elin

 🏭 Manufacturer History – ELIN (Elektrizitäts‑Industrie AG)Water Meter Museum – Manufacturer Archive Series
Founding & Early Development (1892–1930s)ELIN was founded in 1892 in Weiz, Styria, originally as a manufacturer of electrical machinery and industrial power systems. From the beginning, the company specialised in:
Electric motors
Generators
Industrial control equipment
Power‑distribution systems
By the early 20th century, ELIN had become one of Austria’s most important electrical‑engineering firms, supplying equipment to factories, utilities, and municipal infrastructure projects.
During the interwar period, ELIN expanded into precision instrumentation, including water and gas metering technology, leveraging its expertise in mechanical gearing and industrial measurement.
Expansion into Meter Manufacturing (1930s–1950s)As Austrian cities modernised their water networks, demand grew for reliable domestic water meters. ELIN responded by developing a line of:
Disc‑type volumetric water meters
Turbine meters for higher flows
Calibration and testing equipment for utilities
These meters were designed for durability, accuracy, and ease of maintenance — qualities that made ELIN a preferred supplier for municipal water authorities across Austria.
By the 1950s, ELIN’s meters were widely installed in:
Residential buildings
Small industries
Municipal water networks
Technical schools and training centres
The HZ series, including the HZ 350, became one of ELIN’s most recognisable domestic meter lines.
Post‑War Industrial Growth (1950s–1970s)After World War II, ELIN grew into a major industrial conglomerate. Its product portfolio included:
Power‑generation turbines
Electrical switchgear
Industrial automation systems
Measurement and control instruments
Water and gas meters
ELIN’s metering division continued producing disc meters with improved gearing, certification systems, and more robust materials. The orange CERTIFIKAT caps seen on your meter reflect Austria’s mid‑century metrological standards.
During this period, ELIN’s meters were exported to neighbouring countries and used extensively in Austrian public infrastructure.
Corporate Consolidation & Later Years (1980s–2000s)From the 1980s onward, ELIN underwent several mergers and restructurings as Austria’s industrial sector consolidated. Key transitions included:
Integration into VA TECH (a major Austrian engineering group)
Later absorption into Siemens Austria
Meter production gradually ceased as global metering technology shifted toward electronic and ultrasonic systems.
Although ELIN no longer manufactures water meters, its legacy remains significant in Austrian industrial history.
Historical Significance in Water MeteringELIN occupies a central place in Austria’s metering heritage:
One of the three major Austrian meter manufacturers, alongside Schinzel and Wassermesser‑Werke
Supplier to municipal water authorities across the country
Producer of high‑quality disc meters known for reliability and precision
Contributor to technical education, providing meters and calibration rigs to engineering schools
A key example of mid‑century European metrological engineering
Your ELIN HZ 350 is a textbook representation of Austrian domestic metering technology during the post‑war modernisation era.
Summary (for website placement)ELIN (Elektrizitäts‑Industrie AG) was one of Austria’s most influential industrial engineering companies. Founded in 1892, it grew from an electrical‑machinery manufacturer into a diversified producer of industrial systems, including water and gas meters. ELIN’s disc‑type water meters, such as the HZ 350, were widely used in Austrian homes and municipal networks from the 1950s to the 1970s. Known for their precision gearing, robust brass construction, and certified accuracy, ELIN meters represent a key chapter in Austria’s metrological and industrial history. Although the company later merged into larger engineering groups, ELIN’s meters remain an important part of Europe’s technical heritage.

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ManufacturerELIN (Elektrizitäts‑Industrie AG)  Weiz & Vienna, AustriaFounded 1892
Date of Manufacturec. 1950s–1970s
Country of OriginAustria
Model / TypeDisc‑type volumetric water meterModel designation: HZ 350  Flow class: 3 m³/h ÖR
Serial Number1637225
Certification SealOrange cap marked CERTIFIKAT  Certification number: 19882
DescriptionA mid‑20th‑century Austrian domestic water meter manufactured by ELIN, one of the country’s major industrial engineering firms. The meter features a brass body, transparent register cover, and a multi‑dial totaliser calibrated in Liters and cubic meters (m³). The hinged protective lid and compact disc‑meter chamber reflect the standard Austrian design language of the period.
The register displays a primary reading of 05040 m³, with subsidiary dials providing fine resolution for calibration and consumption verification. The meter is mounted on a cast metal base stamped ELIN, consistent with factory presentation and museum display standards.
Technical CharacteristicsMeter Type: Disc (volumetric)
Nominal Flow: 3 m³/h
Register: Multi‑dial mechanical totaliser
Materials: Brass body, glass/polycarbonate dial cover
Connection Type: Threaded pipe unions (domestic installation standard)
Certification: Austrian municipal approval seal (CERTIFIKAT)
Historical SignificanceELIN was a major contributor to Austria’s industrial and utility infrastructure. Their water meters were widely deployed in municipal networks, residential buildings, and industrial facilities. The HZ 350 represents ELIN’s mature disc‑meter design, combining reliability, precision gearing, and robust construction.
This example is part of the Technisches Museum Wien collection and illustrates the evolution of Austrian metering technology during the post‑war period, when domestic water consumption measurement became standardised across the country.
ProvenanceOn display at Technisches Museum Wien, Vienna, Austria.Acquired for the Water Meter Museum as part of the Austrian Meter Heritage Series.
Catalogue ReferenceWMM‑AT‑ELIN‑HZ350‑1637225
📜 

