THE CHARM OF OLD CRAFTS IN KREMNICA

IRON SMITHS

Kremnica

The smiths were one of the most widespread, important and oldest groups of craftsmen. The smith was an essential person, both in the town and in the village. Originally they were the exclusive producers of iron objects-various types of axes, hammers, pliers, shovels, spades, hoes, saws, ploughs, scythes and sickles, nails, various pans and kettles, horseshoes, iron parts for vehicles, armor, knives, swords, gratings, locks and door-knockers. Some of the smith's activities gradually separated into independent crafts, producing, for example locks, swords, armor or knives.

The basis of every smith's forge was an open fireplace with a chimney, leather bellows and forging equipment. Near the fireplace was an anvil, and on the wall hung different types of plies. When shaping a forged object, a smith used various types of hammer-one-handed or two-handed, which he used to beat into shape heavy objects. He also used additional tools, such as measuring instruments, augers, metal-shears, etc. The smiths bought iron from scrap dealers, in rods of varying thickness. They bought charcoal from charcoal burners, to use as fuel. They needed 6 tones of charcoal to process one tone of iron.

The smiths of Kremnica acquired their statutes in 1555, and renewed them in 1690. Although they acquired their statutes relatively late, we assume that the guild already existed in the 15th century. According to the tax roll from 1442-43, 15 smiths worked in the town. This large number is understandable, because they not only served the needs of the population, but especially the mines and the mint. In the 14th century, some already lived in the Town Square, and so were ring borgers. We also know the names of 3 masters from 1441. The account book records expenditure on the Castle and town walls. The town paid Stefan the smith 300 denars for nails for a stockade and 200 denars for 100 arrow heads; Groskopf the smith 300 denars for 350 arrow heads, and Zigmund the smith 100 denars for 200 hinges, 100 denars for 500 lath nails and 100 denars for an iron chest.

In 1761, the town council revised all the guilds existing in the town and their statutes. For example, the authorities decreed that, apart from the obligation to pay tax, every newly accepted master should pay for one leather bucket for water, to be used in the event of fire, and make sure that it did not get lost. It was also decreed that the smiths had to make carts and other equipment necessary for the household at reasonable cost. Special attention was devoted to the journeymen. It was prescribed that a local journeyman had to make a study tour of two years and an outsider three years. As a master’s piece, he had to shoe a horse and cover a half-cart. In the amendments, the question of the nationality of accepted apprentices is interesting. In previous centuries, they insisted on German nationality, but now they could accept apprentices without discrimination according to nationality. In 1777, three smiths and four journeymen worked in the town.

The emblem of their guild featured working tools and a typical product-a horseshoe, pliers, and hammer. They chose St. Martin as their patron saint.

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 
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