Here's my synopsis of the German version:

The early guilds were trade associations and akin to the trade unions. It all began in the home with a father/master-gunsmith – son/apprentice relationship that also included non-family members who were taken into the fold, lived under the same roof as well as put their feet under the dinner table and was treated as a family member. Lads began the apprentice program around 12 to 14 years of age and paid a fee at each interval.

After the 3 year apprentice time, Lehrling( http://translate.google.com/translate?hl...l%3Den%26sa%3DG ) , and passing the Geselle( http://translate.google.com/translate?hl...l%3Den%26sa%3DG ) ) Journeyman exam/test and making an example of a weapon displaying his capability, he was elevated to the rank of Geselle/Journeyman and his Geselle sheep’s skin was called a Lehrbrief( http://www.dict.cc/german-english/Lehrbrief.html ), which not only described his abilities but also included directions for being a success in life as well as how to conduct oneself. The apprentice program was an attempt at a well rounded education, probably a more practical version than the one a University attempts to press upon you, with an a concentration in social conduct/matters and possibly an emphasis in religion. As a Geselle, he now began his 7 year walkabout where he wandered from master-gunsmith to master-gunsmith learning the subtleties of his trade. I’m just reading this in, but in 7 years one should be able to visit most cities in German and here the Geselle could learn the intricacies of each gunmaker. This is how the transfer of technology was achieved and the knowledge of each individual master was propagated thru the Geselle, which could reach master status with an example of his masterpiece, a statute amount of funds and pay for the spread/banquet for the guild. This probably the incorrect origin of a "Guild Gun". But Journeymen on their travels could stay at the local Herberge - gunmaker's verions of http://translate.google.com/translate?hl...l%3Den%26sa%3DG , an inn where if there wasn't any work he would be given some funds and direction to a contractor in another town that did have work. Guilds were an intergral part of society.


Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Last edited by ellenbr; 04/04/09 10:37 PM.