Elin

🏭 Manufacturer History – ELIN (Elektrizitäts‑Industrie AG)

Water Meter Museum – Manufacturer Archive Series

Founding & Early Development (1892–1930s)

ELIN was founded in 1892 in Weiz, Styria, originally as a manufacturer of electrical machinery and industrial power systems. From the beginning, the company specialised in:

Electric motors

Generators

Industrial control equipment

Power‑distribution systems

By the early 20th century, ELIN had become one of Austria’s most important electrical‑engineering firms, supplying equipment to factories, utilities, and municipal infrastructure projects.

During the interwar period, ELIN expanded into precision instrumentation, including water and gas metering technology, leveraging its expertise in mechanical gearing and industrial measurement.

Expansion into Meter Manufacturing (1930s–1950s)

As Austrian cities modernised their water networks, demand grew for reliable domestic water meters. ELIN responded by developing a line of:

Disc‑type volumetric water meters

Turbine meters for higher flows

Calibration and testing equipment for utilities

These meters were designed for durability, accuracy, and ease of maintenance — qualities that made ELIN a preferred supplier for municipal water authorities across Austria.

By the 1950s, ELIN’s meters were widely installed in:

Residential buildings

Small industries

Municipal water networks

Technical schools and training centres

The HZ series, including the HZ 350, became one of ELIN’s most recognisable domestic meter lines.

Post‑War Industrial Growth (1950s–1970s)

After World War II, ELIN grew into a major industrial conglomerate. Its product portfolio included:

Power‑generation turbines

Electrical switchgear

Industrial automation systems

Measurement and control instruments

Water and gas meters

ELIN’s metering division continued producing disc meters with improved gearing, certification systems, and more robust materials. The orange CERTIFIKAT caps seen on your meter reflect Austria’s mid‑century metrological standards.

During this period, ELIN’s meters were exported to neighbouring countries and used extensively in Austrian public infrastructure.

Corporate Consolidation & Later Years (1980s–2000s)

From the 1980s onward, ELIN underwent several mergers and restructurings as Austria’s industrial sector consolidated. Key transitions included:

Integration into VA TECH (a major Austrian engineering group)

Later absorption into Siemens Austria

Meter production gradually ceased as global metering technology shifted toward electronic and ultrasonic systems.

Although ELIN no longer manufactures water meters, its legacy remains significant in Austrian industrial history.

Historical Significance in Water Metering

ELIN occupies a central place in Austria’s metering heritage:

One of the three major Austrian meter manufacturers, alongside Schinzel and Wassermesser‑Werke

Supplier to municipal water authorities across the country

Producer of high‑quality disc meters known for reliability and precision

Contributor to technical education, providing meters and calibration rigs to engineering schools

A key example of mid‑century European metrological engineering

Your ELIN HZ 350 is a textbook representation of Austrian domestic metering technology during the post‑war modernisation era.

Summary (for website placement)

🔧 🧭

Manufacturer

ELIN (Elektrizitäts‑Industrie AG)

Weiz & Vienna, Austria

Founded 1892

Date of Manufacture

c. 1950s–1970s

Country of Origin

Austria

Model / Type

Disc‑type volumetric water meter

Model designation: HZ 350

Flow class: 3 m³/h ÖR

Serial Number

1637225

Certification Seal

Orange cap marked CERTIFIKAT

Certification number: 19882

Description

The register displays a primary reading of 05040 m³, with subsidiary dials providing fine resolution for calibration and consumption verification. The meter is mounted on a cast metal base stamped ELIN, consistent with factory presentation and museum display standards.

Technical Characteristics

Meter Type: Disc (volumetric)

Nominal Flow: 3 m³/h

Register: Multi‑dial mechanical totaliser

Materials: Brass body, glass/polycarbonate dial cover

Connection Type: Threaded pipe unions (domestic installation standard)

Certification: Austrian municipal approval seal (CERTIFIKAT)

Historical Significance

This example is part of the Technisches Museum Wien collection and illustrates the evolution of Austrian metering technology during the post‑war period, when domestic water consumption measurement became standardised across the country.

Provenance

On display at Technisches Museum Wien, Vienna, Austria.

Acquired for the Water Meter Museum as part of the Austrian Meter Heritage Series.

Catalogue Reference