At 2:06 I say 'separated into occupation zones', not ' separated in two occupation zones'. Sorry if I didn't pronounce that clear enough. It was four zones in total and three of them were later transformed into what was known as West-Germany. I didn't mention that, becaus this video is not about West Germany, but about the Soviet zone and later the GDR.

@richdecibels

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for another amazing video sir! I so appreciate your work. I watched this video recently which I think explains how a native English speaker would distinguish "into" and "in two", I hope you enjoy it :) kzread.info/dash/bejne/d5WMu8OsZZvFm8Y.html

@vennic

Жыл бұрын

were it meant to say "separated in two occupation zones" one would have said "separated into two occupation zones" so I heard you loud and clear. You could also say "it was separated in two." and that would be grammatically (but not historically) correct.

@craigtegeler4677

Жыл бұрын

That was a pretty good video intro @TPAI !! I must say that when I was stationed in Germany, it was still the DDR and GDR, thus it was still part of the "Cold War Era" and it wasn't until I returned to the States until February of 1989 that I would come to realize that soon such changes were about to take place. So yeah, does this video does bring back so memories! I also had a blue scissor style hinged toolbox that I bought while i was there! The only problem now though is that someone stole it from me and boy was I ever pissed! I just want you to know that I always enjoy your work and videos any way I can get it!

@tomypreach

Жыл бұрын

I followed your Channel now quite a while and your videos never stops to amaze me. The beautiful balanced way that you mix history with electronics, tips and tricks, experimental problem solving, remains nothing but amazing and awe inspiring to witness. The masterful way you convey your insights, craftsmanship and your obvious respect for the hardworking men and women who led us here, is honourable to watch. I often feel ashamed that my somewhat dire financial situation limits the way I'm able to support creative people like you. But understand that I choose my words carefully, optimistically wanting them to have a positive impact. I hope you give yourself time to reflect, especially after a good day of work, and truly enjoy, the sometimes silent reward, inspiring strangers is. Thanks for your videos !! Enjoy your weekend.

@SparkyGage

Жыл бұрын

Been following along with your adventures for several years now young man (I'm old enough to be your father) and I will make two points: 1) I respect your ambition and execution. 2) Your English is quite good and I have little if any difficulty understanding what you are saying (you also speak American pretty good as well 😉)

When I was a boy, we lived in West Germany and visited our relatives in East Germany. I remember "shopping tools in the GDR" from that time. Let's say you need a 14mm wrench and you go to a tool shop. Maybe, likely, they didn't have a 14mm wrench. But maybe they had a 13mm / 18mm wrench or some strange combination like that. And what did you do? You bought it! Because maybe you need such wrench in the future sometime and maybe then they have only 14mm wrenches. That was real life over there at that time. And it was not just one shop. You could visit 5 different shops in towns many kilometers away from each other and you were just not able to find that 14mm wrench anywhere. So whoever had that toolbox at that time was probably very proud to have collected all those different wrenches over time.

@raikbusse7697

Жыл бұрын

In the past, a 13 mm wrench was simply widened to 14 mm on the grinding machine. It was that simple.

@GlamStacheessnostalgialounge

Жыл бұрын

Huh, sounds exactly like parts shopping in today's third world.10 different shops, none of them have that one tool you need!

@hanksmith4065

4 ай бұрын

I've always wondered why so many tool say "made in Germany " in english?

This video is why I love this channel. It’s so much more than a build /restoration channel. It’s an amazing history channel that dives into the social sciences all in a beautifully edited and filmed short movie. Thank you TPAI!!! Let’s go Saturday morning!!!!!!

@Kowyn

Жыл бұрын

Couldn't have put it better myself. Not only do I get my repair fix I get a history lesson, and often one that I would otherwise never know living in Canada.

I'm in Estonia, which was also part of the Soviet Union. I really like your videos and I hope that one day I am as successful on KZread as you are. God bless you.

@mikescudder4621

Жыл бұрын

I had a friend\work colleague from Estonia in New Zealand! The world is a small place aye. I'm a big fan of Arvo Pärt!

@T.leinus

Жыл бұрын

Sa pole ainuke siin kanalil😀

@rainmaekivi5379

Жыл бұрын

Põnev!

@kusti1337

Жыл бұрын

@@T.leinus Ei ole tõesti

@rudolfzemm

Жыл бұрын

Слава СССР !

