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Malta karozzini


Malta karozzini
Photo Information
Copyright: Lucio Red (Redrubin) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 797 W: 73 N: 2098] (12212)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07-25
Categories: Transportation
Exposure: f/8, 1/4000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Messing with my mind! [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-07-30 1:50
Viewed: 378
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
From the boat with my 300 mm looking ...karozzini

Karozzini
The horse-drawn cab sector is controlled through the issue of permits by the Malta Transport Authority. Measures are being taken to re-organise this sector and to ensure the better safety of both cab drivers and passengers, following the transfer of responsibility for permit issues from the Police to the Authority.

The karozzin used to be the most common means of transport before the advent of motorised vehicles. It has now become an aspect of Malta's cultural heritage and is used by tourists for leisure rides

It was not that long ago when horse-drawn cabs, locally known as karozzini, were today's equivalent of taxis. Today karozzini, an integral part of Maltese folklore, are still on the streets, sometimes much to the exasperation of hurried drivers who get caught behind one hoofing gently on some narrow road where it is impossible to overtake.

But their role has changed. They are no longer a mode of transport as such, but are more used for fun rides, taking tourists to see popular areas around Valletta, Sliema and Mdina.

There are around 60 karozzini in all on Maltese roads, most of which are at least 80 years old, some much older. The man who is keeping them on the road is Saviour Friggieri, of Hamrun, who followed his grandfather's and father's footsteps. Saviour's ancestors were among the prime makers of karozzini, as well as horse-drawn carts.

The karozzin-making industry has collapsed, having been dealt a near mortal blow by progress when cars hit the roads. But the ones that survive are still maintained in top condition and Saviour is one, or rather the one, of a dying breed who still maintains them. What will happen when he retires in a year or two, no one knows.

"My sons are not interested in doing what I am doing -repairing them. One works with a cab but none want to be bogged in this workshqp," he says.

He is 59 and says he is "getting tired" of it now. He has been in the same workshop, used by his ancestors off the busy main road in Hamrun, since he was four-and-a-half. The workshop was his playground then, and he grew up among pieces of wood destined to become wheels, and his ears got accustomed to the sound of hammer hitting red-hot iron bars on all anvil at a very young age.

"You have to be a blacksmith and a carpenter to be able to make or repair karozzini. I leave the paintwork and upholstery work to others; making wheels and lining them with steel and fixing shafts and broken springs is tough enough," he says, while hammering a red-hot iron ring around a wheel he is constructing.
When the job is done, he straightens himself up and explains why the ring around the wheel has to be hammered while it is still glowing.
"When the steel is hot, it expands and only shrinks when cold. Thus you have to insert the tight-fitting ring when it is hot so that it shrinks and becomes one with the wood. Otherwise it would become loose in no time," he says.

The wheels of karozzini resemble those of the old horse-drawn carts, but are more elegant, being somewhat slimmer. But they are made in the same manner. Hard and lasting ash wood is used for the spokes and the hub in which they fit, locally called buttun, is carefully worked on a lathe.

Spokes are then inserted in it and join it to the outer circle around which the steel rim is finally fitted. To ensure that the rim stays in place, this is screwed to the wooden part. With so few karozzini around, one would not expect Saviour to be so busy. Karozzini suffer a lot of damage on the roads. Sleeping policemen and ramps introduced lately have increased the stress on the moving parts. The steering part and springs really suffer a lot of damage," he says. The design of the karozzin is rather simple. A metal frame with wheels designed to be pulled by a horse supports a cabin for two to four passengers. But the apparently simple design has a lot of complexities.

The metal frame used to be made from bars of steel that were heated, drawn, twisted, hammered and filed into the desired shapes. Springs and shafts used to be imported and meticulously assembled so that everything fitted well, without any play, as this led to faults developing much faster. Wheels had to be designed according to the size of the prospective cab and everything had to be of the right shape and size.
"I have a karozzin that was made by my father and still use it on Sundays. It used to take him months to make one and even longer to make his own because other people's jobs were always given priority," says Saviour. "Karozzini are more appreciated by tourists, who would want to take a ride and snap photos with them in the background. Sometimes they are hired to be used in weddings and by students when they graduate. But they don't make our life an easy one. Traffic is becoming increasingly chaotic and the joy of a karozzin ride is pacing slowly so that passengers have time to look around. We have a right to be on the road just as cars do because we are regulated and have a licence issued annually by the Transport Authority. So some drivers should be more patient.

