A Herman Ottó Múzeum Évkönyve 44. (2005)

Spóner Péter: A kerékgyártó-mesterség múltja Északkelet-Magyarország történelmi vármegyéiben a céhkorszak végéig (Abaúj, Zemplén, Borsod vármegye)

counties) was founded in Kassa (Kosice, Slovakia) in 1459. The Germán craftsmen established their guild together with turners and woodworkers. Interestingly enough, the wheelwrights' guild in Kassa remained the single one in the region, evén though contemporary documents and tax registers clearly show that representatives of this craft could be found on almost all larger settlements. The price lists from the 17th ccntury record the most important products of this craft. With the exception of Kassa, however, this craft was practiced as a home craft, chiefly owing to the unlimited and cheap availability of the raw matériái necessary for wheel-making. The number of wheelwright guilds grew substantially during the 18th century in this region; the perhaps most significant among them was the guild founded in Miskolc in 1799, established together with smiths. This guild, however, soon split and the region's second independcnt wheelwright guild was established in 1818. The craftsmen of Miskolc caught up with the craftsmen of Kassa as regards both their number and their high craftsmanship. The latter is reflected in the contemporary price-lists. The craftsmen not affiliated with guilds poscd serious competition to guilded craftsmen from the mid-18th century. The guild as an organisational form could no longer meet the demands of the age, and a crisis can be noted from the early 19th century. The wheelwright's craft began to decline not only in this region, but alsó throughout the country. In 1872, guilds were disbanded by the state and had to reorganise themselves as coiporations. The wheelwright's craft survivcd in rural areas in the 20th century and after World War 2, it remained a craft practiced on the home craft levél. Péter Spóner lll