As in most companies, brochures and documents were also collected at Prillinger in order to observe the market. Over the years, many documents from a wide variety of producers and wholesalers came together.

At the end of the 90s the archive was bursting at the seams and Karl Prillinger gave the order to dispose of the accumulated documents from the 1960s and 70s. When he happened to pass the evacuation operation and saw the old brochures lying on the trailer, he suddenly realized that this was not just old paper, but important cultural evidence of agricultural engineering. The disposal operation was stopped immediately and on the same day he began to sift through and sort the documents for the first time.

Karl Prillinger's passion for collecting was kindled. During field trips and visits to partner companies, there was often the opportunity to find, take over or buy additional documents for the collection. It was also possible to get to know the scene at various classic car exhibitions and to establish connections with specialists and thus expand the agricultural history archive.

Initially it was just the old brochures, but the collection has later expanded to include historical documents and books as well as advertising posters from the most varied of eras, spare parts lists, operating instructions, company histories and much more.

Permanent enlargement of the collection required restructuring

A clear organizational structure is required to maintain an overview. Karl Prillinger specially developed the Prillinger numbering system with which every receipt can be found within a very short time.

It was necessary to have its own premises. The Agricultural History Archive found its new place in the new building of the private house. Today the archive is presented in modern rooms with professional technical equipment and constant observation of the air humidity so that the documents are not damaged and are well preserved for posterity.

The trailer full of old brochures, with over 850,000 items - dating back to 1663 - is now the largest known collection of its kind in Europe.