By BAYERN TOURISMUS Marketing GmbH
Sägemühle. Dietfurt, 1909 (photo: Rudolf Rengnath, Dietfurt)
The forest in the Upper Palatinate, or: Where the wood comes from.
Even today, the forest in the Upper Palatinate extends over around 400,000 hectares and thus covers around 40% of the total area. The appearance of the forest has been decisively characterised over the years by human intervention in the forest structure.
The raw material wood
In the pre-industrial age, wood was almost the only source of energy and one of the most important building and construction materials. People harvested the wood they needed from the forests, which led to the disappearance of original forest stands.
Professions as diverse as the wood itself
The wood structure and growth form of the trees determined the use of the wood. Various craftsmen were dependent on wood as a raw material. Wainwrights, carpenters, joiners, coopers, coopers, coopers, hunters, tanners, resin makers, broom makers, wood turners and basket makers are just a few examples.
The wainwright
Farmers often had manual skills themselves, but they preferred to leave the production of carts to the wagon maker. The reason: making wheels was particularly difficult and time-consuming. It took the wainwright eight hours to make a wheel with eight spokes.
The wainwright and his products
The wainwright not only made wheels and carts. He was also responsible for the manufacture of various other implements: Sledges, ploughs, wheelbarrows, hearses and many more. His work was therefore of great importance to the farmers.
Tools of the trade of a wainwright
Stellmacherbeil (2022) by Felix SchäfferOriginal Source: Freilandmuseum Oberpfalz
Wheelwright's axe
Lehre für Leiterwagerlnaben (2022) by Felix SchäfferOriginal Source: Freilandmuseum Oberpfalz
Tools of the trade of a wainwright
Gauge for ladder truck hubs
Holzhammer (2022) by Felix SchäfferOriginal Source: Freilandmuseum Oberpfalz
Tools of the trade of a wainwright
Wooden hammer
Tools of the trade of a wainwright
Who else benefited from the wheel?
Wheels were not only used for mobility. The principle of the rotating wheel was also used to drive grain sweepers, for example. These were intended to remove impurities from the threshed grain. The built-in impeller was driven by a hand crank.
Who else benefited from the wheel?
The miller also had a wheel - the mill wheel. Driven by water, the mill wheel produced energy. With its mode of operation, it is the forerunner of today's hydroelectric power stations, in which water also runs over the wheels of a turbine and thus drives a generator.
Decline of the wainwright profession
In the course of modernisation, iron ploughs replaced the wooden ones and the wagons were fitted with rubber tyres. This changed the activities of the wagons and it was not uncommon for them to be found in the coachbuilding or household goods trade from then on. Many gave up their business.
Further preservation of the craft
The Upper Palatinate Open-Air Museum aims to keep the craft of woodworking alive. Various wooden objects can be marvelled at there and the supposedly lost knowledge is passed on in presentations, courses and guided tours.
Felix Schäffer, Lisa Reif
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