Echelle N 09/2017: CAT Excavateur, BR 231 solde, wagons vieux

Cher client,

voici nos nouveautés et soldes:

64.99 EUR^*

Art.-no. MU_N-H00051

Modellbahn Union

The castle Dorenburg

The caste Dorenburg and has two wings, which are built in a 90° angle. This is the typical form of fortifications in the Lower Rhine region. The appearance is that of the early 17th century. However, the building itself can be traced back until the year 1326. In this year the castle Dorenburg was first documented in records on feudal duties of the earl of Geldern. In the following centuries the castle was consistently home to different manorial lords, and around 1800 farmers moved in who practiced agriculture. During the Second World War the west wing was completely destroyed by a bomb, however the remains of the castle were used for agricultural purposes until the 1960s.

Grefrath itself is first mentioned in written form in the records from the year 1177, albeit under its name of that time “Greverode”. Literally this can be translated to “forest clearance by the earl”. This again can be a hint that Grefrath was a settlement in a timber. In the year 1243 Grefrath was sold by the lordship Krickenbeck to the earl Otto von Geldern, who was the owner for the following centuries. After the liquidation of the county Geldern with military forces, Grefrath for a short time belonged to the Spanish-Habsburg Netherlands and continued to be under Spanish authority after the thirty years’ war. In the year 1713 it fell to Prussia. Since 1794 in the course of the Napoleonic Wars, Grefrath was occupied by France and was since 1801 considered being officially part of the French state territory in the Départment Roer. After the German campaign and downfall of Napoleon the western part of the Lower Rhine region again fell to Prussia.

Did you know that…
… people already lived in the castle since almost 400 years? Even though they were no knights they had a lot of money compared to the rest of the population in that area. There are records that exactly at this place there was already a house made of wood 700 years ago. Because there were many wars in this area the castle was property of many different owners. Even Spanish people have lived here! But before the castle was transformed into a museum it was only a farmhouse.

Tannery

44.99 EUR^*

Art.-no. MU_N-H00052

Modellbahn Union

The tannery from Moers

The tannery “Bremer” one can see here, was situated in the center of the town Moers until 1976, where it was in use until 1973. In 1796 it was first built at another place. In the course of the centuries the procedure did not change much. The machines became more advanced and were first powered with steam and later with electricity. The museum shows the original machines, roof structure, and drying room. The brick house itself is a reconstruction.

The most important requirement for tanning is – next to space for vats, skins and leather – the access to water. That is why tanneries could usually be found close to rivers or small streams. Due to the odor nuisance tanneries were usually built on the outskirts of towns or in special districts only for tanneries. Inside the tannery, you can see here, the exhibition illustrates the development from the sheer handwork with a fleshing knife and wooden beam to the first industrial productions with the help of steam-power.

Did you know that…
… the production of leather was a lot of work in the past? The tanners – that is how the people who made the leather were called – produced the leather in a big workplace in many steps. First the tanner had to remove the fur from the skin of the cow, goat or sheep. Then he placed the skin in a vat with tree bark. The ingredients of the bark transformed the skin after many weeks to leather. Then the people could use this to make shoes, saddles or bags from it.

Corn distillery

19.99 EUR^*

Art.-no. MU_N-H00053

Modellbahn Union

The grain distillery from Straelen

Inside this barn there are parts of the old grain distillery “Vallen Erben” from Straelen exhibited. It was built in the 20th century. The history of high percentage liquor can be traced back until 1000 a.d. to the orient. However, at that time the main purpose of a distillery was to produce medicine, cosmetics, and perfumes. Around 1000 years later more advanced distilling procedures were created in Europe. In the beginning, only whine was distilled. But then in the 15th century it was discovered that it was also possible to distill grains and fruits. With this the procedure became more available and a lot cheaper. This way the distillation procedure also reached the farms.

But the very high consummation of brandy led to bad health and social impacts and thus distillation was limited by law or even prohibited. The first step of the distillation procedure is to malt the grains, which means to make it germinate artificially. Afterwards the grains are dried. This is necessary in order to transform the grain’s starches into fermentable sugars. Then water is added to the dried malt and after some time also yeast, which starts the fermentation. In the end the fermented brew is distilled.

Did you know that…
… in the past grains were not only used to make bread but also to produce alcohol? In the beginning people only used it to make perfume and medicine. Only later it was discovered that after a certain procedure it was also possible to drink it. But alcohol is not only unhealthy for children; adults can get sick from too much alcohol as well. That is why there were already people in the past, who spoke for limiting alcohol or even prohibiting it.

Bakehouse Hofanlage Rasseln

11.99 EUR^*

Art.-no. MU_N-H00054

Modellbahn Union

The bakehouse from Willich-Schiefbahn

The bakehouse, as it was built here, was originally constructed in the 18th century in the settlement Unterbruch in Willich-Schiefbahn. Additionally to the two rooms inside, there is also an attic. In the past the attic and the area to the left were used as a dwelling for the elderly.

The baking took place every two to three weeks outside on the courtyard. The whole process took up to two days, including the preparations. Even though baking was physically a very hard work it was mainly done by women. Men only helped with the exhausting work of kneading of the dough.

At the backside of the bakehouse is the masoned oven. In order to heat it up fascine bundles were burned inside. After the removal of the embers and the cleaning of the oven the bread was baked. Afterwards, residual heat was often used to bake cake or other pastries or to dry fruit.

Did you know that…
… in the past it was not possible to just buy bread at the bakery around the corner? Most people baked their bread for the whole family on their own. Because this was a very exhausting work, one baked so much bread that it was enough for two to three weeks. Especially the kneading of the dough without any electric tools was very difficult. Sometimes the people even lived in the bakehouse. These were either poor employees of the farmer or the old farmer and his wife. As soon as the farmer got too old to manage the farm he moved out to make space for his son and his family, who then took care of the farm.

load transformator

9.99 EUR^*

Art.-no. MU_N-A00173

Modellbahn Union