As a child growing up in Australia in the 50s, I was fascinated by my father's and grandfather's workshops, and the tools and equipment therein. I inherited it all when they passed away, and am still using it over seventy years later (some of the tools are well over a century old). I have an eclectic mix of British, American and European objects, from wooden planes to a 60 year old arc welder, which are all still in constant use; and it's great to see someone who values and maintains the old technology that was generally designed to last! I really enjoy your repair-a-thons - I hope you keep them coming!

@krissteel4074

Жыл бұрын

My father came from your era and on that side of the family they migrated from Prussia around the 1900's, my grandfather though you wouldn't have trusted to fix very much! Dad however was a mechanic from the mid-late 60's and his fairly extensive toolboxes and power tools mostly came from Australian manufacturers. Most of those companies got sold off to the Americans and Taiwan back in the 80's so they don't really exist like they used to and there's a couple of the really old Black & Decker drills from that period which still work fine if you don't mind snapping a wrist. My WIA Miniarc welder is an Australian brand as well which still works ok, its not exactly a subtle or complicated machine so its probably why it lasted so long. All the hand tools though are sort of what you expect, well used but have the kinds of tolerances, material and manufacturing which is extremely good and would probably be worth a lot of money, not that I'd ever sell them.

@slyonme

Жыл бұрын

Greetings from Sydney! 😊 It's really impressive that you not only have high-quality tools, but also ones that hold sentimental value for your family. 🙌 It's a shame that tools like those aren't made anymore. 😔ls like those aren't made anymore.

I was born in Canada. I lived in Germany for 10 years. My parents come from Berlin. Is a child I visited East Germany very often. I had family on the other side. However believe it or not a lot of East German products were sold in Canada. Usually under a pseudonym a different name. Most of the tools were sold in Canada at Eaton's that no longer exists. They went bankrupt in the 90s. they sold many things from East Germany. Dishes and fabrics and certain other items. Of course they had a different name. Even a different logo. But you would still find the gdr on some of the stampings of their tools and mixers. Yes they even sold kitchen supply items to Canada. Many of these products where put together in Canada. Sounds weird but you can have a product. Put together in your country and it's no longer made in East Germany it's now made in Canada. For instance if you packaged all your items into one box. When the box would be dismantled. And the items would all be put together in a simple carton with the item in the box it is now made in Canada. It's just like the Polish people buying cars in Germany dismantling them and then putting them back together again when they reach Poland. They used to do this to save on tax money. you also mention Western Products. East German products were Western Products. 90% of their products were sold to the West. Most Germans don't know this who lived in West Germany. Just like China now sells the world East Germany sold everything to the world.

@myleswillis

Жыл бұрын

Yep, neighbour grew up in East Germany. He said that even if you had the cash to buy the products they were just were not in the stores. Empty shelves everywhere. It took his family a year to find enough wallpaper to redo the lounge. of course they were all different patterns. 😅 Communism is wild.

@AlfredWedmann

Жыл бұрын

Nazi

@derduebel

Жыл бұрын

That's right, GDR goods were sold in our Neckermann catalogue. The GDR was more capitalistic than expected.

@AlfredWedmann

Жыл бұрын

Nazi Ukraine

I like these GDR tools and machines, they have more quality and better design than the el-cheapos we get these days. Back in the 1970's we lived in the Emirates and sometimes GDR products would turn up in the shops, maybe imported by a business or a ship crew bringing them. I also remember seeing that 'VEB' on those products manufactured in the east.

@peterwilson7802

2 күн бұрын

It stood for Volks Eigener Betrieb, -Peoples Own Business (my translation)

I can't believe videos like this are free! This guy is so amazing. Every video is a 10/10.

@piotrnod6489

Жыл бұрын

they aren't shame those stars don't get from the platform owner enough appreciation. Stay safe duderino

@ebutuoyebutouy

Жыл бұрын

U could contribute to his Patreon fund.

@JohnDoe-pv2iu

Жыл бұрын

Or even kick in a single donation through PayPal, now and then. You pay for other entertainment, donate to this channel. His entertainment is better than Most! Ya'll Take Care and be safe, John

Nice episode. Brings back memories from my childhood when DDR tools were considered the best compared to our eastern block ones. Last October I found a working VEB Robotron drafting table working in our companies sheet metal workshop, and some other older German (east and west) equipment.

What strikes me is the quality of those old power tools. Even some name brands from today seem to avoid aluminum parts wherever they can.

