It is always nice to see where your wheel and loom was made and some of the craftsmen involved . Since you might not travel to Poland we want to bring the Kromskis to you.
This is Wjoceich Kromski and Zosia and Daniel Kromski.
This picture is taken about 5km from Wolsztyn, Poland, the home town of the Kromskis. The building in the background is the new Kromski facility. This building, in addition to their finishing facility (located just down the road) will gives the Kromskis and their employees the extra room they require to be efficient in their work and the storage they need for their products.
This is Henryk Napierala working at one the Kromski lathes. The very best craftsmen get the job of turning the many fancy parts that make up each product. For the most part, the employees are young but have many years of experience.
Marek Sofczynski is shown putting the final touches to a turned piece. A lot of sanding is done right on the lathe ensuring that each piece is ready for finishing, by you or by the Kromski staff.
Pawel Malicki is working with a Mazurka wheel, assembling legs and the two upright posts. All the wheels are fully assembled at the factory. All aspects of a wheel or loom are checked for fit and quality and then broken down for boxing or finishing.
Daniel is speaking with Lukasz Szklarski as he assembles a Mazurka wheel base. When this series of pictures was taken, everyone was working on an order for Mazurkas.Notice the wood behind Lukasz. Space is a consideration for the Kromskis in their present location. They and the employees look forward to more elbow room in the new building.
Przemek Skrzypczak is showing us the wheel rims for the Polonaise and the Mazurka. Making the wheel rim is the most difficult job in the process of wheelmaking. Sections of wood are carefully cut and joined together, glued and clamped. The Polonaise rim is also pinned to add strength. The hub and spokes are added after the rim is ready.
Partially finished Mazurka wheels.
Hundreds of wheel rims ready for additional work and assembly.
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The following is a series of pictures showing a blank bobbin being turned to a finished product.
The blank is made up of two ends, a middle shaft and two bearings pressed into the two ends. A metal guide is inserted through the bobbin (and bearings) and secured to the lathe. Everything will be true as the metal guide acts as a flyer shaft.
With the bobbin locked in place, a shaped knife is brought into the two ends and the proper shaping takes place.
In this picture, both ends of the bobbin have been shaped and are now being sanded to a perfect finish.
Have you noticed the tape on the fingers of the workers? Their hands come into contact with wood as it turns. To avoid the loss of skin, they place tape on their fingers and replace the tape as needed.
This is Daniel with part of the Kromski staff. This is one shift.
Notice the wood in the background. All the wood used in Kromski wheels is air dried. A new kiln will be available at the new factory location for some aspects of their work but air curing will continue.
Wjoceich personally picks each tree that the Kromskis use. He travels to forests and selects each and every tree where it stands. The tree is harvested, milled and brought to the Kromski factory. How's that for being involved with your product from beginning to end?
