Braun Lectron Minisystem

Dieter Rams & Jurgen Greubel 1967

(Above photo courtesy Ebay user “Kapos1956″)

“Dieter Rams and Jurgen Greubel designed the BRAUN Lectron System (1967- 69) as a pedagogic instrument for use in schools and universities. It consisted in an extensive range of magnetic component modules that could be freely organised on a conductive plate to form a variety of functional circuits. According to Rams, the purpose was to dispel the mystery of electronics by encouraging children to engage in the construction of their own operational systems, radios etc. Most modules have transparent perspex walls through which the electronic component housed can be directly observed, whilst the module’s opaque upper surface is printed with the diagrammatic icon corresponding to its contents. By thus exhibiting the concrete functional layer from which the circuit diagram abstracts, Rams established a typically modernist interplay of material, function and image under the sign of ‘truth’. In this sense, arguably, the Lectron system represents the ‘New Functionalism’ in pure form; function, here, is the communication of function.

A boxed Lectron Minisystem contains

18 x Lectron elements
1 x diagramatic description of Lectron elements
1 x spare light bulb
1 x spool of wire
2 x conductive plates: 21 x 26 cm
2 x conductive plates: 2 x 26 cm
1 x BRAUN Lectron registration pamphlet
2 x Experiment/ Work books 15 x 21 cm, both 55 pages with photographic images and diagrams of circuits that can be built with elements supplied, including radio receiver and Morse transmitter
1 x set of clips to join conductive plates, with instructions for use in original clear plastic bag”

(Above courtesy Ebay user “Kapos1956″ of the UK)