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Schmalkalden - the German city of tools
The iron and steel production of Schmalkalden
The economic basis for the development of the area around Schmalkalden was the finding, mining, and processing of lignite and Roteisenstein, the iron ore. Already in 1340 the mining of ore was first mentioned. The mined ore containing 40-50% iron and 4-6% manganese. Through the rich forest resources of the Thuringian forest, it was possible to carry out the smelting of the ore in the vicinity of the degradation by Windöfen. These were replaced in the course of further development through the Low or High Blue furnace.The high natural manganese content of the ore enabled the production of high quality steels with high quality Swedish steel - the world's best steel of that time - were comparable.
"Schmalkalder article"
In 1397 were "Schmalkalder article," the name for the goods produced in the steel city, represented at the Frankfurt fair. Around the year 1554 there were 225 blacksmiths in the Schmalkalden is divided into seven guilds of the iron trade. Namely the steel forging with 28 workshops, which Neber and drills forged with 29 workshops, the shear smithy with 27 workshops, the knives and blades forged with 41 workshops, the young blacksmith (including awls forge and bottles blacksmith, and later the Ortbändermacher) with 21 workshops and nailers with 9 workshops. Add to that the powerful guild of farriers came with 70 workshops. In her guild had also forged knives chopping and cutting, the Sickle and ladle blacksmith, the spit-maker, as well as Saw and Beilschmiede together. In every profession there were workshops, led by master widows.The manufacture of iron and steel products covered then, among other drills and awls, knives and scissors, spoons and tines, horseshoes, tongs and skewers. The counting of the Kleinschmieden "Leffel" or put forth Löffelschmiede except tin spoons casting and pitch ladles, pots and jars.
The iron and steel processing trade was in its development until about the turn of the century to the 20th century the road from craft to industrial production.
Today, the economic profile of the city from farms Schmalkalden the tool industry, the special machinery and tooling, the food and beverage, wood processing and construction.
Source: - Private - 600 years Schmalkalder iron mining and iron processing by Hans Lohse
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Tools