When a German calls a name a word monstrosity, that is saying something.

This man is amazing along his videos. He always bring the good parts of the pasts without opening the wounds.

@jo300hn

Жыл бұрын

Just don't mention the war.

@johnsmith7676

Жыл бұрын

@@jo300hn You can mention the war; just not who really engineered it all, from behind the curtain.

@twotone3070

Жыл бұрын

@@jo300hn "I mentioned the war once, but I think I got away with it"

I’m American but i used to work for a company located in Chemnitz. I had the opportunity to go to the industrial museum there showing how industrious and smart some of their solutions for materials shortages.

And let us not forget the biggest engineering triumph of the GDR; the Trabant......... (and by triumph, I am of course using a tone of sarcasm in my head typing that... :P )

8:21 "Klucze nasadowe" Thats polish made socket set from Lubań in southwest of Poland. From logo itself must be ancient. In Poland auction sites you still can find old WMW and other old german tools for sale. They do often cost quite the money and need some love to fix them. From drills to industrial machines.

Hope you can get hold of a lawnmower attachment to the drill. What an awesome and hilarious attachment. I saw that attachment at the DDR museum in Berlin and have been wondering how well it functions

I worked for Black and Decker from late 70s to early 0s and it didn't matter which tool they were all had high heat grease inserted. Hope you do find this helpful. We used to manufacture over 14 million units a year, now unfortunately the factory has been demolished and only a returns / guarantee repair unit is left in our area.

If anyone's interested in old DDR consumer goods, as well as the professional broadcast electronics, AND the people behind them - go visit the Industriesalon Schöneweide in Berlin, in the former factory that first made radio tubes and later made Samsung CRTs. The people who volunteered there (at least who were there 5 years ago) have awesome stories to tell and take great pride in the products they once made.

8:16 what a beauty; all parts still in place. I have a Gedore socket set I purchased age 18 in 1975 but it needs the TPAI treatment. Another interesting video, have fun in Mexico and thanks.

what i love about this channel is not only do we get to see him fix old tools and repair electronics we get a really informative german lesson and I'm completely here for it.

I'm from Poland and we were using Smalcalda drills. They were considered better than our own from the factory called CELMA.

i recently restored a VEB Textima Knitting Machine. Works as new again 🙂 There is still a company left which takes care of the last remaining electric models and still offers spare parts.

As a slovenian I am suprised that you havent encountered more UNIOR tools and ISKRA tools.

@uwejacobs6587

Жыл бұрын

He is from West Germany and stuff from former east Germany is hard to come by.

@Saavik256

Жыл бұрын

@@uwejacobs6587 UNIOR and ISKRA are Slovenian companies. :) And while UNIOR is still a brand with high international reputation, ISKRA is merely a shadow of its former self these days.

Love that old tools, that are made to last for a long time and easy to repair. The military Trabant at 6:57 looks so steampunk :)

20 - 30 years ago if someone told me one day I would sit captivated watching someone refurbish/repurpose German tools, I would have thought they were insane! This is an awesome channel! Thanks for all your videos!

Fascinating, Thanks. I've seen similar tools from time to time in the toolboxes of local Engineer colleagues of mine over the last 23 years. I grew up in North Wales but moved to Dresden (which is why your mention of Radebeul pricked my ears up). I started life (after school) as a Toolmaker in Llandudno North Wales. In 1999, I moved to Taiwan in the Semicon field and finally accepted a Job offer in the Semi-Con Industry in Dresden working from the local field office of the worlds leading Dutch Semi-Con wafer exposure machines. I actually lived in a Motel apartment in Radebeul for the first 3 months here (while I sorted an apartment and got my furniture and possessions shipped here). It is a very small world though, since my Great Grandmother was actually born in Dresden (Pirna) and my first trip to Dresden was a spur of the moment thing after a German Friend from Hamburg invited me to his aunt's in Berlin (after the wall fell). Having seen the wall being chipped away by people with hammer's and chisels (and catching many many painted bits (which got handed out as souvenirs to my Family & Friends that Christmas / New Year). My Friend asked if there was anywhere I wanted to go, I replied instantly, "Yes, Dresden!". He recognised and remembered my family history that I had told him, so we got an (old DDR Train to Dresden, spent some hours taking photos and walking about, taking in some of my heritage. I left with a slightly heavy heart; never realising that I would get the chance to come and live here (and yes, I have found my Gt Grandmother's Birth records) and my second Daughter was born here in the same City as her Gt. Gt. Grandmother.

