Today in Hamburg, tomorrow near Berlin and the day after tomorrow in the Bavarian countryside: Cleans in mobile use, WerkzeugDoktor maintains and repairs electrical do-it-yourself devices free of charge. We looked around for you during an on-site visit.
Ten o'clock: The sun burns from the sky, Heat shimmers over the cars in the huge parking lot. Jens Michaelsen (58) drives up with his bus and trailer and stops right next to the entrance to the hardware store. "The tool doctor is coming" announces a poster. Now he's here and first of all sets up a camping table.
Jens Micha-elsen has been traveling around Germany as a tool doctor for ten years. "That's what some customers called me at first, rather jokingly, because I also work with a stethoscope”, says the grey-haired man with the oval glasses. In cooperation with retailers and hardware stores, the Hamburg company offers its manufacturer-independent mobile tool testing service – from first aid to spa treatment. Has been tested, repairs or disposes of devices and advises on application questions or purchasing decisions. He keeps an idea alive with a lot of conviction, that many are talking about today, but rarely afford them: Customer service.
When Michaelsen opens the large side flap of the trailer during assembly, is sure to draw the attention of most DIY store visitors. A small exhibition appears. It reveals the great passion of the convinced do-it-yourselfer - collecting tools. Various drills and related devices from different manufacturers and of different ages magically attract the looks of men between eight and eighty. Around noon a gaunt gentleman comes with an elderly patient, a Bosch drill. "The machine runs rough", states the tool doctor, but the two men agree, that this is an "age-appropriate" appearance. Manfred Liedtke (64) told: “This drill is 34 years old and a gift from my mother. At the time she was working for the fire brigade and her colleagues got her the thing.” The tool doctor smiles contentedly, because his passion for collecting is not just limited to the tools. “I always like to learn the life story of the devices, that I can get my hands on", said is.
Despite the increasing heat, Jens Michaelsen's energy is unbroken even as the hour progresses. He still opens cases, blows dust and dirt to all winds with compressed air, puts in new carbon brushes or shakes his head at the weakening drill chuck and brittle cable. He tirelessly asks about the CVs of the patients. His eyes light up when he sees an Impex drill for professional use. Bernd Mueller (46) wants to take part in the DIY store's anniversary competition with this device: Who presents the oldest machine, wins a brand new hammer drill.
With Rudi Raab (60) another passionate collector appears. His metabo of 1965 “built a bungalow”, he reports. The assembled men are quickly immersed in technical discussions. They just fall silent, when Jens Micha-elsen pulls out the heart of his collection – the first electric hand drill from 1895. The heavy piece by the Fein company shines in the mild light of the late afternoon and lets all admirers forget the heat and the parking lot gray around them.