Metabo Germany

Hi all,

of all European tool manufacturers, the Metabo range from early on is the most comprehensive. They now make a vast array of power tools, but they used to make a vast array of hand driven tools as well (until the sixties). I know of no other European firm that ever had such choice. In 1924 a baker's son, Albrecht Schnizler, started the Schnizler metal items and hand tool company in Nürtingen,Germany, together with partner Julius Closs. In 1927 the salesman Walter Rauch joined them. The succesfull tool that started off their effort in this particular field, was a hand driven geared drill. Ordinary hand driven wood drills were mere cranks, every handle revolution equalled one drill bit revolution. The Model 18 metal drill already had two speeds and the large crown wheel could be changed between two axle holes, to engage into either a larger or smaller chuck pinion. The tool was called a "metallbohrdreher" (turning device for metal drill bits) and the brand name "Metabo" was derived from that in 1929. Their first electric drill was from 1934 and the firm is still family owned by the families of Schnizler and Closs.
eBay Germany is a place to keep an eye on, should you be interested in European hand tools, especially those from Metabo (of which many are still around in German sheds and atticks, often in good shape and - apart from often hefty shipping costs- to be won at a reasonable price). I buy most of my tools on eBay.de, since Holland is a neighbouring country and shipping cost within the EU is reasonably decent. eBay.de on average offers good quality and value, far better than my home eBay.nl.

I tried to add some pics of Metabo samples. There is a Metabo archive pic of a Model 18 drill and also one of a hand grinder i own myself (bought in eBay.de). Scanning all offers, i noticed some years ago that Metabo once made household stuff as well, probably to generate extra cash shortly after the Second World War, when most German firms struggled to stay afloat. Remember also that once proud aircraft factories like Messerschmitt and Heinkel had to diversify to small bubble cars in the fifties, for exactly the same reason. So Metabo had all sorts of appliances on offer, some of these made for them by others (which they resold under own label) and some made by themselves. Among these items were coffee mills, bread slicers and string bean slicers. The pic samples of mills show a regular coffee mill and a mocca mill (with a more refined milling system, since the Arabica mocca beans were much more expensive), both probably made by Zassenhaus. The breadslicer was made by Metabo itself.

It pays to look into eBay (or equivalents) regularly. I do so several times a week, and by keeping at it with determination, some nice and rare things can be picked up, which would normally escape notice.

Regards and happy hunting!

Gerhard Schreurs
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Hi all,

some more pics of Metabo hand tools. I mentioned eBay Germany as a source to watch out for these. The pics show a larger model hand drill from 1953, of which the original box survived as well. There is a close-up added from the Metabo logo. This item was bought on eBay, as was the second model hand bench grinder. I also included a pic from an item made by an entirely different brand. Some of you may know the Elu woodwork machines (especially the routers and various types of saws are famous; the Elu brand was sold to Black & Decker in 1984, for B&D itself was not taken too seriously on the European pro-market and as such it sought to gain market share by buying in vested reputations; the Elu brand was exploited too much and was eventually killed by B&D in 1999, but many original Elu designs survived into DeWalt liveries, because B&D already purchased that brand in 1976). The Eugen Lutz foundry, electric motor and machine works in Mühlacker-Lomersheim in Germany, not only made woodworking machines, but tools for the meat industry as well. There was a range of slaughterhouse and butcher's machines, like handheld or stationary bandsaws and meat mincers. This prickly Elu mallet was meant as an aid to tender up freshly cut slices of beef and was apllied when those slices were a touch too stringy.

Keep up the saving for posterity; tools will eventually be the technical antiques from the 20th century!

Greetings

Gerhard

Hello,

There is 1930 Metabo drills catalogue here: http://www.oldtoolsshop.com/z_pdf/zChuck/metabo.htm

sumu

Hello Sumu!

thank you for this wonderful addition and also for the correction that the Metabo name was adapted in 1932 instead of 1929, which I thought before.

greetings from holland!

gerhard

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Originally Posted by gerhard

It pays to look into eBay (or equivalents) regularly. I do so several times a week, and by keeping at it with determination, some nice and rare things can be picked up, which would normally escape notice.

Gerhard Schreurs
Amsterdam, Netherlands

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Just as long as you don't go sniping the powertools I'm watching:rolleyes:. I've been annoying the members in here with tantalising tales of snapping up cheap quality tools for a while now.

The relatively small population and isolation of Australia (especially up until the recent years of cheap air travel) mean the 2nd hand market for tools is minute when compared to Germany. The amount of Metabo, Elu, and AEG tools bought by enthusiasts in the last 3 decades is staggering. For various reasons, these used machines regularly find their way back onto the market.

