Turk - The original

Tradition

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Innovation

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It is now managed by the fifth generation by Mr. Hans Peter Turk and, together with his employees, produces around 1,000 articles, most of which belong to the consumer goods sector.

1857

The beginning of the hammer work (postcard view)

In 1857, the trained blacksmith Karl Dietrich Turck set up a hammer mill in his father-in-law's mill. Shovels and pans were manufactured on the large Breitehammer, which were soon known beyond the immediate home district - a range of products that is still one of the most successful product areas today in numerous variants.

1910

The workforce around 1910

By 1910, the workforce had already grown, at harvest time, the workers moved out into the field and during the rest of the year they worked in the hammer mill. The workers stayed in the company over the week, but there were so-called “hammer combers”. These were living and sleeping places for workers who only went home on weekends. These were demolished as part of the expansion of operations around 1910. On this photo, you can see the son of the company founder, Albert Turk, on the left (wearing a vest and pipe) and, second from the right, his son Karl Albert Turk.

the first decades of the century

How it went on

As a result of an enlargement of the hammer mill, the water power was no longer sufficient and a locomotive was purchased to secure the power supply. As a result, the supply of production electricity was ensured and dependency on water was reduced. In months with little water, electricity was now available, electricity was priced in for the neighborhood and Mühlhofe shone with electric light early on. Albert Turk, the son of the company founder, died in 1913; his wife continued to run the company in the third generation with their two sons Albert and Wilhelm. Although the production changes due to the war severely affected further developments, they succeeded in expanding the company and expanding production in the following years. At the end of the war, the water wheels were replaced by turbines, making the old tail hammer superfluous. Although these years were difficult, the solidly managed company survived the post-war period and came through the years of inflation unscathed.

1928

Frankfurt Exhibition Center 1928

Albert Turk Mühlhofe was already exhibiting at the fair in Frankfurt in 1928. Here is the grandfather of the current managing director in front of the extensive range of products that were presented at the first trade fair appearance. The quality of the products was convincing and was also recognized abroad. This led to a strong upturn in export business.

up to 1945

the 2nd World War

The Second World War initially led to stagnation and, for a number of articles, to a decline in production.

After the war

And on we go

After the Second World War, as everywhere else, Turk had to make a new start. It was a successful restart that offered room for confidence and optimism. Production of household and fire equipment as well as foundry tools was resumed and production soon surpassed pre-war levels.

Economic miracle

Economic miracle period

Karl Albert Turk in front of the office with an attached hardware store that his wife ran. Foundry tongs of various sizes lean on your own truck. Typical economic miracle photo! At this time, his son, also Karl Albert, was already in the business.

1953

The big fire

On 24.06.1953, the company burned down completely; the offices, the hardware store and the adjacent residential building were also affected. But, it went on! In 1955, the son Karl Albert Turk, thus the 4th generation, was accepted as shareholders.

1957

1857 - 1957 One hundred years of Albert Turk

Under the motto “What you inherit from your fathers - acquire it in order to own it.” (Goethe, Faust), the 100th anniversary took place.

1957 to 2007

the next 50 years

In the years 1957 to 2007, major changes took place in the stamping plant sector as part of modernization and automation in order to be able to continue producing high-quality products, adapted to the changing needs of the market. This was a focus of Hans Peter Turk's training, who joined the company as a mechanical engineer in 1986. The 5th generation thus prepared the leap into the next century or millennium. At Hammerwerk, everything remained the same as in the founding years, in the stamping plant kept up to date technologically and focused on progress.

todays

More than 160 years after the Hammerwerk was founded, we are now in the 6th generation with Karolin Turk. We have remained loyal to our location and are still manufacturing in Sauerland with the dedication of our employees, without whom none of this would have been possible. With forged foundry tools, we are among the world market leaders, deliver from the heart of NRW from Japan to Ecuador and have always remained true to our principles. Turk stands for tradition - innovation - motivation, and it should stay that way...

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