@gregkrueger331

Жыл бұрын

Dresden is an amazing city. I’m an American but worked in Chemnitz, and i would drive to Dresden to attend their big “American” car show. One of the most surreal experiences I’ve ever had. Lol. But it’s incredible knowing how flattened Dresden was, that it was completely rebuilt.

Hey, really great to see you covering tools from our side of the country, because they are very good imo. On the topic of companies: WMW which stands for Werkzeugmaschinen und Werkzeuge, was the Kombinat that all metal tool production was done under. From little clamp on vises for the home craftsman, to machine tools of all sizes, to entire rolling mills, and die presses. WMW encompased several other Kombinate, which focused on different fields (one made lathes, one made mills, one made files, one made wrenches and other simple forgings, etc.) Smalcalda was one of them, they made hand tools and simple powertools. My entire machine shop (large engine lathe, universal mill, a multipurpose machine called a DBF Gerät, similar to the Hommel UWG series, as well as die grinders, hand drills etc.) is all made in GDR, and they are all great machines. If you want to know more about WMW and stuff like that, feel free to ask

@raikbusse7697

Жыл бұрын

Hello, would like to know if they would also be available to consumers of the post with information? But I'm not sure if a "WERKÖ SWU 200" belonged to WMW.

@MannoMax

Жыл бұрын

@@raikbusse7697 Yes, the SWU 200 was a universal tool grinder, produced in various plants, under the Brandname "Werkö" (Werkzeugfabrik Königssee) which in itself was a subsidiary of WMW.

I have found two exactly similar tool cases loaded with Smalcalda branded tools in my grandfather's shop. They must have been exported to west germany for a while because he lived in Baden Wurttemberg his whole life. Fun fact, I brought one of his Smalcalda hammer over to Canada and I use it everyday in my shop, very handy.

Großartiger Geschichtsunterricht! An die Eibenstocker Handschlagbohrmaschine habe ich aus meiner Lehrzeit (ca. 1987) keine gute Erinnerung. Wir standen zu zweit auf einer 3 Meter hohen, hölzernen, wackeligen Bockleiter, um in Wände aus Hartbrandziegel eines Industriegebäudes an der Decke einen 20mm Wanddurchbruch zu bohren. Die DDR-Hartmetallbohrer mit nur einer Schneide verhakten sich andauernd und durch die fehlende Rutschkupplung verdrehte es einem das Handgelenk gehörig. Als ich dann so Anfang 1991 das erste Mal mit einem Bosch SDS-Hammer gebohrt habe, war das wie eine Offenbarung: Nicht drücken, nur halten. Das ging in die härtesten Ziegel wie Butter. Die DDR-Maschinen lagen dann nur noch herum oder wurden bestenfalls noch zum Holz oder Metall bohren verwendet.

@ThePostApocalypticInventor

Жыл бұрын

Hehe. Danke für den Einblick in deine eigene Vergangenheit und Erfahrungen mit diesen Bohrmaschinen!

I have a set of small electricians tools that are stamped "West Germany". i have no information about them at all except that my great grandpa got them at some point. the set includes a very tiny pipe wrench that seems too small to actually be used for anything (its maybe 5 inches long end to end)

I recognize some of the tools from my childhood era here in Sweden, including the power tools, so some of them were exported for sure.

I was flying for a Canadian Airline in 1989, and we were on a two day layover in Amsterdam. Myself, and my old airforce buddies, were glued to the TV for they whole time watching the demonstration at the Berlin Wall, and then watching them begin to tear it down. It was a surreal experience, and we really didn't believe that was how the Eastern bloc was going to end. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this tool episode. You didn't speak to the quality of the tools, and I would have been interested in learning that. I have a couple of 35mm cameras that were made in Dresden, a couple of Exactas, and a practika, the workmanship and the Jena lenses were excellent quality, and I always wondered about the quality of the other machine tools. Thanks for the informal history lesson..

I’ve been waiting for an episode. Thank you for all the hard work you put into them!

This was absolutely fascinating, thank you so much for all the time and effort that you put into making the video.

What a great way to start my Saturday. Hope all is well. Thank you

Such great content and the storytelling is awesome! Thanks for sharing!

So many lessons in one video. Love what you're doing . Thanks John

Always educational and a joy to watch. Enjoy your trip!

