Traditionelle Holzmanufaktur Schmidt OHG

Passau

About the company

Established in 1932 by Johannes Schmidt as a small carpentry shop in rural Bavaria, the business survived difficult years during WWII by focusing on essential repairs and small commissions. The founder's grandchildren, twins Michael and Maria Schmidt, now run the business as an OHG (general partnership), having taken over from their father in 1998. While they've modernized certain aspects, they maintain many traditional techniques and have deliberately kept the operation small to preserve quality and craftsmanship.

Values

Our family business values traditional craftsmanship passed through generations. We believe furniture should last centuries, not years, and we create pieces in this spirit. Environmental responsibility is important - we source from local sustainable forestry. Regarding safety, we maintain a somewhat old-school approach. While we require basic protective equipment, we believe developing proper respect for tools through experience is more effective than relying solely on safety devices. This philosophy has led to occasional minor injuries over the years, but we consider this part of the learning process for becoming a true craftsman.

Workshop

The Schmidt workshop occupies a 300-year-old converted barn with thick stone walls and exposed wooden beams. The ground floor houses the main workshop area with traditional workbenches arranged around the perimeter, each belonging to a specific craftsperson. A modest collection of machinery occupies the center of the space, though hand tools are prominently used. The upper floor serves as lumber storage, with various hardwoods slowly acclimating to the workshop environment. A small finishing room is separated from the main area to control dust, though the workshop's dust collection system is older and less efficient than modern standards would recommend. The space has a distinct character, with decades of wood shavings having polished the stone floor smooth in high-traffic areas.

Services

Heritage furniture reproduction
Custom cabinetry
Traditional German furniture styles
Wood carving and ornamental work
Church furniture restoration

Specifics

Buying behavior

We prefer to use tools that have proven themselves over decades. When something new comes in, we test it thoroughly before committing. I still use my grandfather's hand planes for detail work - they simply don't make them like that anymore. But we're not stubborn, if a new tool does the job better, we'll invest.

Tool brands

Bosch Professional, Felder, Dictum, Narex, Ulmia