Research

This is probably the first question anyone (amateur or specialist) asks himself when being confronted with an unknown object. The shape of the object is often the only lead you have to find out more about it. There are virtually no means to systematically help you identify the object. That is why the Museum for Old Techniques has been working on a database system named ID-DOC since 2000. ID-DOC is an on line aid to help you with the identification of unknown technical objects, i.e. hand tools. The database is being continiously updated, corrected and adjusted. For the time being you can find a complete version of ID-DOC on the dutch MOT-site, the english and the french version are still "work in progress". Any comments or suggestions? Please send them to info@mot.be. Read more about identifying technical objects (nl).

ID-DOC: search by shape

Financial support This text can only be consulted in Dutch or French.

ID-DOC: general search

ID-DOC: search by name or keyword

In this section we‘ve tried to provide a step-by-step plan to restore a two-part bakehouse, a type which is very common in Belgium. With a few small alterations you can also use this plan to restore a free-standing or an indoor oven. Once you are familiar with the different components of a bread oven, you can examine your own oven to determine exactly what needs restoring. First look at the condition of the oven vault and floor. After all, these are essential components for baking and they are the most difficult to restore. Their condition may determine whether or not you want to proceed with the restoration. If you do decide to restore it and you know exactly what has to be done, you can proceed.

Bibliography DAVID, J. 1974: De haak van de schulpboor, in Ons Heem. 28 (1974), 158-159. DE KEYSER R. 1966: Watervoorziening te Oostkerke in Rond de Poldertorens 1 (1966), 34-36. DE KLERK M. 1983: Nicolaas Van der Veer uit Bakkeveen maakt nog altijd houten pompen in Friesland Post, sept 1983, 11. DEVLIEGHER L. 1998: Landelijk en ambachtelijk leven. Het Provinciaal Museum Bulskampveld te Beernem, Brugge. ESTHER J. en VANTHOURNOUT R. 1994: Arthur Vandendorpe: restaureren, renoveren, Brugge, 210-211. GEERVLIET J.C. 1975: De ouderwetse houten waterpomp in Blaricum Hei en Wei 6 (1975) 2. GSCHWEND M. 1979: Der Tüchelbohrer, Ballenberg. JANSSENS A. 1971: Een verdwenen beroep: Pompboorder in Heemkring Het Land van Nevele, 2 (1971), afl 4. LÜNING A. Vom Pipen- und Pumpenbohren in Volkskunde im Spannungsfeld zwischen Universität und Museum, 95 (1997), 283-312. MORGAN S. Flowing fortunes and founding feuds: The water systems of Boston and New York in The Fine Tool Journal, 73 (2023), afl 2, 11-14....

Pump making experiment On this page you will find all kinds of information about wooden water pumps, the craftsmanship in making such a pump and piercing wooden trunks lengthwise. In the spring of 2019, the MOT conducted a unique experiment, of which you can view a lot of images here. Faro published  an article about it in their magazine. Together with woodworkers Luc Verachtert and Mathijs Huyghebaert, we manufactured a wooden water pump from an oak tree trunk using original hand tools. Film footage of the entire process are released here and on the MOT's YouTube channel.

Proverbs and sayings: Crafts This text can only be consulted in Dutch.