Thread: Thuringen Question

Does anyone know the specific locations of the mines or quarries that furnished the trade with Thuringen Hones? Specifically, I'd like to know where these mines were in relation to Lauenstein, Meiningen and if stones from Lauenstein were ever retailed under the Genuine Thuringen Water Hone for Razors trademark, or if they were something else?

Regards,
Alex

THey came from Sonnenberg, Thueringen.

Some were labelled specifically as razor hones, especially the Eschers and Droeschers of course.
Some just as hones for fine instruments.

I see that Lauenstein is 367km from Sonnenberg by road. I've not seen a great deal about Lauenstein hones in the literature, but one reference I have says that it should be considered as part of the Thuringen region and that Lauenstein was one of the best known locations supplying hones. So, is anyone familiar with this particular locality?

Regards,
Alex

It could of course be something comparable to the Regensburg thing. But there is a better explanation.

Just as there are more Sonne(n)bergs, there is more than one Lauenstein. The one you mention is part of the city of Salzhemmendorf in Lower Saxony, then there is Lauenstein part of Geising south of Dresden near the Czech border in Saxony, and there is Burg Lauenstein now part of Ludwigsstadt, Bavaria. This last one is only 25 km or so away from Sonneberg, Thuringia.

Incidentally, this Lauenstein is in the Frankenwald - just were 0livia gets her Frankonian hones...

You can blame The AA EU route planner, they only show the one Lauenstein. Would you happen to know anything about the location of hone mines/ quarries in that particular area?

Kindest regards,
Alex

No more than is already said elsewhere on these premises or in the quoted books - and certainly no more than you must know about them (Reminds me: what can we do to have you write a book on European or even just British hones?)


0livia or her brother may have interesting additional information though.

Originally Posted by Oldengaerde

No more than is already said elsewhere on these premises or in the quoted books - and certainly no more than you must know about them (Reminds me: what can we do to have you write a book on European or even just British hones?)


0livia or her brother may have interesting additional information though.

I was playing around with the idea of writing up some of what I found, but the major problem is I have very few of the rarer hones to play around with and therefore couldn't offer any personal insights into their use. Also, the research itself is very frustrating, the more I find out the more I have to add to my ever-increasing list of hones that I want. In the past all I was concerned with were Coticules and Thuringens, now I know the names of dozens of mines in Belgium and Germany, and it doesn't stop there, the US has some very desirable hones as does the UK, but no one knows where to find them anymore. On the plus side, I may have a decent lead on a Transylvanian stone, there has to be a certain cool-factor to that.

Kindest regards,
Alex