Traditional business in the Czech Republic …..up to 1989

An appreciation of dates Pre 1914 –Austro-Hungarian empire; Czechoslovakia created –German occupation –Communist regime (Influenced by Russia) –“Prague spring” 1968 –“Velvet revolution” November 1989 Post 1989

Traditional industries (1) “Heavy industry” Engineering Skoda Tesla Mining “Black” coal “Soft” coal

“Open-cast” coal mining at Doly Bilina

Traditional industries (1) “Heavy industry” Engineering Skoda Tesla Mining “Black” coal “Soft” coal Clay Graphite (Portuguese: “argila”) Silver  Uranium

Traditional industries (2) Specialised –ShoesShoes –Glassware and Porcelain Cut glass (glass with a decorative pattern cut into the surface ) Glass crystal (transparent glass of very high quality, usually with its surface cut into delicate patterns )

14 th century glassmaking

18 th century glassmaking areas

Traditional industries (2) Specialised –ShoesShoes –Glassware Cut glass (glass with a decorative pattern cut into the surface ) Glass crystal (transparent glass of very high quality, usually with its surface cut into delicate patterns ) –Contact lenses

Prof. Otto Wichterle Inventor of the “soft” contact lens

On this home-built apparatus, Prof. Wichterle produced his first “soft” contact lens in his kitchen in 1961

Traditional industries (2) Specialised –ShoesShoes –Glassware Cut glass (glass with a decorative pattern cut into the surface ) Glass crystal (transparent glass of very high quality, usually with its surface cut into delicate patterns ) –Contact lenses –Films

A selection of traditional Czech films

Traditional industries (2) Specialised –ShoesShoes –Glassware Cut glass (glass with a decorative pattern cut into the surface ) Glass crystal (transparent glass of very high quality, usually with its surface cut into delicate patterns ) –Contact lenses –Films –Chemical –Medical –Musical instruments etc, etc, etc………

Traditional industries (3) Other –BrewingBrewing …….also, wines and spirits –Agribusiness Livestock  milk/cheese/meat Timber Fruit/vegetables etc, etc, etc………

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