The last of his article – The Mollenhauer
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Der Letzte seines Standes – Der Mollenhauer
(The last of his article – The Mollenhauer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDAAwsbXQjE4 April 2014 at 8:05 pm #48673Enjoyed watching the video kelly, did not understand anything that was said. What was he making?
Nice find. It’s really interesting, let me share a few pieces of information with you:
The man is 84 and started his apprenticeship at age 14. He made those troughs for 70 years. The wood is black poplar, sometimes willow. The troughs are used mainly by butchers when slaughtering pigs, different sizes for different purposes (scalding, collecting blood for blood pudding, etc.) but also for bread dough. I should say were used, since slaughter is hardly ever done on site nowadays.
A good trunk could yield up to four different sized troughs, which is the reason the inner portion is kept in one piece. Material was worth more than work back then. The rough bark keeps the piece from shifting, that’s why it’s not removed right away. Also it’s one of the few uses of green wood. After forming the trough, it’s left to dry before adding the finishing touches. It’s harder work, since the wood is dry then.
When he was in his early twenties, the man would make one trough in a day of ten hours.
“Eye and feeling/sense” is how he describes the profession.
Nowadays, he makes mostly small pieces for nostalgic folks at craftsman fairs, also scoops and spoons. He hadn’t made a large trough in 10-15 years and only did so for this telecast. The tools are no longer produced they say (maybe some), and he acquired some from his colleagues which closed their business.
Personally, I hadn’t heard about this profession ever before.
David
6 April 2014 at 2:05 am #49835Kelly thank you, I really enjoyed the video.
David thanks for the insight very interesting. -
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