The Engineering Workshop

At the end of the 19th century, many people moved from the countryside to towns and cities, where workshops and factories needed workers. These workshops produced parts for railways, steamships, dairy machinery and many other applications.

The Engineering Workshop recreates a workshop that repaired engines and produced parts and spares for machinery. Manufacturing was often commissioned by the customer.  

Working in the workshop and unionisation 

The Engineering Workshop consists of a small office and a larger machine hall. In the main workshop, there were many workstations with different functions. Lathes, drills and planes were driven by a belt drive on the ceiling. The belt drive was a common way to transfer power from a central source, such as a steam engine or a large electric motor, to the many machines in the workshop.

These machines did not feature safety protection, and many workshop employees suffered workplace injuries. Clothes were easily caught in the lathe, and the eccentric press cut not only sheet metal, but sometimes also fingers.  

Working days at the workshop were long. Inside the door was a punch clock, and it was important to clock in on time. Arriving just a couple of minutes late could mean a deduction in wages corresponding to between 15 and 30 minutes. 

In order to secure better pay and safer working conditions, workshop employees began organising themselves into unions towards the end of the 19th century. Clubs were formed at the workshops, and were part of the Swedish Metal Industry Workers’ Union. Following demands from trade unions, the eight-hour working day was finally introduced in 1920. However, people continued to work on Saturdays until the 1960s. 

Office staff and women in industry 

The civil engineer, draftsman, foreman and secretary all worked in the office, which had its own entrance. This is where the work was planned using a typewriter, an adding machine and measuring tools. There was also a copying machine for blueprints, which were dried in a special drying cabinet. The foreman was the only member of the office staff to enter the workshop itself. 

Historically, it was mainly men who worked in workshops – the secretary was often the only woman. With the conscription of men to fight in the First World War (1914–1918), women became increasingly common in industry. 

Industrial history at Skansen

The first structures moved to Skansen were rural buildings. The Old Town Quarter was built in the 1930s, showcasing homes and crafts from the city. However, industrial history was not yet represented. In 1979, Skansen was offered the opportunity to buy the interior fittings – including all the tools and machines – from Einar Julius Åberg’s engineering works at Kindstugatan 11 in Stockholm’s old town.

Skansen then had a workshop, but no premises. After careful consideration, it was decided that the best solution would be to erect a new building at Skansen based on historical models. The Engineering Works was modelled on AB Pythagoras’ workshop in Norrtälje, and the construction of the building was paid for by the Metal Industry Workers’ Union. 

Architecture from England 

The Engineering Workshop is a single-storey brick building, built using handmade bricks to give as faithful a contemporary look as possible.

The sawtooth roof is typical of industrial buildings, providing good daylight throughout the premises. This type of workshop with its unique roof was originally developed in England, and was introduced to Sweden in the 1830s. With the advent of electricity, the sawtooth roof lost its significance.