LVR-Industriemuseum Solingen – Gesenkschmiede Hendrichs

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The brothers Peter and Friedrich Wilhelm Hendrichs, both trained scissors grinders, founded a drop forge in Solingen-Merscheid in 1886 that formed scissor blanks by machine under drop hammers. The blanks were then hardened, ground and assembled by home workers in small workshops in the region. The company grew into one of the largest businesses of its kind in Solingen, with 33 hammers; in 1896 the manufacturer family's villa was built on the grounds.

After World War II the workforce shrank sharply, and after economic crises production ended in 1986 – exactly one hundred years after its founding. The Landschaftsverband Rheinland took over the factory, villa and complete inventory together with the remaining employees and, with funds from the LVR and the state, converted the listed ensemble into a museum. The official opening as the Solingen site of the LVR-Industriemuseum followed in March 1999.

Preserved are the splitting shop, forge hall, tailoring shop, toolmaking shop, die cellar, changing and washing room, and the counting house. During ongoing demonstrations, scissor blanks are still produced today; integrated home workers' workshops show further processing. In the manufacturer's villa, the family's living rooms can be seen, and for some years now also the playful exhibition "Spielräume Demokratie" (Playgrounds of Democracy). The museum is an anchor point of the European Route of Industrial Heritage and the starting point of a network of small industrial heritage stations in Solingen, such as the Wipperkotten.

Highlights

• Demonstrations on historic drop hammers and presses throughout opening hours
• Fully preserved factory with toolmaking shop, die cellar and washroom
• Large cutlery collection, including a tiny pair of scissors and the stork scissors
• Manufacturer's villa from 1896 with living rooms and "Spielräume Demokratie"
• Sharpening and repair service for knives and scissors you bring along
• Annual MesserGabelScherenMarkt (knife, fork and scissors market) in the fall

Permanent exhibitions

• Vom glühenden Stahl zur Schere – Tour through the completely preserved drop forge with machine demonstrations, home workers' workshops and a large collection of Solingen cutlery. The neighboring villa shows how the manufacturer family lived.
• Spielräume Demokratie – On the upper floor of the manufacturer's villa, mainly young people explore in four rooms with a digital game, escape game, discussion game and board game how participation and compromise work.

Founded

1999

Operated by

Landschaftsverband Rheinland (LVR-Industriemuseum)

Director

Nicole Scheda (Museumsleitung)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission for everyone every first Friday of the month (not for events and bookable programs)

The €8 applies as a combination ticket for the permanent and special exhibitions; according to the exhibition page, admission without a running special exhibition costs €7. Free admission including for refugees, LVR benefit recipients including a companion, and members of ICOM and the Deutscher Museumsbund. Events such as the MesserGabelScherenMarkt have their own prices. Payment by cash, Girocard or credit card.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

Certified under "Reisen für Alle". Factory and exhibition areas accessible without steps or by elevator (cabin 110 × 152 cm); the exhibition in the Villa Hendrichs is not accessible. Loan wheelchair and rollator available. Accessible restroom on the outdoor grounds. No tactile guidance system, no induction loop. Free audio guide in German, English and Easy Language; tactile tours and tours with sign language interpretation (cost covered by the LVR, registration four weeks in advance) through Kulturinfo Rheinland.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

According to the museum, expressly family-friendly: children's tours, regular family Sundays, hands-on forge and metal workshops, creative workshops during the holidays, a children's museum festival in spring, and play activities at the end of the summer holidays. Outdoor grounds with meadows and a playground for picnicking. Children's birthday parties from age 8, e.g., building your own pair of scissors or pocketknife.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Lounge in the foyer with hot drinks; restaurant Villa Zefyros (Greek cuisine) in the manufacturer's villa with a garden. Picnics allowed on the outdoor grounds. Museum shop with Solingen cutlery in the forge hall from 1915. Dogs other than assistance dogs not allowed.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 150 guests.

Former key storage room (approx. 100 m²) for conferences, workshops, receptions and celebrations: 54 seats at tables, 100 in rows, 120 at standing tables, 150 without seating. Tours for guests possible during opening hours.

Plan your visit