Life on the western plains of Poland can be hard. In 1918, just after WWI, Leon Kromski began turning wood and soon became his town’s spinning wheel fixer. Between the two world wars, prospects were few so in fact Leon did many things to support his family, but turning was something he did well. Before and after WWII, he taught woodturning to his son, also named Leon. Following the second war, life under the communists offered few improvements and the Kromski family struggled as did many to seek success and good fortune. In the ’60s, Leon Kromski, the younger, designed a new spinning wheel that won him recognition throughout Poland. His wheel, a first version of the Mazurka, was selected to be sold in government stores that supported Polish folk arts and crafts. However, because they were operating a family business, not a government operation, the Kromskis were held back. They were not allowed to get too ambitious for fear that their woodworking business would prosper and thus they were limited in the number of wheels they could produce. Hard work and persistence eventually paid off however; with the fall of communism and the rise of a free-market in Poland, the Kromskis are finally able to begin to fulfill their dreams. Today, Leon, with his sons Wojciech and Daniel have their sights set on Poland and beyond. With Wojciech’s background in forestry and wood products, Daniel’s in art and design, this new generation of Polish artisans intends to place their products before people around the world. For today’s spinners and weavers, the Kromskis manufacture attractive-looking and well-engineered products and they stand behind each with a five year warranty covering their craftsmanship.
Wolsztyn, Poland
This is Wjoceich Kromski and Zosia and Daniel Kromski.
This picture is taken about 5km from Wolsztyn, Poland, the home
town of the Kromskis. The building in the background is the new
Kromski facility. This building, in addition to their finishing
facility (located just down the road) will gives the Kromskis and
their employees the extra room they require to be efficient in their
work and the storage they need for their products.
This is Henryk Napierala working at one the Kromski lathes. The
very best craftsmen get the job of turning the many fancy parts that
make up each product. For the most part, the employees are young but
have many years of experience.
Marek Sofczynski is shown putting the final touches to a turned
piece. A lot of sanding is done right on the lathe ensuring that
each piece is ready for finishing, by you or by the Kromski staff.
Pawel Malicki is working with a Mazurka wheel, assembling legs
and the two upright posts. All the wheels are fully assembled at the
factory. All aspects of a wheel or loom are checked for fit and
quality and then broken down for boxing or finishing.
Daniel is speaking with Lukasz Szklarski as he assembles a
Mazurka wheel base. When this series of pictures was taken, everyone
was working on an order for Mazurkas.Notice the wood behind Lukasz.
Space is a consideration for the Kromskis in their present location.
They and the employees look forward to more elbow room in the new
building.
Przemek Skrzypczak is showing us the wheel rims for the Polonaise
and the Mazurka. Making the wheel rim is the most difficult job in
the process of wheelmaking. Sections of wood are carefully cut and
joined together, glued and clamped. The Polonaise rim is also pinned
to add strength. The hub and spokes are added after the rim is
ready.
Partially finished Mazurka wheels.
Hundreds of wheel rims ready for additional work and assembly.
.
The following is a series of pictures showing a blank bobbin being turned to a finished product.
The blank is made up of two ends, a middle shaft and two bearings
pressed into the two ends. A metal guide is inserted through the
bobbin (and bearings) and secured to the lathe. Everything will be
true as the metal guide acts as a flyer shaft.
With the bobbin locked in place, a shaped knife is brought into
the two ends and the proper shaping takes place.
In this picture, both ends of the bobbin have been shaped and are now being sanded to a perfect finish.
Have you noticed the tape on the fingers of the workers? Their
hands come into contact with wood as it turns. To avoid the loss of
skin, they place tape on their fingers and replace the tape as
needed.
This is Daniel with part of the Kromski staff. This is one shift.
Notice the wood in the background. All the wood used in Kromski wheels is air dried. A new kiln will be available at the new factory location for some aspects of their work but air curing will continue.
Wjoceich personally picks each tree that the Kromskis use. He travels to forests and selects each and every tree where it stands. The tree is harvested, milled and brought to the Kromski factory. How's that for being involved with your product from beginning to end?
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