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German/Swiss/Japanese Craftmanship

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  • 30-12-2010 8:37pm
    #1
    barneysplash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,205 ✭✭✭


    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 ?


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    losthorizon
    Registered Users Posts: 4,565 ✭✭✭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.


  • Options
    #3
    barneysplash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,205 ✭✭✭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?


  • Options
    #4
    InTheTrees
    Registered Users Posts: 9,900 ✭✭✭InTheTrees


    Ireland used to be know for linen.

    Irish whiskey is world renown. Glass too.


  • Options
    #5
    Emme
    Registered Users Posts: 4,055 ✭✭✭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.


  • Options
    #6
    InTheTrees
    Registered Users Posts: 9,900 ✭✭✭InTheTrees


    These guys are amazing. World class hand made wristwatches.

    Cost a fortune though.

    http://www.mcgonigle.ie/


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  • Options
    #7
    barneysplash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,205 ✭✭✭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! :)


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