebrations for the 80th year of Otokoç, the company where he started his business career. After a large cocktail party and dinner, more than 600 guests from the business world, media, friends and family watched a presentation of testimonials from his friends and colleagues over the years, followed by a live concert..

Summer action days are back!

Every summer Saturday and Sunday from 21st June until 21st Septemberis an ‘Action Day’ at the Rahmi M. Koç Museum. At 15:30, Museum staff are on hand at the quayside to demonstrate a series of historic and fascinating objects, ranging from 19th Century steam engines through early diesel engines and exotic cars to the latest technology in the form of the Segway ‘Ginger’. After the show, visitors have the chance to take a short ride around the Museum in our 1926 Ford Model TT bus, or to book a tour on our wonderful restored 1888 steam launch ‘Esra’ (left) which gives 30-minute live steam tours of the Golden Horn.

‘The Brain: Mysterious Journey’

This fascinating exhibition has now closed, and we would like to thank all those who helped to make it a reality, especially the promoters of the exhibition, The Partners. More than 66,000 visitors came to see the exhibition during April, May and June, nearly 70% of them schoolchildren, and we now look forward to a busy schedule of exhibitions in the autumn... see below!

‘NAV’ type National diesel engine

The National Gas Engine Company was founded in 1890 in Ashton-under-Lyme in England, with the production of gas engines to an improved Otto design its prime objective. The engines ran on town gas and were used in cotton mills and other factories. Those early engines were well received, and within a short period engines were being produced in a wide range of sizes from 2hp to 160hp. The National Gas Engine Company became the National Gas and Oil Engine Company in 1932, and this horizontal example, which develops 55 bhp at 270 rpm, was built around this time. In 1977 the company became known as Mirrlees-Blackstone, part of Hawker Siddeley, finally losing the “National” label. The engine is in working order, and will be demonstrated at weekends.

Industrial steam iron

This interesting exhibit is said to be the first hand-held steam iron to be made in Turkey. Designed by Mustafa Alkan in 1971, it was intended for the garment industry, and uses pressurised steam generated by an external source, rather than an internal electric element. It thus has few moving parts, and is more robust and reliable.