The end of the Guilds. The 19th century
The atmosphere of this room is enlivened by the sound of a 19th-century workshop, dominated by the machinery of the Zamacola factory. Here we are taught the significance of the workshops, the very essence of the industrial sector in Eibar, and the peculiarities of the commercial ties that linked them.
The display in this room covers the initial industrial phase and pioneer companies, and explains the rise of private initiative thanks to the expertise gained while serving the Royal Arms Factories. From the Ibarzabal workshop to the immense Orbea factory, all the most relevant companies of the century are present here. Revolvers, rifles and a most peculiar exhibit, the walking stick shotgun, give an idea of the strength of the arms sector in Eibar, without overlooking other activities such as foundries or the manufacture of machinery, etc.
Damascene work, not only as used in the decoration of arms but also as an artistic discipline in its own right, was another activity essential to our town, where work is art. The figure of Plácido Zuloaga is represented here in examples of his work and his sketches.
New productive processes highlight the significance of hydraulic power, allowing workshops to mechanise their production. Time-consuming activities such as polishing can now be done with greater ease, giving rise to the post of polisher or ?akabatzaile? (?finisher?) in a number of traditional crafts.
It is in the nineteenth century that Eibar becomes a town. The construction of the railway and the introduction of electricity, both instigated by Eibar businessmen, lead to the transformation of a town eager to embrace the next century.