One of 330,000 Berlin manhole covers Photo: Oliver Ohmann
By Oliver Ohmann
Berlin is an interesting place. You can make exciting discoveries step by step.
Even manhole covers tell a story. One plays in Kaiserslautern. In 1898, the casting and fittings works were founded there, initially specializing in liquid manure pumps and various cast parts.
With the manufacture of manhole covers, the company allegedly became as famous locally as 1. FC Kaiserslautern and Pfaff’s sewing machine factory. Although the casting and fittings works had to go bankrupt in 1996, they were integrated with their 200 employees into the ACO Group and the location was retained.
Detail of a manhole cover from Kaiserslautern Photo: Oliver Ohmann
Of course, there are also manhole covers from other manufacturers in the capital (Buderus, MeierGuss, B.Sonk), some with decorative Berlin motifs and coats of arms. Most major cities have interesting details to offer about these “resources”. Of course, this also applies to gullies and all sorts of other things that you usually overlook far too carelessly on a city tour.
I forgot: each of the 330,000 Berlin manhole covers weighs around 260 kilos on average. The oldest specimens in Berlin are over 130 years old.