STEINBACH NUTCRACKERS |
| Every Steinbach Nutcracker Collector should visit the factory one day. But if you are too busy to head off to Germany, let us bring the tour to you. |
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This is an arial view of the Steinbach Nutcracker factory. It is quite large with an extensive area dedicated to storing the large amounts of wood needed for Steinbach's many wonderful creations. |
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Here is the main Steinbach Nutcracker factory. Inside this building simple pieces of wood are turned into treasures for the world to enjoy. |
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The only way to start making a truly great nutcracker is to get the best wood available. Steinbach uses only the finest German timber that is felled at the peak time. This is critical to the quality of the wood. If it is harvested too early it does not have the strength required, and if it is harvested too late the wood becomes unwieldy and difficult to carve. After harvest the wood is dried for up to 4 years! |
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The best wood is only as good as the hand that cuts it, so Steinbach uses experienced craftsman to oversee all of the cutting processes. Here, larger pieces of wood are cut to the appropiate size for their purposes. |
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It is quite a treat to watch the first signs of a Steinbach german nutcraker slowly evolve from the wood. It takes a lot of practice to be able to turn out the clean and percise parts by freehand. This man worked at the factory for many years before aquiring the skills needed to meet the high standards Steinbach demands. |
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With all that cutting you know there had be a lot of saw dust and shavings. I wouldn't want to be the one to clean that up! |
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Now every part must be sanded to a smooth surface. No rough edges allowed! This gives a new meaning to "just a little of the sides please". |
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Many small pieces are cut and drilled to make the decorations that adorn our beloved german nutcrackers. Working on these small pieces is quite difficult and takes great percision. |
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My oh my, the many small pieces. They are everywhere, as far as the eye can see. How do they keep up with them all? |
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Every part is then painted. Many hours are dedicated to the multi coloring process. Each piece has a strict color guide that must be followed so the final creation is as true to the original design as possible. No freestyling allowed! |
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Quite often round pieces are placed on a special mount that allows the painter to spin the wood while dragging the brush across the surface. This helps the artist make near perfect lines. |
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After painting, many parts require additional ornamentation. Pieces of cloth are often custom fitted onto each Steinbach nutcracker by hand. |
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Here we find Karolyn Steinbach. Isn't she adorable. Remember, this is a family business so everyone must get their hands dirty from time to time. No exceptions! |
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Every nutcracker must have a spiffy outfit to look their best. These ladies make sure that each one is dressed to kill. This is a job that never ends! |
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It takes a lot of effort to make clothes for an army of nutcrackers. Each seamstress can only produce a few outfits a day! |
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Room after room is filled with workers. When everything is done by hand it sure takes a lot of them to get it all finished. I'm tired just watching. Did someone say coffee break? |
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Don't worry they haven't lost their heads, its just one of the last steps in production. From a stack of wooden pieces, a Steinbach German nutcracker is born. Do you think they call her mother? Or maybe "mutter"? |
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After assembly the final touches are added. The eyes are put on and the noses are aligned. Many hours of labor and love have been put into every Steinbach nutcracker. |
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Once they are finished, each Steinbach nutcracker is boxed to protect it on the long voyage to their new home. Let's hope they all find a family to love them as much as everyone who works for Steinbach does. |
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Thank you for taking our tour of the Steinbach Nutcracker Factory.
We had a great time and hope that you did as well.
Auf Wiedersehen |
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