The Machines and Motors Laboratory of the "Otto Krause" Technical School, unique by its characteristics still today in our Mother Country, is product of the vision, will and capacity of a whole pleyade of men who forged Industrial Education; and in special of two of them: the engineers Eduardo Latzina and Pedro Torre Bertucci.

According to words of Eng. Latzina: It has been one of my constant preoccupations to give the practical and experimental character to the teaching of all signatures".
That's why in 1911, a few months after assuming as Principal in replacement of Eng. Krause, he begun to prepare a room to install "... a laboratory for testing machines that is truly indispensable to complete the preparation of the students ". He combined this project with the construction of an electrical power station for the school, managing and obtaining the corresponding budget.

In order to observe and to study the organization, operation and methods of practical teaching in such laboratories at countries technically more advanced; he went to Europe where in addition, he could see for the equipment of the power station to have special characteristics, in order to allow a deeper study than those limited to producing electrical energy with the greater possible efficiency.

After returning of this trip (August of 1912) he dedicated immediately to the execution of masonry works that were made by personnel of the School workshops. It must be taken into account the magnitude of the task: it had to be excavated to construct the subsoil where the boilers would settle; and to more than 5 meters of depth to make the foundation for the same boilers. Since the School is built in a place formerly occupied by the river, when this one raised water appeared in the excavation which forced to work with the water until the knees pumping - out water permanently. Soon after ending this task the machinery arrives at the Country together with the personnel in charge of its installation, part of this personnel quits when the war in Europe begins.

All these disadvantages didn't seed the downheart and the works are continued arriving in 1916 to the rating of the power station after fulfilling all the tests performed to verify its good operation.
Latzina clarified at that moment that "... this installation has as fundamental aim the practical teaching... ", "... is not... a simple power plant destined to provide with light and force to the establishment ".

In subsequent years, with the push and the love by Technical Education; the Eng.. Latzina and his efficient and constant collaborator Eng. Pedro Torre Bertucci continued installing different equipment in period 1921/1926, obtaining a laboratory that is a pride for our Country, and that at its time, could be located between those most complete of the world.

Thanks to the dedication and capacity of the men which followed their track, The Laboratory is still today almost intact with its patrimony increased for example with a test stand for Otto and Diesel engines and instruments for measurement and testing, a Francis turbine; a Rolls Royce Derwent V turbojet and two Turbomeca Marboré IIc turbojets.

Among all these followers the name of Professor Lorenzo Lambruschini stands out, who for more than 35 years not only teached the theory and the practice of the measurements and machines in use in the Laboratory but in addition personally made and/or guided the tasks of maintenance and inslalation of them, in many cases outside schedule, the week ends, or during academic holidays. Today a pensioner, he is of those very uncommon people thanks to whom the word "teaching" would be written with capital letters, pronounced with the greatest of respects and exerted not as any other employment, but as a way of life. Still today, when a problem seems to exceed us or we need the voice of experience, he continues by our side. He is also our near Tutor in each test of the electrical power station.

We want through this simple page to express our maximum respect and gratefulness to those who have done so much by our School and in special for this Laboratory.