Another great video as always. Thanks so much for your efforts. Happy journeys!

Thank you for the interesting video - always a pleasure to watch you bring new life to old tools.

I always learn something new watching your videos much love to you and safe travels

I love the music at the beginning and end of the video! You put so much attention to detail into your videos, a pleasure to watch. What a wonderful tools and still going strong after some.... here it is again .... some attention! The history lessons behind those tools is also really nice. Thanks for the message of appreciation to older (quality made) tools and history.

Keep them coming! Always enjoy the mix of history lesson and practical repair information. Also, the way your videos follow your own curiosity and desire to learn keeps them interesting. Definitely a winning formula, imo. Safe travels!

I always enjoy learning about East/West German history through your videos.

EP grease commonly known as HTB (High Temperature Bearing) grease ie common grease. Go to the parts store and just buy any old grease that you can use in wheel bearings which is the most common and cheapest grease. Probably doesn't matter in a drill used once a week really as long as there's a bit of fat in there LOL. BTW, I lust for that mower attachment for the drill I must admit.

@craigtegeler4677

Жыл бұрын

Actually the EP designation stands for "Extreme Pressure" for heavy surface tension, metal to metal or heavy load bearing and the grease's ability to resist higher temperature as well!

@ThePaulv12

Жыл бұрын

@@craigtegeler4677 Yeah I know I'm a mechanic. EP is on every grease tub in every workshop I've ever worked in.

@craigtegeler4677

Жыл бұрын

@@ThePaulv12 Gotcha! Thanks Paul!

I live in MN and just got my Sachsenring Alternator back from the rebuild shop yesterday! The guy has 45 years experience. "The mounting is a kinda strange" and "The slip ring for the brushes is made of graphite, usually they're always copper, that's weird" Aside from that he said it was indistinguishable from a standard Bosch. :D

So very happy to see your channel doing well and growing again.

I love your wonderful explanations of the tool manufacturers and the history lessons. Thanks TPAI! Great stuff.

i got a smalcalda system 450 at home that i inherited from my grandpa. i got the brush cutting, belt sander and even the tablesaw accessories for it. i also got an HBM 250 with the convertible table mount system for it. its a mini lathe, grinding wheel, drill press, circular saw and even has a flexible axle to be used as a dremel like tool! these are great tools and near indestructible took me quite a while to find all parts when we cleared out my grandparents home and then some to figure out what goes with what and get it back in working condition... sadly i am missing some minor parts here and there but i still got the stuff i had functional

I forgot how long older drills in particular used to "run on," after releasing the trigger. First drill I ever used was a Zephyr and it was older than Moses' sandals but still packed a punch.

Using the grinder to clean the box brought a smile to my face

Gerolf, Quality video as usual! Wanted to say thanks as I just received a belated Christmas present from my better half (Nicci) and to my surprise it was one of your tool boxes! It will be put to good use! Thanks again :)

@ThePostApocalypticInventor

Жыл бұрын

Hey Nicci, yo happy to hear it got there safely and in time. Please send my best regards to him! Cheers, Gerolf

I can't wait to view this production. Thank you TPAI.

It never ceases to amaze me what people will throw away Great video brother thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise and hello from Detroit Michigan USA

Thank you for sharing your passions. Love them.

Thanks for this, Mr P A Inventor! Fascinating glimpse to the past. I have the Prazi Hobbymat milling machine from GDR, about 1980. This desk-top mill is quite popular around the world with hobby machinists and small facilities like university labs. Apparently it was made and sold for export at a very reasonable price with the objective of being a 'class act' and advertisement for the superior East German industry. And well . . . it's actually quite good!

gerolf, thank you for the great video, loved the music and content of course. hope you have a nice trip!

I thought I was watching M539 restorations when I heard the music 🤣

Fantastic video as usual! In add to the interesting work you already do, you are an historian as well! Many thanks and a warm hello from Middle America

A very good video love the history information and great old footage your editing skills are getting so much better. Love the old tools and restoration methods.

The factory where your Smalcalda tools where made still exists today and they’re still producing tools! My uncle worked there until his retirement a few years ago and my aunt is still there.

thx for sharing, really nice to see the restoration program :)

ive been watching alot of your videos lately some more than once ,ive been finding some great stuff on the roadside fixing and restoring to ,thanks for giving me the drive and passion for my hobbie ,

Another great video. Love them all. Keep up the great work!!

