Eastern Munich region houses the Bulldog Haven: An area teeming with vintage tractor models
In the picturesque municipality of Forstern, east of Munich, lies the Eicher Museum (HauptstraΓe 2, 85659 Forstern). This museum is a treasure trove for those interested in agricultural history, particularly the story of the Eicher tractors.
The Eicher family, consisting of Egon, Josef, and Albert, played a significant role in the inception of the museum. They began with a simple innovation - attaching a mowing bar to an Opel car, which was part of their family's collection. This experiment, conducted in 1935, only worked on dry meadows, but it marked the beginning of a legacy.
The Eicher brothers' innovative spirit continued to shine. In 1935, they converted a three-wheeled motorcycle into a mowing vehicle. The following year, in 1948, they introduced the Eicher ED 16/I with 16 HP, an air-cooled tractor that would go into production.
The Eicher tractors gained popularity, becoming a worldwide bestseller. The 2000th tractor was produced in 1950, and the 20,000th in 1953. In 1957, the Forstern tractors were upgraded with three cylinders and 60 HP.
The predator series, including the "Panther", "Tiger", "King Tiger", "Leopard", and "Mammoth", hit the market in 1959/60. The 1963 Eicher Tiger EM 235 tractor is part of the museum's collection.
The Eicher family was not only involved in farming but also ran an automotive business. During the war, they converted tractors and cars to run on wood gas. A tractor workshop remains in Forstern to this day.
However, the Eicher company faced challenges. It had to file for insolvency in 1984 and again in 1992. Despite these setbacks, the museum continues to thrive, offering visitors a glimpse into the past.
The Eicher Museum is open to the public on Saturdays from 12 to 6 pm and on Sundays from 10 to 6 pm. It's worth noting that the museum is located in the district of Erding, which extends eastward into the Vils and Isar valleys. The district is home to the airport opened in the Erdinger Moos in 1992, and the A92 and A94 motorways from Munich to Deggendorf and Muhldorf/Passau, as well as the parallel railway lines, run through the district.
Visitors to the Eicher Museum can also enjoy a traditional Bavarian experience. The museum offers white sausage breakfasts and coffee and cake on weekends.
The exact founding year and production start year of the Eicher Museum and the production of Eicher tractors in Forstern are not specified in the available records. However, it is known that Eicher had a machinery plant in Dingolfing where trucks were produced from 1962 to 1972.
A visit to the Eicher Museum is a step back in time, offering a unique insight into the history of agriculture and the Eicher family's significant contributions to this field.
