[TheForge] blacksmithing

[Howell Steve]

 What I did for Christmas break:

Over the holiday I visited some friends in south-eastern Austria. In a
region known as "Carinthia", a Roman name imparted on the area when it was
under the realm of empire. The region has been popular with civilizations
for centuries based on it's southern, almost Mediterranean climate,
proximity to the Alps and numerous lakes and thermal pools which made for
ideal vacation retreats.

 It was here that I happened upon a treat that even my native guests had
never taken the opportunity to visit. The works of the Karl Zeilinger
company in the tiny town of Himmelberg.  The Zeilinger company was noted for
some of the best agricultural cutting implements in the world.  Their
primary product was "Sense-Werk" or translated,  'Grass-tools'. Axes and
other cutting implements were also produced but what put them on the map
were their scythes. At the peak of production, close to a half million units
were produced per year. Keep in mind this was prior to the industrial
revolution. 

The shop was in production from 1502 until 1968 and at it's peak had 25
employees.  
The shop was (and still is during summer months) powered by a waterwheel
running over the Tiebel river, not far from where it emerges from a spring
on a nearby mountain. 

The youngest boys would start at 3 AM to tend the fires and work until 7 PM.
It's not known what hours the others worked. Upon entering the shop, five
forging stations were immediately present with the largest of four or five
spring assisted helve hammers being first in line. Each hammer had not a
solid anvil, but stumps with the sow block being positioned upon the end
grain. I was told the stumps were set 3 meters in the ground. As the raw
material slowly transformed itself into the finished product you could see
almost the makings of an assembly line, the hammers reduced in size for each
step. A separate furnace, long ago converted to oil was used for the
hardening operation. Line-shaft driven Fly presses were used for punching
eye-holes in axes and for other various operations. Grinding and finishing
operations were carried out in a separate area. A pair of water-wheel driven
6' diameter wheels would rotate in a trough of water for cooling. This was
referred to as nasty work as the grinding personnel were always soaked from
head to toe from the grinding.  The final touch on scythes was a planishing
pass with a high-speed hammer. Imparting no more than a small dimple for
each blow, the scythes were passed under the hammer and given a 'swirl'
finish of hammer blows. I was told this was to impart final elasticity. The
visual effect was very stunning.




 The financial impact of the operation on the Zeilinger family had
repercussions throughout the village as the quality of homes in the area
surpassed that of other nearby towns. The quality and reknown of Zeilinger's
tools spread worldwide to where they had special implements for every
region, from short stubby blades for Asian rice paddies to monster 3 1/2
foot long scythes for Russian wheat fields.

Success breeds competition and in 1806 the French arrived in Himmelberg to
take stock of Zeilinger's operation. They measured the hammers and tooling
upside down and sideways, they studied the iron with which the tools were
made. They asked many questions. When they were done, three of the top
workmen were offered relocation to France to set up a new forge.  The
workmen refused to leave their beloved Himmelberg. In the cover of darkness
the three workmen were kidnapped and brought to France.  It was not known
what happened to these workmen.

Continuing the tradition of quality; In 1900 the Zeilinger company exhibited
it wares at the Paris World Exposition. Regarded as a highest honor,  it
looked like (from an old photo) that the whole company had attended in their
tuxedos and were extremely proud of their exhibit.

I doubt at that time the workmen would believe that the company would only
have another 68 years left to operate.  I did not find out the exact
circumstances behind the shops' closing.

The family tradition lives on, however. While I was unable to meet him,
there is a family member that still carries on the metal tradition and has a
small studio attached to the main shop. FA Zeilinger .  I was told he has
taught with Habermann in Venice and maintains a presence in Vienna. He had
manufactured a neat little home-made spring hammer that is near the end of
the photo gallery.

In Vienna, I was thrilled to find the address for the Master Otto
Schmirler's Alte Schmied  (old smithy) Unfortunately, despite being told
contrary, the museum appeared to be closed for the winter. Peering through
the old windows, it looks as if he just left it. The hammers were waiting in
their racks by the window. The wooden plank floor looked well worn.  

So- despite being thwarted from the Schmirler museum, I was more than
satisfied with the Himmelberg smithy. 
All in all an excellent trip and one I'll not soon forget.

Steve Howell


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This message and any included attachments are from Siemens Medical Solutions 
USA, Inc. and are intended only for the addressee(s).  
The information contained herein may include trade secrets or privileged or 
otherwise confidential information.  Unauthorized review, forwarding, printing, 
copying, distributing, or using such information is strictly prohibited and may 
be unlawful.  If you received this message in error, or have reason to believe 
you are not authorized to receive it, please promptly delete this message and 
notify the sender by e-mail with a copy to Central.SecurityOffice at shs.siemens.com 

Thank you