"Even we have a lot of waiting time, and unlike drivers who sit comfortably in their car, we have to wait come rain, wind or sunshine before customers hire us. You have to keep your karozzin prim and proper and you also have to take care of the horse. We have more than a family to feed from our job!" A ride on a karozzin should not cost an arm and a leg and karozzin drivers are usually very friendly. There is no harm in asking what it would cost you before you take a ride though as there are no really fixed prices and routes may vary in length.
Silvio2006, szatanowska, lisapw1, MagdalenaN, jazmin, CAROL50 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To cinca: okRedrubin 1 08-06 21:20
To CAROL50: ahahhaRedrubin 2 08-04 14:24
To szatanowska: ciaoRedrubin 5 08-04 13:28
To AleksaSrbin: thanksRedrubin 1 07-31 21:39
To billy-m: hiRedrubin 2 07-31 04:25
To jazmin: thanksRedrubin 1 07-31 04:14
To MagdalenaN: 3wRedrubin 1 07-30 21:39
To Matylda76: yesRedrubin 1 07-30 21:38
To lisapw1: ciao it less n.4Redrubin 1 07-30 21:37
To Silvio2006: hiRedrubin 1 07-30 21:33
To mbrito: hiRedrubin 1 07-30 21:32
To germma: thanksRedrubin 1 07-30 21:31
To Teresat: ciaoRedrubin 1 07-30 21:31
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Redrubin!
Very interesting scene. Original composition. Very sophisticated experiment. Good effect.
Cheers!

hello Lucio
how are you friend?
its an abstract work, very fine artstic blend.
i like the way of its presentation.
nice composition and well PP work.
regards
Manuj Mehta

Bom dia dear lucio

original photo and very good work. I love it.

Have a good day my friend.

My regards
Teresat

Hi Lucio, very nice and interesting,
unusualy view, orginal image.
TFS

Igor

Hello Lucio,
Excelent POV and compo, and an original and very successful pp. The rich colour tones you've got against the b/w b/g works very elegant, strong, and makes a great grphic effect. Very beautiful work. Congrats my friend,
mb

Hai voglia ad aspettar la bionda...
Anche i carrozzini da Malta, mah
Bel lavoro in PP, immagine dal sapore dei tempi andati, bravo Lucio, ma io aspetto fino a domani...
Ciao Silvio

ciao Lucio!


good eye..interesting vehicle!
I love Malta!!

Kisses!!

Ania

ciao Lucio,

I like the very modern touch you have given this old form of transportation. Very nice contrast of time shown in one photo. I like the high contrast and the green area of the doorway! Bella! Bella!

ciao, Lisa

hello Lucio,
today different technic;
looks very good;
that carozza is very historical;
nice shot and POV;
did you ride this?
ciao Karolcia

Hi Lucio
interesting PP work and fantastic karozzini, great POV
ciao
Magda

Perfect abstract shot ,look so arty !!

good work dear TL (terrible L;))


CU
biljana

Hi, Lucio!

Interesting shot and note, excellent PP work. I like it!

jazmin

Nice and interesting work dear friend!
Bravo!
Ciao.
A.

Hello Lucio ,
I do not know how you achieved this effect( A duotone with three colors ,,, perhaps ) but i truly like this , in fact it is quite interesting , basically the scene is taken from the life on the streets of Malta with a good POV , good composition and as i mentioned a treatment with a peculiar and stunning appearance .Great PP ,
Malta is fascinating in all seasons !
Notes are long and instructive !
Carol

wonderful work!
how do you made it?
really wonderful effect
ciao s

  • Great 
  • Koala Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 424 W: 32 N: 91] (3059)
  • [2008-08-03 0:16]

This is so beautiful!
I love the way you pp this one! It looks great!


Have a nice day my dear Lucio!

Alexandra

  • Great 
  • cinca Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 388 W: 2 N: 111] (3661)
  • [2008-08-06 14:46]
  • [+]

ciao Lucio, questa mi era sfuggita! Lavoro di pp creativo, ne è uscita un'immagine ben composta ed originale.
ciao, cinzia

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