Myklebust since 1915
Over a hundred years ago, Oskar Myklebust established a forge in Myklebustosen in Sande. The fire was lit. Since then, forging and welding, hammering, beating and building have taken place in this forge, which gradually grew into a shipyard.
Text: Torill Myren, from the book 'Bit for bit - båt for båt', 2015 (‘Bit by bit - boat by boat').
The sound of Oskar’s hammer lured the boys to come and see. The fire blazed in the forge. The iron glowed red, and with each strike, something grew. Oskar Sigvald Myklebust was born on July 11, 1890. He was the eldest son of Johan, a carpenter and builder, and the grandson of Ola, also a builder. Oskar inherited the trade from his father and grandfather. After six months of blacksmith training and work in workshops in Volda and Romsdalen, he started his own business in the cellar at home. But the cellar soon became too small. There was not enough room for long swings of the arms.
In 1915, the forge in Myklebustosen was completed. Six times eighteen metres provided space for two departments: a forge and a workshop. Open boats were replaced by decked boats. Sails were put away, and boats got engines. The boats became larger and heavier, and repair work that had previously taken place in every home fjord and cove now had to be done on the slipway and dock. The forge in Myklebustosen became a shipyard and an outfitting yard. In the financial times that followed the First World War, fishermen built themselves decked boats, and many of these were towed to Myklebust for engine installation. The boat builders delivered bare hulls, and at Oskar’s, the hulls were fitted with rigging and tackle, grate iron, and iron fittings on rudders and masts. Winches, herring net rollers and other fishing equipment were also installed. The boats were delivered by Oskar, ready for operation.
In the same year the forge was completed, 1915, Oskar became a father. Erling came into the world. When Erling had acquired the skills, he started working in the forge. He was 15-16 years old and has said that he didn’t do much work.
- What I mostly helped with was setting the slips and using the hammer when my father worked in the forge. He held the flowing iron on the anvil, and I struck. That’s what I learned first.
If you want to hear more of the story – or talk about the future, contact us for a chat on the quayside.