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Order from India: Repair Once palace watches, you're welcome!
ISERBROOK
Order from India: Repair Once palace watches, you're welcome!
Foto: Wolfgang Domann/Privat
The master watchmaker Wolfgang Domann traveled to a Maharaja in India, to restore historic watches in whose palace.
Iserbrook. The Hamburg Wolfgang Domann has experienced in his 36-year career as a master watchmaker quite a bit. That a lady from Saigon calls and asks him, to repair historic clocks in a Indian Palace, however, is not as common. No wonder then, Domann that keeps the call only for a joke. But it soon becomes clear, that it means the unknown caller actually seriously.
Wolfgang Domann from Iserbrook part of a nationwide specialist group for historical clock. Along with a few colleagues, he restored regularly volunteer at the Museum Peterhof in St. Petersburg antike Uhren. About his work, a film was made for the third program. This film was also broadcast on the German wave and there the lady had discovered from Saigon Domann and his colleagues. The caller from Saigon was in contact with the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur. There is also a museum, are in turn many defective watches. So asked the lady from Saigon to master watchmaker, whether he and his colleagues did not even once wanted to exercise their voluntary work in India. And Domann wanted.
+++Rajasthan – a turban full of legends
In February 2011 he was now traveling with five other watchmakers colleagues for the first time to India. The condition, however, was by Domann, that spouse of the party were. The Maharaja of Jodhpur took care of the accommodation and catering, watchmakers including spouse had to take care of Flight and Visa – after all 2000 Euros per person they had to spend on it. Two weeks should take the Maharajah of stay. Since there was no palace workshop, Domann and his team had to bring everything yourself. “So we had to take a complete workshop with India, 20 Kilo for Person “, sagt Domann. Shortly before the departure Domann was still on doubt, whether it would work all.
Doch into Jodhpur angekommen, all doubts were blown away: ” We were greeted with red carpet, placed directly in the Maharaja Gaj Singh II palace and treated like princes”, sagt Domann.
In a dance hall of the Maharaja provisional workshop was set up. There should be around 100 Watches, that were in the Museum of the Maharaja, be repaired and restored. “The watches were in a pitiful state, was all brass or bronze, was covered with a thick layer of verdigris”, sagt Domann. On the one hand this was due to the high humidity in India, on the other hand it, that there is no watchmaker in India, can take care of the restoration of watches.
+++For the top tier, you need a steady hand
Especially good is the 61- remember-year master watchmaker at his meeting with the Maharaja. “We had made us in advance thoughts, how to meet a Maharaja, but we did not make the typical knee case actually”, sagt Domann. That they had not also, because the Maharaja welcomed Domann and his team quite loose and worldly with a handshake. Once the Maharaja even had tears in his eyes. Domann had shown him an old music box, which the Maharaja probably had never seen running.
Also this year, Domann was with his colleagues back in India, order to take care of the clocks of the Maharajah. However, this time they were not so pompous housed and not received with red carpet. For Domann a token of appreciation. “Meanwhile, we are nothing special for the Indians, We have integrated our”, so the master watchmaker. If Domann talks about his India experience, he gets more rapturous: “It was like 1001 Night”. And something else inspired him during his travels: “Watchmakers are usually lone and during the journey we all have to work in a team”. In the coming year Domann will fly back to India- probably for the last time, because he wants now again reinforces the historic clocks in the museum in St. Petersburg and of course also take care of his own business in Iserbrook.
Article published in 04.09.2012 Hamburger Evening Journal of Mobile
Christina Lachnitt
Christina Lachnitt
"The Maharaja had tears in his eyes"
Uhrmachermeister Wolfgang Domann has repaired antique chronometer in India. (Foto: pr)
Wolfgang Domann repaired antique clocks at the Maharajah of Jodhpur
by Christopher v. Savigny, Iserbrook – When it comes, to repair broken clocks, travels Wolfgang Domann even to India: The watchmaker spent two weeks in the palace of the Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Jodhpur, to antique chronometer from the colonial period to make passable again. The enterprising tinkerer was accompanied by six colleagues, like Domann belong to a nationwide specialist group for historical Watches. The spouses were of the party.
