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From War to Industry

You can learn about Fiskars Ironworks from The Second World War to 1970’s by reading the articles here or by visiting the renewed exhibition The Widow and The Bachelor situated in Slaggbyggnaden.

Slaggbyggnaden was built in 1842 as a canteen for workers in the surrounding forges. Later the building was also used for housing. Usually three families lived downstairs and the upstairs attic was occupied by singles. From 1970 onwards the building stood empty for about ten years.

The Widows at Fiskars Ironworks

Hard-working and skilled smiths could receive a reward from a fund which was started by the decision of the 1828 district court.

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Fiskars during World War II

During the war years, 1939-1945, private factories such as Fiskars, were under government supervision. Products manufactured at the factories were needed for the war.

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Logging Industry in Fiskars

Fiskars owned vast areas of land, 25,000-30,000 hectares in the 19th century. Forests were important sources for coal production, and coal was vital for the functioning of the ironworks.

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The Fiskars Mill

It is known that Fiskars already had a mill before the ironworks was founded in 1649. The current mill was built in 1898.

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“I don’t want Cow’s milk I want Fiskars’ milk”

Johan Jacob von Julin, the owner of the ironworks, was a pioneer in Finnish farming at the beginning of the 19th century.

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Fiskars Värdshus and the Shop

Even though trading in the beginning of the 19th century was still restricted to cities with trading rights, such as Tammisaari, the owner of Fiskars ironworks,

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The Winds of Change in the 1960s and 70s

By the 1960’s, plastic had become a common material in everyday life. From the beginning to the middle of the 1960’s, Fiskars invested in plastic industry.

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