Monday, July 27, 2009

The old Smitty

The old Smitty

Fältässja

In rural Österhaninge near the Hårsfjärden bay there is a picturesque little village called Stadsberga. I have visited the Västergården farm before, so you know at least one horse that lives there! And I have shown you the beautiful rural road that leads up the Middle Farm. A few days ago Jim and I decided have a closer look at the Mellangården (Middle Farm). Luckily for us we met the owners, Ulla and Stig-Arne Skärbäck. They bought the place back in 2001. As Ulla disappeared into the stable with one of her horses, Stig-Arne gave us a guided tour around the old farm. So you can expect a few more photos in the next week or so. But today I will show you the old smitty. It's around 300 years old and in need of restoration. Stig-Arne and his wife have been busy fixing up all the buildings at the farm, but have yet to start with the smitty. We climbed (!) in and sat on the floor (mind your head), as Stig-Arne and Jim discussed all the stuff in the smitty. What you see here is a Fältässja, (a forge). A tool that the smith used to heat up the metal. This is a portable version and I believe it was foot-powered. It's hard to understand, but the smitty was in use up until 25 years ago.

30 comments:

cieldequimper said...

Exploring again and thank you for bringing back such beauties (btw, the smile *is* very sexy!!!)

Leif Hagen said...

It almost looks like the tree is growing through the house!

Olivier said...

dans une maison à l'abandon, on découvre souvent des objets insolites.

B SQUARED said...

The way things are going, there time may come again.

brattcat said...

On first glance I thought that second shot was a spinning wheel. What amazing tools we humans have made based on the wheel.

Lois said...

How fascinating!

Allison said...

Do all old red barns look like that in Sweden?

Leif Hagen said...

Well, Allison, I don't think all Swedish barns look like that?! Maybe just the barns in Haninge?!

Allison said...

Leif, you seem a little bit like an American "know-it-all."

Leif Hagen said...

Now you be nice, Allison. I think Steffe should help the old Smitter fix up the building!

Allison said...

Why doesn't Steffe take his tool box and make the necessary updates?

Leif Hagen said...

He's probably too busy chasing cute girls with his camera and asking for an interview and photo!

Allison said...

By the way, who's the babe in front of the barn?

Leif Hagen said...

I think it might be a tourist from Versailles, France?

Allison said...

This sure is a popular posting! Lots of "interested" people commenting today!

Leif Hagen said...

Well, Allison, Steffe is one of the most popular CDP bloggers besides Jacob at "The Villages!"

Allison said...

Well, I know that Safe Leif! Jacob's blog is my second favorite blog after a certain MN blog!

Leif Hagen said...

Well, I guess we should get back to work! Our "CDP blog break" is over...

Allison said...

Darn. See you soon!

Leif Hagen said...

Tack sa mycket, Steffe Meister! Vi hadde det sa trevligt hos din underbar blog! Halsningar fran Hagen och kontorsekretare

Allison said...

You're not being very "inclusive" writing in Swedish, you know.

Leif Hagen said...

Well, maybe Steffe could be your Swedish teacher?

Allison said...

Let's see...I have Wednesdays at 6:30 open...

Leif Hagen said...

Ok, now we really have to get back to work! Have a great day, Steffe!

WOW - you have a tons of comments on today's posting!!

Anonymous said...

I admire the craftsmanship that went into this building that is keeping it from caving in or falling down.

Lowell said...

This is a most interesting post especially since my grandparents grew up on old farms in Sweden...Ostergotland, I think...well other places, too, but I can't remember.

You'll have to excuse Safe Leif and Allison...I had nothing to do with their witticisms. Although it's nice to be in their top ten.

You know how it is in Minnesota...if it's not snowing they get confused and spend a lot of time on the computer...

VP said...

I have seen on of that forges at work, they were still quite common in our farm in the late 60's. Everything come up to pumping air with a pedal or a handle in the small cavity full of coal. Keep hunting, I really like these discoveries!

Stefan Jansson said...

You seem to have a nice discussion going here. Well first of all this is not a barn, it's a smitty. But most barns in Sweden are red. Painted with the famous Falu Red .


And if you would like to inspect a few other barns in my neighbourhood press here.

And you are correct about the tree Leif. Here is a better look of the tree.

Stefan Jansson said...

Oh and about the babe, that depends. It's either Stig-Arne in the red t-shirt, or my friend Jim.

Don and Krise said...

I hope there's room for one more person to comment. I can't wait to see more photos from here.