Almost 100 antique, mechanical timepieces - from tiny pocket to 80 Centimeters high clock - had lying in his arsenal, the Indian rulers. Since 60 Years they were not overtaken, let alone mounted. "During the rainy season, the air here is warm and humid", erklärt Domann. "For watches the worst, what you can imagine, because everything is rusted very quickly. "Domann suspected, that much of it came as gifts to India. "My people, could repair something, have they not there. "
For this reason the German master watchmakers had to bring their entire tool itself - after all, 20 Kilo for Person, including a lathe, which is used for drilling tiny holes. And then screwed, cleaned, polished, oiled and adjusted. And reassembled at the end.
Domann is proud, a large, to have brought French Portaluhr running again. This can even make music. "The Maharaja had tears in his eyes, when he heard the built-in music box ", he tells. "He knows the clocks from his childhood."
In the unusual business no money changed hands. The visitors from Europe paid the flight, the Maharaja cared for food, Logis and a recreational program. "A fascinating experience", resümiert Domann. "Even, because you know country and people can learn quite unlike a
Package tour. "
Items in same week Journal. 35 at the 29. August 2012
Hamburger watchmaker brings in Indian palace watches from their slumber.
Here is a preview for a movie recommendation show
3Sat Sonntag on 6. More 16:15
India – timeless
Film by Katja Eichhorn and Karin Koehler
Original Air Date
Urbetting im Palast des Maharajas Gaj Singh II. stand still watches the, come Wolfgang Domann and his colleagues. They are masters of their craft, and it combines a passion: historical Watches. But they also travel to the most distant countries. In India, the master watchmaker from Germany want to fulfill a dream: The repair and restoration of treasures in the palace of the Maharaja of Jodhpur.
The documentation “India – timeless” accompanied Uhrmachermeister Wolfgang Domann and his colleagues to India.
As a watch restorer at the Museum Peterhof in St. Petersburg 2010
For 2. Time the master watchmaker Wolfgang Domann from Hamburg was again in Russia in St. Um im Petersburg to Uhrenrestaurator 22 Castles comprehensive Museum Peterhof – 30 km west of St. Petersburg to work on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland.
It's been a little adventure in this setting also to live.
Was used, where once lived the ladies, a building, which was converted years ago to a hotel.
Near the big castle with its beautiful cascades.
Here at Cascades Domann had the opportunity to its Internet - to monitor transactions and to answer e-mail its worldwide customers based.
Wolfgang Domann has been interested in antique clocks for decades.
And be well over 10 Years a member of the Section restorers in the craft based on Raesfeld.
In several courses would the master watchmakers, taught to the resident Academy of Craft, to be able to identify and classify historical antique clocks.
This happens, among other things with the material determination, through design features and by assessing the architecture of a work.
Every age has its architecture, which in turn has an impact on Watches.
It would in these courses also taught the correct form of restoration, which can be simplified so named. Change as little as necessary - get as much as possible.
Wherein the target is set to bring the clocks running properly.
Museum of Peterhof, discharges the years since master watchmaker from the Federal Republic, knowing, that a high level of specialist knowledge of experts is available to work here as a restorer can.
Care was taken also with an extensive cultural entertainment program provides some variation.
The watchmaker visited some castles, two concerts and toured the observatory of St. Petersburg.
At the end of the stay, handed over the Russian hosts each Uhrmachermeister a certificate of the Minister of Culture.
It was thanks and appreciation “for the valuable assistance” pronounced.
This assistance is for the 7 A watchmaker Volunteering and serves international understanding.
Wolfgang Domann, Hamburg im August 2010
The Russian TV visited us in our work at the Museum Peterhof:
Watches seminar at Uhrmachermeister Domann
Still need a gift for a watch lover.
Here I make you the proposal to him or your a Watch Seminar give to me for Christmas or other occasions.
I have in the last 15 see leave my workshop hospitable years many happy people,,de,Appointments are arranged individually and are always held on a Saturday,,de.
Since I Seminar with only 3 People organizing, we have but can make some nice personal contacts in the short time.
Viele Paare sind durch die gesamte Republik nach Hamburg gekommen.
