The history

Franco’s “The Black-smith” Memories

Born in 1926, Francesco Cremonesi, “Franco” for the old friends, is a witness of the great evolution occurred in our century agriculture.

Last descendant of a black-smith dynasty, during his youth he learnt, from his father, grandfather and uncles, how to shoe a horse, to repair agricultural equipment and the art of wrought iron with the very special technique of wedges, much more valuable of the modern welding procedure.

In that area, located 20 km Eastward from Milan, in the late 20’s, the farmers became owners of the land they use to work, as property of the local Count. So, even Cremonesi family became owner of the house and the near shop, situated in the “Black-smith courtyard”, called “Curt del ferè” in Milanese dialect.

Interesting detail : until the early 50’s the customers used to pay the Black-smith once a year, in Saint Martin day, that is in November. So every year in November they used to record the statement of account on wooden sticks that were spilt into two pieces ; one for the customer, the other for the black-smith. On one side the new horse shoes were noted, on the other side of the stick the repaired shoes were noted. On November 11^th, Saint Martin day, the final count was calculated, and payments were performed without any complains.

The first complains arrived when Franco started to do maintenance for the agricultural machineries, and ask for semester payment, as he was ask to do from the machineries dealers.

Good Heavens !

Now in Brevetti Francesco Cremonesi S.p.A. headquarter there are computers, accountants, lawyers and fiscal expertise, but Franco “the black-smith” remember with nostalgia the times gone by when, in the countryside around Milan, shaking hands after a contract was considered much more reliable than tons of printed papers.

Every time he can, Francesco closes himself in his working shop producing wrought iron, creating beds, flower places and many other art-craft, with a old technique that is the only one to know in this area.