The museum was opened in the former cloth factory of Karol Büttner. Machines and equipment were collected on two floors of a historic factory building. In the spinning mill, preliminary treatment mill, weaving mill and finishing shop rooms visitors learn about the production cycle of wool fabrics. Machines for the hat production form a separate unit. Displays on the history of local fire-brigade and waterworks, a little printing house and a place where household appliances are collected supplement the exhibition.
Route chronicle
For centuries the sister towns - Silesian Bielsko and Biała from Lesser Poland, united 59 years ago - belonged to the most important textile hubs in our part of Europe. Bringing of mechanical spinning frames, application of a steam machine and opening of the first comprehensive cloth factories marked further stages of the industrialization process. In the interwar period, the twin city was referred to as Silesian Manchester, and the brand “wool of Bielsko” was known all around the world. Some buildings of the former cloth factory of the Büttner family form today the Old Factory - department of the Historical Museum in Bielsko - Biała.