I bought an old house in Thuringia Germany last year. Once there was a workshop on the frst floor but when we entered it for the first time we immidially noticed that even if the former owners still lived in the house they completely abandonned the workshop for somewhat around 30 years according to the dates on newspapers. In there we found almost every hand tool from the DDR Era you can imagine. I found classic glass blower tools they used in an hidden room with a sketchy looking natural gas port next to it. That's what they did, they stole materials from the glass industry, took them home and made stuff like vases out of it, probably to make a buck in the process. Historical Storys are told directly in front of our eyes. No new built home can tell stories like these. Some old powertools have also been left behind. All this sowjet technology is fascinating for its weight, stability, durability, etc. These tools look not used like our tools with dirt and greece from maybe a couple of years. Nowadays there is almost no frequently used tool that you regularly keep for longer than 5 years. The old powertools on the other hand look like they saw several decades of work. And most of them still work. Especially the motors from bigger tools like an old table saw I found are very interesting and will certainly find a new home somewhere among my machines.

@GarthGoldberg

Жыл бұрын

The US used to make long-lasting power tools: Black and Decker, Porter Cable, Miller Falls, Milwaukee. I have a Milwaukee Magnum 1/2" (12.5 mm) electric drill I would stack up against these East German tools. Now, everything is made in PRC.

@jacktheaviator4938

Жыл бұрын

@@GarthGoldberg not everything is made in China. Metabo and Bosch are still made in Germany, and snap-on, Mack, and Matco tools are still made in the US and very high quality. I am a union worker in the Midwest US, and we use all US made tools. We make an exception for the German made, because they are made in union plants in the EU.

@somedudeRyan

Жыл бұрын

what a lucky find, I would love to buy into an amazing treasure workshop like that

@johanneskuhrt146

Жыл бұрын

@@GarthGoldberg when we recently moved into our new house, we got a bunch of tools including old power tools most of them made in the USA. They're really good quality, the old Sears drill does a better job than the newer Black and Decker, drill made in China, that the previous owners of the house left for us.

@alcerz984

Жыл бұрын

I like going to thrift stores and picking up old milwaukee and vintage craftsman power tools that were virtually indestructible new tools are trash compared to the tools of yesteryear.

Captions @17:56 😄. Nice video as always.

Enjoy your trip to Mexico. It's always a pleasure to watch your videos and hear you talking about history and technology!

Excellent episode. History of the products being included I find just adds to my love of old tools.

congrats on 500k subscribers. I love the pacing of your videos.

All of your videos I automatically like as soon as I start them...

I hope this doesn't sound too weird. But I actually play your videos to help me fall asleep. Something about your narration and the sounds of tinkering reminds me of a radio station and allows me to drift off. You typically turn the loud sounds down so the mix is perfect for this. Probably the most random comment!

big kudos for the synth wave sound !

I always find your videos to be instructive and encouraging. Safe passage in Mexico!

Ein Teil meines Lebens . Jetzt soll ich alles in den Müll werfen . Viele Handwerkzeuge davon habe ich auch noch Werkzeugmaschinen und Werkzeuge (WMW) , VEB Werkzeugunion Steinbach-Hallenberg . Danke für das Video .

I thought I was about to see Sreten appear as soon as the music stopped!!

Love your videos!! I learn so much from you. Thanks 😁

Seeing that BAT logo has taken me right back. When I was very young, back in the early 80s, my dad bought a trailer tent, I believe it was made by NR & was called a Nimrod. It was an ingenious thing & was made in East Germany. The original cooker in it was made by BAT & was called a Campy. It was a 2 ring gas stove. It wasn’t very good so my dad replaced it with a 3 burner from another manufacturer. My twin brother & I used to play with that old cooker & pretend we were camping (obviously it was completely disconnected). It still seems strange to me that East Germany was exporting trailer tents around Europe when people couldn’t get out. I’m in the UK by the way, & those old Nimrod trailer tents are very sought after if you can find one.

Excellent video as usual - Thanks

I recently acquired a USSR-made wrench from a thrift store. I tried to use it to loosen a bolt on a bike, but I was unable to do so. To gain more leverage, I utilized an equally old French Peogeot wrench alongside the USSR wrench. Afterward, it was apparent that the USSR wrench's metal was much softer, as it was marred by the French wrench. Additionally, I have a Smalcalda pincer and GDR-made bicycle pump that I found in the trash. Both of these items look to be very durable, but upon closer inspection, their finish is poor, with uneven holes and many casting marks.

