The Gastatte Schreinerei Pfeiffer is a restaurant here in Bad Homburg with hundreds and hundreds of carpenter’s tools on its walls, with candlelight and draft beer served from wooden taps and gemütlikcheit up the kazoocheit. The bartender told me that 27 years ago, the Pfeiffer cabinet shop was bought by a restaurateur and he decorated the place with the tools. And kept on adding more. Tables are workbenches and the tools have been heavily used and the vibes are incredible. I fantasized having a party there for my many carpenter friends and what a great time we would have. Beer is great of course and food is simple, hearty, good and there’s lots of it and the workers are happy and friendly. That little bow saw in the center of the above photo gives me the chills, like it’s something from a past life. I’ve looked at it longingly the 6 or so times I’ve been there. In below pic, those are all molding planes on the shelf and they look homemade.
Molding planes!!! I would be sooooo tempted to have someone cause a distraction so I could 'borrow' one or too, but the karma would kill me.
I've been getting into hand tools recently because I have better control over them than power tools, not to mention the energy savings, and molding planes are practically impossible to get without spending a fortune.
Between the tools and the beer and German victuals (my husband is German), I'm jealous. Oh- and the book fair too. Definitely jealous.
Hey if you get a chance to get to Nuremburg, see if you can do the BMW Ring Taxi see here:
http://www.bmw-motorsport.com/ms_en/fascination/bmw_ring_taxi for the other side of the Germany Experience!
A carpenter's dream indeed! Or anyone with an appreciation of honest, simple and true craftsmanship. And good beer. When I'm in the states, I'm always on the lookout at garage/yard sales for old tools and they are out there, even at thrift stores you can get lucky sometimes.
How wonderful the buyer didn't decide to go high tech! Thanks for sharing these parts of your trip with us.