On Saturday then the men were early at me placed in custody and then in the evening her tired, but happy men pick up again.
The women used the day to an extensive shopping spree to make.
Termine werden individuell verabredet und finden immer an einem Sonnabend statt.
Watch Seminar
Als Uhrenrestaurator im Museum Peterhof St. Petersburg Russia
Hamburger watchmaker brings old watches of the Russian tzar tick
The Hamburger watchmaker Wolfgang Domann is recently from St. Petersburg returned.
In the city on the Neva or. nearby summer residence of Peterhof restored Uhrmachemeister Wolfgang Domann together with German colleagues, the worldwide unique collection of clocks of the Russian Tsars.
The Castle in Peterhof
The hamburger is a member of a German watchmaker Initiative, which this task is performed by volunteer.“The museum management is dependent on this help, because still there is a lack of specialists in Russia, which can handle historical Watches. Watchmakers have been trained only for the watch industry in the Soviet era”, erklärt Domann.
And he told, as the contact to St. Petersburg came about: “End of the nineties I attended a seminar of the expert group partially Historic Watches. Its chairman is married to a Russian woman. She has taught the relief operation.” The former German philology student did the German clockmaker have often to St. Petersburg and is accompanied once again been there. “With her we had an excellent interpreter on our side”, so Uhrmachermeister Domann.
Museum watch with Glochenspiel
The watch collection is now part of the fundus of the State Museum “Castles and parks of Peterhof”. Therefore was the main place of activity of the watchmaker, As in previous years,, Peterhof - the summer residence of Peter the Great founded and later further developed the Russian Tsar. The property is located approximately 30 Kilometers west of St. Petersburg on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland. “It is a beautiful castle with park, Fountain, Fountain und cascade”, describes Wolfgang Domann. “Our workshop is located within this castle in the park Alexandria. It is equipped with the necessary tools and machines. The most we can repair and restore site. But there are also complicated, that can not be done there. We take them Germany and put it at the next work trip back.”
The expert group succeeded this time, a total of 19 repaired valuable watches.What is the work of German experts is classified by the museum management, it can reveal, The guests have free access to all premises of the museum. The artisans were accompanied in their work this time even by a television crew of MDR.
The hamburger is a few days after his return, still under the impression of his trip. This is partly because, that the Russian hosts have provided a varied leisure program off the ground for the German guests. “It already started on arrival. We went to the studio of a Russian painter, has developed a very own style.
He combines classic folk motifs with modern elements. The visit to the studio was for us a very interesting impression”, berichtet Domann.
In addition, the watchmaker group visited the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, under Tsar Alexander II. was built and still shines in its old splendor. Matching the ambience there was Russian Ballet: Tchaikovsky “Swan”
Life in St. Petersburg
A visit to the St. Petersburg Naval Museum was also on the program. Domann and his colleagues enjoyed the Russian hospitality to the fullest. “For us it was every noon a four-course meal and the evening always a hot meal”, He raves about the sumptuous supply. “We were accommodated in the way virgins Palace of Peter Court, which was expanded into a fine hotel.
Sunset on the Gulf of Finland in August 2008
The trappings of course with every stay a nice compensation for our volunteer work.”The guests from Germany were impressed, what rapid development of the city of St. Petersburg nimmt. It would be built and restored an enormous amount of. Comparisons to the city with the state about ten years ago, so she was barely recognizable. Enormous sums were invested.
A lot of valuable watches waiting in the castles of St. Petersburg nor its repair or restoration. This means for the employees of the expert group nor work for years.
In parting, the watchmaker team was a special honor. Domann and his colleagues got from the Museum Directorate documents presented. The Russian text is translated into German:
“Their extensive knowledge, professional experience, Love of history - and now hopefully to Peterhof -, let the movements of the old European and Russian champions return to life.
Our cooperation helps, that cultural contacts continue between our countries over the centuries.
Thank you and hope for a new meeting.
A detailed report will be on TV 19. November 2008 in MDR Sachsen Anhalt to 2115 under the title: ” The turn on time” broadcast
The NDR sends Regional in Hamburg Journal a 4 minute report on the master watchmaker Wolfgang Domann expected on 12.12.2008.