There's got to be some compensation for not being home in Oz and I guest the tools are it. And the beer. Sorry boys, but it just can't hold a candle to the stuff over here. (Themstherearefightingwords?)

Damien

Hi Damien,

you could have yourself a bit of a trade here. From your contributions it shows immediately that you're a fine and knowledgable technician. So you buy items on eBay.de or similar, because for you in Germany the shipping price and the bank transfer fee is a bargain. Speaking for myself, i'm getting better and better through the years at judging quality from pictures and descriptions and my own machines knowledge alone, and i am rarely disappointed. I'm sure you're even better at it than i am. That means that you can select on high quality and low price at low risk and, living in Germany, it is far easier and cheaper for you to settle disputes or send back stuff than it would be from overseas. So without even having to give warranty to buyers yourself (as is not done on eBay itself as well), you could offer honest and checked quality and resell it overseas. You have cut out the risk for Aus and NZ buyers and that must be worth something. Even if it would only be for friends and at a "friend's price".

As for the beer, Holland is not such a treasure grove. Heineken is trying to gets its paws on Scottish and Newcastle, which i think they should leave alone (they'll only spoil it). My favourite Grolsch has just been sold to South-Africa, i hope they don't chance things. Grolsch is a bit like Warsteiner, it is made in the east and therefore resembles the German taste (more hops and Reinheitsgebot-way of brewing). Heineken is western, its lager is slightly less bitter with a bit more malt sweetness, accounting for British popularity. When you let a glass of Heineken go flat, you can appreciate how watery this stuff really is. I had some interesting discussions with Dutchmen complaining about frothless English beer. They found that highly suspicious. I retorted that, with much of the carbondioxide missing as a flavour enhancer, the stuff had to make up for it with really worthwhile ingredients. They didn't say much about it, but i'm sure i have a point here. There are some very nice Dutch small scale local products, but the most exciting thing on a larger scale here remains Belgian. I turned to scotch and bourbon a few years back.

My eBay name is g3dm, but i always use a radio controlled watch to monitor the exact auction end and don't enter a bid seconds before it's all over. That's when competitors see my name for the first time around. When certain items have your special interest, i can promise to leave those alone if you want, haha. I am particularly fond of old models left on shop shelves and in dead stocks. I have a grey Hilti TE72 for instance and a TE22, both new in case (talk about rare). The only knack of the TE22 is a broken electronic switch, for which i'm still looking round. The irony is, that the maker Capax is a Dutch firm (they also made the switches for Skil drills, with together with Metabo were among the first ever electronic tools). Capax no longer has any TE22-equivalent left, nor does Hilti itself. No problem, i'll find one, just takes patience and one will float by (old Indian proverb). I also have a brand new TE18 and a TE24. I could go on, but that would frash Neil's server.

Bye

gerhard

Hello Damien,

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Originally Posted by damienhazo

Just as long as you don't go sniping the powertools I'm watching:rolleyes:.

The amount of Metabo, Elu, and AEG tools bought by enthusiasts in the last 3 decades is staggering. For various reasons, these used machines regularly find their way back onto the market.

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I warmly recommend to check out offers on 90's Atlas Copco power tools and Mafell as well. Copco hammer drills tend to be powerful and tough fighters. For Mafell, I very much like their pull-push saws, them Erikas. I would remember Mafell made for Festool some smaller routers as a subcontractor.

Have you visited Solingen - Remscheid region? Carefully there, then :D. Check out Google Maps, put there a city name and Werkzeuge (or Antik, Floh- und Trödelmarkt), get street addresses. Nice and clean.

I agree with the beer (and wurst), although it is claimed that it was those czechs who originally taught to them bairisch how to make beer. Could be, the beer is yes good there, too.

kippis,

sumu

Hi Damienhazo
Guess you would like a XXXX:cheers2:
Cheers

Hi Sumu,

the Czech place where lager beer was invented was Plzen of Pilzen, hence the name "pilsener". You're right about Mafell and Festo as well. You just have a compare a LO65E to a OF2000E to prove your point (look at my post under the thread "Makitool" in the Festool forum). I do have a brand new Kango 900KV and i'm never letting go of it again. It's just to nice a machine.

cheers

gerhard

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gerhard

Hello Sumu!´thank you for this wonderful addition and also for the correction that the Metabo name was adapted in 1932 instead of 1929, which I thought before.

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The name Metabo was adopted in 1929, NOT 1932. Gerhard, you were right in the first place.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by L R P

Hi Damienhazo
Guess you would like a XXXX:cheers2:
Cheers

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Yeh right. Out of the 1000 times I drank it, I think I woke up 4 times without a headache...

On second thoughts, make that 3...