Current information: Please check the facility's website to find out whether a visit is possible and under what current conditions.
In 1842, the Hamm was rebuilt and the production of Osemund, a tough and easily forgeable iron used for wire production, began. However, as the emerging industry in the Ruhr with its new technologies was able to supply cheaper raw material, the new owners, the brothers Carl Friedrich and Robert Lausberg, converted it into a wide hammer only a short time later, producing shovels, spades, trowels and beet and potato hoes. After the Hamm was used as a wire pin factory by the Schmitz brothers from 1854 - 62, it once again became the property of the Schriever family, who once again produced broad goods.
Finally, in 1895, the Hamm was converted into a factory, with the new drop hammers now being driven by steam power and a turbine. Many companies, some of which still exist today, have their origins in the old Hamme: for example, the Potthoff screw factory and the Grote & Brocksieper company, which produced tools, as well as the Schröder and de Graat companies, which processed plastics.
The more recent history of the Schleiper Hamm began in 1989, when the Kierspe local history association bought the building and has since restored the factory. Among other things, the hammer pond was restored. In addition to the pure preservation of the substance and the restoration of chimneys and fireplaces, the focus was on the installation of the turbine and the procurement of old hammers. The first functional spring hammer has been in operation since September 1993.
Today, it is an operational industrial museum: the water stored in the hammer pond drives a turbine with a generator. The electrical energy is fed into the grid. In the forging department, spring and drop hammers are used to shape the red-hot iron. They are driven by transmission or electric motors. Some of the machines in the metalworking shop are over 100 years old: Lathes, punches, milling and planing machines.
The production of wide goods as it was common around 1930 is vividly demonstrated here. In addition, various plastic presses are set up in the upper part of the Hamm to show the development of this important branch of industry in the Kierspe area.
In the Bakelite section, there are hand and motor-driven toggle and hydraulic presses, grinding and polishing machines.
History From iron to plastic:
In the local area, economic development was based on the abundance of water and wood as well as metal extraction, i.e. mining and iron smelting.
In pre-industrial times, numerous water-powered ironworks, hammer mills and mills were built along the Volme in the Upper Volme Valley region (Meinerzhagen, Kierspe, Halver, Schalksmühle). The Schleiper Hamme is a typical example. Originally, in the middle of the 19th century, Osemund, an easily forgeable iron for wire production, was produced here. Later, the company switched to the manufacture of wide goods (including shovels, spades and hoes). The quality products manufactured in this way from the Sauerland region in the Mark Brandenburg were in great demand.
With the advent of electricity came an interesting synergy effect:
Switches, sockets, sockets etc. with metal contacts and insulating bodies made of Bakelite, the first plastic, proved their worth millions of times over as a complete solution.
From 1930 onwards, a strong competence center of the metal and electrical industry emerged in our region.
The museum reflects this: metalworking as it was 100 years ago and the manufacture of Bakelite articles. The historical machines are contemporary witnesses from the heyday of local production.
There is also a small exhibition of exhibits from the unique Bakelitmuseum in Kierspe.
As part of the Südwestfalen macht Schule campaign, the Schleiper Hamm was certified as an extracurricular place of learning in 2016 and is a popular destination for primary and secondary school pupils. It's well worth a visit!
Contact
Heimatverein Kierspe e. V.
www.kierspe.de/heimatverein
Mail: heimatverein@kierspe.de
Visits:
Every 1st Wednesday of the month from April to October, 10 am - 3 pm. The facility is closed from November to March.
Admission is free.
Demonstrations (with forging and bakelite pressing in action) on Mill Day (Whit Monday) and on the 2nd Sunday in September on Open Monument Day. Special dates for groups are available by prior arrangement.
Traditional event:
Advent bazaar, on the 1st weekend of Advent, Saturday and Sunday.
The Schleiper Hamm is located on the Eisenstraße Südwestfalen and is an attraction of WasserEisenLand - Industrial Heritage in South Westphalia
Text source © WasserEisenLand
The VolmeSchatz Industrial Heritage - Iron Country in Süderlande themed hiking trail also starts not far from the Schleiper Hamm. Interesting information boards along the route await hikers and a start board provides an overview of the route.
Tip: At a Kierspe listening point, not far from the Schleiper Hamm, you can use a QR code to find out exciting information about this historic building. You can find out more under the entry "Kierspe listening points".
All information without guarantee!