Sketch of Archilife Study Tour, August 2023
2023年8月份見識之旅縮影 ![]() For the study tour on August 13, 2023, Ms. Lu Ming-yun led 28 ARF interns and their parents on a trip to explore music boxes and printing, and fishing experience in Taichung. The visit began at the Taiwan Modern Musical Boxes Museum in Wufeng, founded by Kyooh Precision Industry, learning about comb, cylinder, and governor mechanisms. Beyond basic 18-note movements, there is also 160-note movement for large musical cabinets, which can play beautiful melodies comparable to a live performance. A standout feature was a smart music box that offers more melodies and enables users to compose their own tunes, catering to diverse musical preferences. Once producing 40% of global music box movements, Taiwan now only has Kyooh due to industry shifts over the past four decades. Despite music box assembly's high automation, the interns witnessed how the experienced masters could use their hands and ears to fine-tune their combs and learned how minor adjustments can change the audio output in the tuning display and DIY area, highlighting that music-box making legacy is about sound quality control. ![]() The interns' second stop was Taiwan Printing Discovery Center, a tourism factory established in 2014 by the Ministry of Finance's Printing Plant. Beyond learning about the history of printing through displays of artifacts and machinery, the interns were most keen on printing their own souvenir cards and had the opportunity to operate Taiwan's only Gutenberg press replica in the experiential area. The Q&A exhibit area offered insights into the government printing plant's core functions, the evolution of uniform invoices and anti-counterfeiting mechanisms. Additionally, the center showcased special paintings that revealed hidden details under different lightings, allowing the interns and their parents to learn more about everyday objects, such as invoices, identity cards and banknotes. ![]() In the afternoon, everyone went to Okuma Center in Tanzi, established by the renowned fishing gear manufacturer Okuma Fishing. Interns could interact with baits, lure rods, take selfies on a speedboat, and learn about ocean circulation, pollution, fish distribution, and Taiwan's offshore fishing spots through 3D videos and quizzes. However, the mega angling machine, deceptively easy to operate, turned out to be the most surprising demonstration of the fishing experience. The angler not only had to consider fish movement and cast the rod at the right time, but also faced the challenge of reeling in the catch even if hooked. Despite requiring great patience and strength, the challenge proved addictively fun for both adults and children. After the final activity, the interns and their parents took a group photo to capture memories of the day. Today's tour focused on craftsmanship, culture, and edutainment, providing a comprehensive look at Taichung's machinery industry. Everyone eagerly awaited the next tour and a new perspective on Taiwan. |