The factory was established in 1886 and remained family-owned until it became a museum in 1986.
The drop hammers are powered by a massive, original steam engine that is still functional for demonstrations.
The factory floor retains its original wooden flooring, darkened by decades of oil and soot.
The site includes a preserved workers' apartment, offering a direct contrast between domestic life and the intense industrial labor of the time.
The factory was specifically designed to utilize the local water power of the Itter brook, which flowed through the site.
The company specialized in the production of blanks for household scissors.
The LVR Industrial Museum Gesenkschmiede Hendrichs is a preserved drop-forging factory in Solingen, Germany, showcasing the historical production of scissors and cutlery. The site features an original production line, including steam-powered drop hammers and transmission belts, remaining largely in its original 19th-century state. Visitors can observe the transformation of raw steel into finished scissor blades through active demonstration workshops. The museum preserves the social and technical history of the 'City of Blades,' emphasizing the labor conditions of the industrial era. It operates as part of the LVR Industrial Museum network across the Rhineland. The facility highlights the transition from water-powered grinding shops to modern industrial forging techniques.
The central factory hall, specifically from the elevated walkway looking down over the line of drop hammers.
Check the museum's schedule for live forging demonstrations, as the machinery is not in constant operation.
Wear comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes as the factory floor can be uneven and slightly dusty.
Allow extra time to explore the temporary exhibition building which often hosts rotating local history displays.
Do not attempt to touch the vintage machinery or historical metal tools on display.
Closed on Mondays. Open on public holidays unless otherwise specified by the regional museum authority.
Maintain a safe distance from all machinery during demonstrations; obey all safety barriers due to potential floor hazards.
