Thread: Escher loved natural combos!

Hi Sebastian,
not sure if I get your question right. Of course for the trading companies, the color question was also a marketing issue. The son of the last shotfirer of the Escher company who I met years ago, told me that the yellow-green/ blue combination stone was „created“ as an answer to the double layered coticule stones, which were already well know and widely used in the 19th century. So from this point of view, clearly a marketing strategy.
On the other hand, the mining of layers and therefor colors in the thuringian whetstone quarries happened in certain steps.
I reported that somewhere in an older thread I think - there have been 3 steps in mining at the thuringian whetstone quarries.
In total, the old miners dealth with 167 layers of whetstone, who were embedded in a total of 274 layers of clay slates.



However, in the first phase of mining, only 10 layers (no. 64 to 74) have been quarried. These were mainly green layers and a few blue ones. From approx. middle oft he 19th century layers no. 75 to 121 were mined, herein a lot of yellow and yellow green layers. So the combination stones have been from this period of mining. After approx. 1920, the layers no. 123-184 have been exploited, because the older layers could not be reached anymore with reasonable efforts. The useable layers from no. 123-184 were mainly of blue color.
So looking at the different phases in mining of thuringian whetstones, you can basicly say, that in the first period from 1807 to maybe middle of the 19th century, mainly green thuringians were sold, the yellow greens came up in the second phase and in the late period of mining after 1920 more blue stones have been sold.
Of course this is only to be seen as a main indication and stones of each color have been sold from the second phase of mining on.
Regards Peter

I think Hatzicho is the only member here who has more thanks than posts.

Keep up the good work Peter!

15 X 3 X 1,6 CM

The interesting thing is that the darker layer was not finished, with saw marks...

20x4.5x2

Just so I completely understand, does it matter what colour they are or are the different colours different hones (better finishers etc).

Originally Posted by STF

Just so I completely understand, does it matter what colour they are or are the different colours different hones (better finishers etc).

Search for Escher Barbers Delight in the ..er.. search box and you'll find a plethora of info on which is best.
Though if you want the short story; general consensus is the green/yellow is the creme de la creme.
I have a green Escher and it performs admirably.