Research

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.

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

ID-DOC: glossaryThis text can only be consulted in Dutch.

The start In 2007 the MOT received a donation from what could be the last pumpmaker in Flanders, Oscar De Wagter from Hansbeke near Nevele. This man not only donated his tools, he also explained how to drill a wooden pump. His story was the start of our pump drilling project.

Making the pump fixtures After drilling the trunk, the pump borer has to finish the pump mechanism. This involves both turning and forging the pump fixtures. The proof of the pudding is the mounting of the pump crank.

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.

ID-DOC: general search

Newsletters archive Find recent electronic newsletters of the MOT in pdf format (only Dutch-speaking). They offer you an information update on the Museum and its activities as well as interesting background information on all sorts of technical subjects.