Going to Germany

[Leigh Betsch]

I'm heading for Germany on Thursday for a few weeks. Any good Neanderthal stuff to investigate while I'm there? Any good hand tools that aren't availabe in the US?

[gounthar frankfurt]

I thought Dieter Schmidt had a shop, but I was wrong... http://www.fine-tools.com/formcontact.html
But you could get tools sent to you cheaper when you are there...
There are a few Dick dealers over there too: http://www.mehr-als-werkzeug.de/page/14_00_00_00_haendler.htm .

[Jim Belair]

You could pick up one of Gerd's planes. http://www.traditional-handplanes.com/index.php

Beautiful area as well!

[Graham Wintersgill]

Where abouts are you going? not wood work per se but if you are in Hamburg then http://www.miniatur-wunderland.com/ , Munich would be http://www.bmw-welt.com/web_rb/bmw-welt/en/index.html and if you are anywhere near a Huf Haus site then they are worth a visit http://www.huf-haus.com/en/show-houses/germany.html

Nice time of year to visit.

Regards

Graham

[Klaus Kretschmar]

Hello Leihg,

the handtool situation in Germany is relatively poor. Even fleas don't offer a big variety of vintage hand tools. The 2 main quality hand tool dealers are mentioned above already. I guess that their pricing isn't too attractive to your eyes. But there are other things in Germany well worth to be visited aside of hand tools.

If you will visit the southern part of Germany, particularly the Stuttgart area, I'd be happy to meet you and to buy you a beer or two. Please don't hesitate to contact me. Gerd Fritsche, the plane maker is a good friend of mine. He's living about 2 hours from my home. We could visit him and his shop. He's a very nice guy and would love to be visited. He lives near the Lake Constance what is one of the most beautiful regions in Germany, at least to my eyes.

Cheers
Klaus

[Leigh Betsch]

We are flying into Munich and do plan to see the BMW museum. I have a new BMW motorcycle (which is why I'm too busy to post lately), so I have see the BMW museum! My daughter and SIL are in Munich. We plan to do some touring around Germany, no solid plan though. If our travel get's us case to Stuttgart I'll look you up Klaus. I'd love to put my paws on one of you saws!

[Klaus Kretschmar]

You're more than welcome. Leigh! If it works, just shoot me a PM.

Sounds that you will stay some time in Munich. I'd recommend to visit the "Deutsches Museum" (German museum). It's a technology museum showing all technologies that were developed since the time of the industrial revolution e.g. steel production, steam engines, automotive and automotive relatet technologies and and a lot of other stuff. For me it's a "must" to visit it when I have some spare time while visiting Munich.

Cheers
Klaus

[James Owen]

If you're interested in historical furniture, these places have nice collections:

Germanisches Nationalmuseum (Nürnberg)

Residenz (Würzburg)

Festung Marienburg (Würzburg)

[Pedder Petersen]

I thought Dieter Schmidt had a shop, but I was wrong... http://www.fine-tools.com/formcontact.html
But you could get tools sent to you cheaper when you are there...
There are a few Dick dealers over there too: http://www.mehr-als-werkzeug.de/page/14_00_00_00_haendler.htm .

Dieter Schmid has a shop in Berlin near Kurfürstendamm and Dick/Dictum has one in Metten (quite fare from Munich)

Leigh, the best chance to see a wide range of german woodworker is the anual meeting of the woodworking.de forum in Darmstadt near Frankfurt on Juni 15-17th.

If you visit the North, too, you're very welcome in Kiel!
Cheers Pedder

[Jim Matthews]

I have a new BMW motorcycle (which is why I'm too busy to post lately)

You do know about the harmonic tuning of BMW motorcycle exhaust, don't you?
It's at the exact same frequency of the American Bison mating call...

I don't get to throw a leg over, again, until my younger son goes off to college and the outer rim of Hell freezes.
(It's local, so I can go check every so often...)

Take some cowboy swag over with you - my Bavarian friends were nuts about that stuff.
One caution, only trade a Stetson with someone you want as a friend for life.

Gute Reise!

[David Weaver]

Wow, klaus, i never knew gerd had a page. His prices are really outstanding.

[Gary Herrmann]

Klaus, I have cousins that are from Stuttgart. Back in the 70s, I used to spend my summers there. One of these days, I'm taking the family over to meet their distant relations. I'll have to look you up.

[Leigh Betsch]

You do know about the harmonic tuning of BMW motorcycle exhaust, don't you?
It's at the exact same frequency of the American Bison mating call...

Take some cowboy swag over with you - my Bavarian friends were nuts about that stuff.
One caution, only trade a Stetson with someone you want as a friend for life.

Gute Reise!
Reminds me of a couple of years ago in western SD. Came face to face with a bison, he was on one end of a bridge I was on the other on my Gold Wing. I was desperately trying to back peddle a 1200 lbs ob bike, passenger and gear while he was staring me down. He eventually detoured off the far end of the bridge and let me by. Kinda of a spooky event. I guess if the BMW has pipes tuned to attract them I might want to stay clear of west river SD.


Ya got me thinking about wearing my Stetson and Tony Lama's. The Stetson is kinda big to mess with on the plane and the Tony's ain't much for walking (riding boots) but maybe I can dig out a belt buckle!

[Klaus Kretschmar]

Wow, klaus, i never knew gerd had a page. His prices are really outstanding.

Hi David,

Gerd is a retired engeneer who took the chance to make his hobby to his 2. profession after being retired. The prices at which he offers his products don't reflect the huge amount of time, knowledge and skills that went in. When you ask him why he sells his planes, kits and parts at these low prices, he will tell you, that one of his main motivations to make infill planes is the one to keep this fine toolmaking way in the mind of coming generations. He really likes it if a woodworker builds an infill plane by using one of his (inexpensive) kits. And he will support him in every way he's able to.

Cheers
Klaus

[Klaus Kretschmar]

Klaus, I have cousins that are from Stuttgart. Back in the 70s, I used to spend my summers there. One of these days, I'm taking the family over to meet their distant relations. I'll have to look you up.

You're welcome Gary. Just PM me and I'll be glad to meet you over here.

Cheers
Klaus