I have an appreciation for German and Soviet made stuff, as well as stuff that were made in different times, I’m washing machine collector and one machine from the east from the 50s made in the Czech Republic (Kovosmalt)and another one that was made by Bosch in the 70s, there’s very little that I’ve had to do with both of them, although on the DDR machine I haveI’ve had to replace the ceramic agitator and the cable that runs to the machine and the drain hose, but half of that all looks wonderfully well and good

Pretty cool video and tools! I like the use of stock footage and the strichtarn uniforms.

Amazing videos as usuall, I enjoyed the "flashback" music from the early eighties....thank you for that memories

Another fascinating video, thank you.

I grew up in Argentina , in 1963 as the iron curtain went up , the last great job of Winston Churchill, DKW moved south to set up a plant in Santa Fe to produce their line of vehicles , cars and light trucks , they were Fwd. 3 cylinder 2 stroke Auto Union of the time ,, I remember seen those tools around in mechanics shops when I was a child !!!

My personal experience is that the East-German machines and industrial products were typically of average to good quality but were often constructed in a very 'old' way. Electronics from the GDR were not so common in W-Germany because they were said to be cheaply made and even dangerous to use. I once tried to repair an GDR/DDR oscilloscope from the late 80s, only to realize that the construction inside was more like late 60s than 80s. The PCBs were made of single-sided phenolic paper board and *a lot* of phenolic fabric coated wires connecting the small PCBs. The phenolic board and wire-insulation was seemingly accumulating moisture after having been 'baked' in the case for years. This caused the phenolic resin to degrade to a crumbly, sticky mess. I also remember the old power drill my grandmother had initially used was from the GDR. It was a very heavy device with a gear assembly built to survive an atomic blast (which caused my grandfather to buy the drill in the first place). Sadly the motor was of average or maybe even poor quality and repeatedly burnt out under load over the years. The motor was replaced several times (by a local electrician) until my grandmother had enough and finally bought a Bosch power-drill, which is still good after over 40 years of use. My grandmother was very good at manual skills. She had a grip like a vice that could literally crack coconuts.

This kind of stuff has always held a bit of fascination for me. The history mostly, but also because of my family history as well. My mother was born in Berlin before the wall went up. She had to make a decision and left her family behind to sneak through checkpoint Charlie with false paperwork. She married a guy in the us army and here I am now in the USA. Anyway thank you for the trip and all the information.

And now you are also my favourite DDR documentarist!

i went to berlin in the 1990s and went to a flee market where there where millions of spanners and tools, got two ring spanners smalcalda 24 /27 & 30 /32 2 deutch mark each bargain seeing as a so called good spanner is £30 plus uk... customs didnt like it in my hand luggageincase i beat the pilot🙄 checked it in and 30 years later still using those bad gdr boys. great video

Gerolf, I just got a pair of pliers that had the clear red handles like in your video, but they were also a wire cutters as well, and say Germany on them.

Always very interesting thanks for sharing your vast knowledge

One way the we have established local contacts in Mexico is to ask a cab driver or tour guide to take us to places that interest us. For instance, we wanted to see some "blacksmith (metal fabrication) shops".

Your videos are always great

This is fascinating. We visited the DDR Museum in Berlin a few years ago. It's a really fascinating place, even (especially?) for those who have no memory of the Cold War era. It's like a tour of a parallel universe.

Wow the old generator with skis its really cool! Looking forward to seeing that series! Love your new introduction and conclusion video it's great!

Nice to find an old generator and have it work so well. You did a great job in the restoration.

As an American, all I ever heard about the GDR was something like "it's all crap". Your video shows that while none of their tools were cutting edge - ergonomics be damned - they still got the job done. thank you for this insight!!!

Great information, not just about the tools but about the world !! In the US, "Morse Cone" is usually called Morse taper. (That's taper, not tapper.)

Thanks for the history lesson along with the normal restoration tips!

Nice! i thought to myself yesterday i hadnt seen an upload for a little while :D

I live in Germany, and I find it ashame how dismissed many of the good products of East Germany was just considered shit or poor quality which is not always true. Particularly tile works where brilliant quality, and amazing depth and variety of colour. And a lot of hand tools are brilliant, and have neat and practical features