Wheelwright

The wheelwright's shop (also Wagnerei ) is the workshop of a wheelwright called craftsman who manufactures wheels, wagons and other farm implements made ​​of wood. The name of the skill varies regionally, with Stellmacher is used more in the north, the south, and Switzerland, however, Wagner. In addition, terms in the dialects can be found, which ( Low German: Radmaker ) on Radmacher, wheels maker, axle makers or Axmacher go back. This was originally to different professions; so the wheelwright made ​​to the frame, the Radmacher the wheels. Today, they all refer to the same activity but predominantly. With coach Wagner was responsible for the bodywork, the Radmacher other hand made ​​the wheels, their production alone comparable effort and knowledge needed as the bodies.

With the advent of the railroad in the late 19th century, the skills were in demand as the wheelwright wagon manufacturer. Their knowledge was needed later in the body of the car manufacturers. Since the introduction of industrial assembly line production, the importance of the wheelwright fell.

Today, the wheelwright belongs to the extinct professions, but results in some craft oriented companies still niche players. Especially in the rural environment of the wheelwright was in the GDR until the turn of a common profession, especially in agricultural production cooperatives and state-owned enterprises approached all sorts of wood-processing tasks, such as the making of large wooden gates, equipment or wooden structures of probe range made ​​special machines, but also carousels or traditional wooden trolley for rural festivities.