As of: February 8, 2024, 10:29 a.m
By: Peter Kees
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Albert Wiedermann (77): Passionate bookbinder.
Now it is going out of business - due to lack of demand.
© PETER KEES
His workshop is an institution.
The Zornedinger handbook binder Albert Wiedemann (77) bound theses and many other works for 63 years.
Now he stops.
Munich/Zorneding – Albert Wiedemann has lived in Zorneding since 1973.
And since 1987 he has been running a handbook binding shop on Amalienstrasse in Munich-Schwabing, directly behind the Ludwig Maximilians University, one of the last typical Munich back-yard craft businesses.
A family business.
At the end of March he closes his workshop.
The Gögginger native spent a large part of his childhood here, as his father opened the bookbinding business in 1951 in his brother's printing shop in the neighboring yard.
In 1956 she moved into the current premises.
Wiedemann follows in his father's footsteps.
He completed an apprenticeship as a bookbinder and worked in his father's business from 1965.
In addition to the manual binding business, an industrial bookbinding business is now also operated.
Everything on Amalienstrasse.
In 1979 the two companies were separated.
His brother takes over the industrial production and moves to another location - also because the noise pollution from the large machines always causes problems with the residents.
63 years of work with love and passion
Albert Wiedemann takes over the handbook binding.
She stays in the Schwabinger backyard.
His customers include lawyers, tax consultants, academics and students.
He binds specialist magazines, makes bindings, labels them, repairs damaged ones, works with paper, parchment and leather, makes sketch pads, writing pads and books, drawing folders and a lot more.
The man does this with love and passion.
It is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
After the store closes, he completes any work that was left behind.
55 to 60 hours of weekly working time.
In addition, there is the daily journey to and from Zorneding.
The workshop has been an institution in Munich for decades
In Munich he is an institution.
Students have their theses bound here or buy writing materials.
You won't get rich from it, he emphasizes.
“But the whole thing works because the rent is moderate.
We set everything up ourselves, the windows, the doors, the floor, even the paving of the yard in front of the shop door.”
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Now the bookbinder stops.
But not just because the now 77-year-old has actually been retired for twelve years, but because the business has now become unprofitable.
In the last ten years, revenue has fallen by around 80 percent.
This is because craftsmanship is no longer as popular as it once was due to many things being moved online.
For example, specialist magazines that once had to be bound can now be found online and no longer in print.
“In addition, paper prices have increased by up to 200 percent in the last two to three years.” Wiedemann calculates: He would actually have to pay about 49 euros for a hand-bound photo album made of good paper, for which he charges 49 euros Charge 135 euros plus VAT.
“People don’t buy that,” he says.
“They just shake their heads.
For certain papers, however, a sheet now costs over one euro.
Ten years ago the price was a quarter.
You can’t keep up with that anymore.”
The profession is gradually dying out
A dying profession?
Albert Wiedemann nods.
“The job of manual binder will disappear.
Maybe a few exotic ones will stay.” Years ago it was clear to him that he would advise his three children not to continue running the business.
“It's an exotic job that requires a lot of idealism.
If you want to work little and earn a lot of money, you should avoid this profession.
This no longer has a future for young people.” And adds: “also because a book doesn’t have the same value as a car.” He reaches for his sample bindings and proudly shows the university theses he bound for one of his sons.
How does the man who is always found in a blue coat retire?
With a crying or laughing eye?
“I loved my job.
But I also want to be a free person someday,” he says.
“And I’m looking forward to my new freedom.” Now is the right time to stop, because “after 63 years, you’re almost ending your life in here.” With the end of the manual binding workshop on Amalienstrasse, an era is coming to an end, that of the backyard workshop and that of manual binding.
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