Belters
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The traditional occupation of the belt maker is still a recognized training occupation in Germany according to the craft regulations (HwO) . Today's name is metal-forming - belt and metal spinning technique . The profession belongs to the processing of iron , sheet metal and non-ferrous metal goods and is more oriented towards handicrafts. The training lasts three years.
Job content
Belt workers process and deform metals for the production of everyday objects and jewelry . These are typically technical devices, furniture fittings , lighting fixtures , church and table decorations, tower crowns, railings and gates . The workpieces are machined by hand or, today, increasingly with special tools and machines , namely without cutting by hammering, pressing and driving, cutting by filing, milling and slotting or also with casting techniques. The finished individual parts are put together, mostly soldered with silver solder or tin , assembled and surface treated, e.g. B. galvanized or protected against oxidation with clear varnish .
Metal spinning refers to a cold forming process in which round hollow bodies are produced from disc-shaped sheet metal blanks (round blanks). The metal is rotated, either by muscle power with auxiliary tools or by machine applied to a rotating mold. Typical pressed parts are round cups and lampshades. An exemplary short film on this under web links.
With the help of a so-called oval work , oval hollow bodies, such as the copper hot water bottles, can also be produced. For the production of individual pieces, forms made of wood are usually turned, on which the sheet metal is then placed (as described above).
Possible specializations of the belt and metal spinning technique are traditional:
- Body belting (driving and winding work)
- Chandelier
- Jewelry belting: precious stones , pearls , shells , corals , enamel and glass are worked into the metal parts
The activities overlap with related professions such as:
Workplaces
Belters work in the workshops (or in large companies also factory halls) of blacksmiths , locksmiths and specialized metalworking shops , in the repair and assembly of larger workpieces also on construction sites .
history
Belters were manufacturers of chatelaines for women in the 15th and 16th centuries . In 1329 Gürtler carried out Germany's first strike in Breslau . They went on strike for a year.