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THE SOLINGEN PROJECT

An independent documentary focusing on the history of Solingen, Germany as it relates to the cutlery industry. THE SOLINGEN PROJECT is part one of a series documenting the history of knives, knife makers, manufacturing techniques and innovative people.

THE SOLINGEN PROJECT THE SOLINGEN PROJECT started with a book idea. I went to Solingen in 2006 with a notebook and voice recorder to do some preliminary research. It was a fascinating and eye opening experience. When I got back I began to put some of the information together for a series of articles and eventually a book.

As I poured through the information I realized that I had way more questions than I did answers. I realized my research had just begun and decided I needed to make another trip.

In the interim I made friends with a man who, among a lifetime of other fascinating jobs and adventures, had been involved in documentary film making for National Geographic.

He suggested that when I go over I take a good quality video camera and document my trip on film. I had had some experience producing a couple of promotional films (in the distant past when editing suites still used tape!) but I had rarely found myself behind the lens of a video camera. But I could not ignore my excitement at the idea of filming in Solingen.

In May of 2007 I bought a good quality video camera, a tripod and a Lavalier mic and had a couple of weeks to learn how to use them.

In June of 2007 I spent two weeks in Solingen, Germany shooting shooting everything I possibly could related to the cutlery industry and its history. I set up interviews with the owners of most of the existing manufacturers in Solingen.

I filmed several interviews with them and other local historians. I shot footage of rare old blades and brand new designs. I shot in museums, shot in factories, shot the exteriors of defunct companies, shot personal collections; I shot and shot and shot. I got the bug and I got it bad.

The people of Solingen could not have been more gracious and helpful and I was granted unprecedented access to the museums, manufacturers and archives resulting in a plethora of fascinating and historically relevant material.

In March of 2008 I returned to Solingen to interview Dr. Jochem Pustch (curator of the Rheinisches Industriemuseum) and to take digital images of the museums extensive collection of archival material.

I started editing the material from the initial trip this past winter. I decided to create several documentary shorts to "get the ball rolling". As of April 21, 2008 I have completed several of these shorts including The History of The Linder Company, a Virtual Tour of The Deutsches Klingenmuseum, a Short Tour of The Otter-Messer Factory and The Making of The Mercator K55K Knife. You can see all of these videos (and any new additions) by clicking the www.youtube.com link below:

YOUTUBE DOCUMENTARY SHORTS READ THE REST, SEE THE HISTORY

Tags: Documentary, History, Knife, Project, Solingen, The

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