Seilerei Kislig

Seilerei Kislig is a historic rope-making workshop (Seilerei) based in Winterthur, Switzerland. Founded in 1878, it is considered the oldest and most traditional craft business of its kind in the city and the last remaining ropewalk in Switzerland. The workshop building at Breitestrasse 18 is a protected heritage object in the city's inventory of listed buildings. The low, wooden, shed-like structure is approximately 100 meters long and 4 meters wide, and has been used for over 140 years to produce ropes, cords, and hawsers. The building retains its original condition, including antique display boards, advertising posters, and a portrait of General Guisan on the wooden wall. Many of the machines date back to the company's early days and are over a hundred years old; some are vintage machines from competitors that were retired but found new use in the specialty workshop. The company was founded in 1878 and remained in the ownership of the Kislig family for 80 years. In 2002, when the business changed hands, the name was retained as a trademark. The current owner, a trained carpenter and construction foreman, first visited the ropewalk to obtain a special rope for his then-employer. Fascinated by the craft, he completed a three-year apprenticeship under the then-owner, rope master Albert Kislig. After successfully completing his apprenticeship, the 80-year-old rope master handed the business over to his former apprentice. The product range of this small enterprise spans everyday ropes and hawsers to custom-made specialty ropes such as roller-blind cords, magic ropes, cotton ropes, hay nets, extension cables, rope coat racks, clock drive cords, fuses, jump ropes, trapezes, vertical ropes, and crossbow strings. Products are sold on-site and can also be ordered online. Materials include natural fibers (hemp, jute, coconut, sisal, manila, flax, and cotton), synthetic fibers (polyamide, polyester, polypropylene, and acrylic), high-tech fibers (aramid, Dyneema), and wire. Customers include private individuals, artists, theaters, agriculture, forestry, construction, circus, playground builders, watchmakers, animal lovers, bondage artists, and scouts. The workshop regularly organizes guided tours with aperitifs for company events, club outings, and other occasions, offering visitors insights into the old craft.

The Seilerei Kislig was founded in 1878 in Winterthur, Switzerland. For its first 80 years, it was owned by the Kislig family. The ropewalk building at Breitestrasse 18 is a low, wooden, shed-like structure approximately 100 meters long and 4 meters wide, built specifically for rope making. Its form and size are determined by its purpose, and it has been used for over 140 years to produce ropes, cords, and hawsers. The building is listed in the city's inventory of protected objects, and its interior remains largely in its original condition, including antique display boards, advertising posters, and a portrait of General Guisan on the wooden wall. Many of the machines date back to the company's early days and are over a hundred years old; some are vintage machines from competitors that were retired but found new use in the specialty workshop. In 2002, the business changed hands. The name "Kislig" was retained as a trademark. The current owner, a trained carpenter and construction foreman, first became aware of the ropewalk when he needed a special rope for his then-employer and visited the ropewalk of Albert Kislig. He was so fascinated by the craft that he completed a three-year apprenticeship under Rope Master Kislig. After successfully completing his apprenticeship, the 80-year-old rope master handed the business over to his former apprentice. Under the new ownership, the company has continued to produce ropes using traditional methods while also embracing modern products and online sales. The product range includes everyday ropes and hawsers as well as custom-made specialty ropes such as roller-blind cords, magic ropes, cotton ropes, hay nets, extension cables, rope coat racks, clock drive cords, fuses, jump ropes, trapezes, vertical ropes, and crossbow strings. Materials include natural fibers (hemp, jute, coconut, sisal, manila, flax, and cotton), synthetic fibers (polyamide, polyester, polypropylene, and acrylic), high-tech fibers (aramid, Dyneema), and wire. Customers include private individuals, artists, theaters, agriculture, forestry, construction, circus, playground builders, watchmakers, animal lovers, bondage artists, and scouts. The workshop regularly organizes guided tours with aperitifs for company events, club outings, and other occasions, offering visitors insights into the old craft.

• 2002

  Ownership change; name retained as trademark. Current owner, a former apprentice, takes over from Albert Kislig.

• 1878

  Seilerei Kislig founded in Winterthur, Switzerland.

Traditional craftsmanship, heritage, and custom specialty ropes; the last remaining ropewalk in Switzerland.

• Everyday ropes and hawsers

  Standard ropes for general use.

• Specialty ropes

  Custom-made ropes including roller-blind cords, magic ropes, cotton ropes, hay nets, extension cables, rope coat racks, clock drive cords, fuses, jump ropes, trapezes, vertical ropes, and crossbow strings.

1. 1Seilerei Kislig official websiteseile.ch
2. 2Seilerei Kislig - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Seilerei Kieslig - Wikidatawikidata.org