German/Swiss/Japanese Craftmanship

barneysplash

Hi all

I just wanted to post up a question.

Why is it that some countries are famous for their craftmanship?

What make their culture special when it comes to making certian things?

I mean think of all the great stuff :



German cars - Mercedes Benz / BMW / Audi / Porsche today and
historically, these have been some of the best built and most reliable
driving vehicles ever made.

German weapons for instance World War II era Luger pistols
are reputed to be the best pistols ever made.

And in modern times the Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine became
the defacto standard for police and military users worldwide.

Swiss Watches and clocks

Swatch from modern times springs to mind.

Swiss Medical devices

Swiss army knives - I used mine today in work.


Japanese Tecchnology - things based on microchips
for example - Sony Walkman from 1980s.
Panasonic, JVC


Mitsubishi televisions - My television celebrated its 20th birthday
this Christmas. It is a model CT2154LM and I wouldn't part with
it for any plasma or LCD big screen monstrosity.

I mean why do these cultures historically made fantastic stuff?


When you think about how German and Japan were devastated after
World War II - their countries in ruins, their people demoralised -
many of the best scientests captured by the Allied powers. Yet within
40 years of the end of the war, German and Japan had become
the best at making all these things.

I mean, would you buy a FIAT or a watch made in Ireland ?

losthorizon

barneysplash wrote: »

Hi all

I just wanted to post up a question.

Why is it that some countries are famous for their craftmanship?

What make their culture special when it comes to making certian things?

I mean think of all the great stuff :



German cars - Mercedes Benz / BMW / Audi / Porsche today and
historically, these have been some of the best built and most reliable
driving vehicles ever made.

German weapons for instance World War II era Luger pistols
are reputed to be the best pistols ever made.

And in modern times the Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine became
the defacto standard for police and military users worldwide.

Swiss Watches and clocks

Swatch from modern times springs to mind.

Swiss Medical devices

Swiss army knives - I used mine today in work.


Japanese Tecchnology - things based on microchips
for example - Sony Walkman from 1980s.
Panasonic, JVC


Mitsubishi televisions - My television celebrated its 20th birthday
this Christmas. It is a model CT2154LM and I wouldn't part with
it for any plasma or LCD big screen monstrosity.

I mean why do these cultures historically made fantastic stuff?


When you think about how German and Japan were devastated after
World War II - their countries in ruins, their people demoralised -
many of the best scientests captured by the Allied powers. Yet within
40 years of the end of the war, German and Japan had become
the best at making all these things.

I mean, would you buy a FIAT or a watch made in Ireland ?

All these countrys though have traditions going back hundreds of years. And the companys you name existed before WW2.

barneysplash

losthorizon wrote: »

All these countrys though have traditions going back hundreds of years. And the companys you name existed before WW2.

Yeah, that's what I mean, how did these traditions start?

Why don't we have them here in Ireland?

InTheTrees

Ireland used to be know for linen.

Irish whiskey is world renown. Glass too.

Emme

InTheTrees wrote: »

Ireland used to be know for linen.

Irish whiskey is world renown. Glass too.

What about Belleek china and Waterford crystal? Newbridge silverware? Donegal tweed? Traditional cable knit sweaters made from Irish wool?

The Irish craft tradition is more artistic than mechanical, the Tara brooch is one example of this. Chesneau is a little company in Bennettsbridge that makes leather goods. It's run by a French guy. It's ironic that our old craft traditions are being revived by people like this and also German potters in the West of Ireland.

We put too much value on big shiny mass-produced goods from overseas than on indigenous crafts, maybe that's why our crafts are dying.

InTheTrees

These guys are amazing. World class hand made wristwatches.

Cost a fortune though.

http://www.mcgonigle.ie/

barneysplash

InTheTrees wrote: »

These guys are amazing. World class hand made wristwatches.

Cost a fortune though.

http://www.mcgonigle.ie/

It says on the website that " Most of our components are sourced
in ebauche or raw state from Switzerland."

I had to look it up, but ebauche means :

"Horology, clockmaking and watchmaking appropriated the term
ébauche to refer to an incomplete or unassembled watch movement
and its associated components."


Check this out for a fusion of craft, art and robotics :

A group of German artists have programmed a KUKA industrial robot
to write out a beautiful bible in a classic German Gothic calligraphy style.

http://vimeo.com/3833961



http://www.robots.com/blog.php?tag=53

Now that's what I call keeping your heritage and craft alive!