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THE CHARM OF
OLD CRAFTS IN KREMNICA
LOCKSMITHS
Kremnica
The specialization of some smiths in
making locks and keys led to the appearance of a new craft in lock making,
as early as the Middle Ages. Apart from keys, padlocks and fixed locks,
they also produced metalwork for buildings, furniture, and various other
useful objects. At first, a locksmith also made clocks and trigger
mechanisms for guns. Specialization only in the making of clocks and guns
led to the origin of further separate crafts-clock making and gun making.
They usually formed guilds together.
The lock maker worked iron, either hot,
by hammering, or cold, by sawing, drilling, bending, cutting, or cutting
of screw threads. The basic equipment of the workshop was a worktable with
a drill and vice. Measuring and drawing instruments, scissors and tools
for sawing, cutting and drilling were among the most frequently used
equipment. In 1579, the locksmiths founded a joint guild in Kremnica with
the gun, belt, sword, knife makers, joiners, cart wrights and glass
makers. However, we already meet with locksmiths in the 15th century. Two
locksmiths are mentioned in the tax roll from 1442-43.
In 1610, the masters drew up statutes
as an independent guild. In 1705, the locksmiths again formed a joint
guild with the makers of guns and spurs. On the revision of the statutes
in 1761, the town authorities directed the gun makers to join the
locksmith's guild, because there was only one in the town. Later in 1777,
no locksmiths were listed in the town.
The craft emblem was 2 crossed keys and
a padlock. They chose St. Ladislaus as their patron
GO
BACK TO OLD CRAFTS
Reprinted from: The Charm
of Old Crafts, PhDr. Ludmila Nemeskurthiova
Published by © National Bank
of Slovakia-Museum of Coins and Medals Kremnica 1998
Published in the Slovak Heritage
Live newsletter Volume 7, No. 4, Winter 1999
3804 Yale Street, Burnaby, British
Columbia, Canada V5C 1P6
The above article and photographs may not be copied, reproduced,
republished, or redistributed by any means including electronic, without
the express written permission of Vladimir
Linder. All rights reserved.
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