More about Dastra’s history:
A slideshow tour of the original Dastra workshop in Wuppertal-Ronsdorf, Germany (active from 1835-2019, but no longer in existence).
Another tour of the former Dastra workshop from 2005, with interview in German by a local TV station. Herr Schmidt (the first to be interviewed) was the 4th generation of his family to manage the business. He says that his relationship with the neighbors is fine, despite the sounds of the machinery. Passing tourists are often curious about the shop and want to come in and photograph it, and he mentions that they once mistook the sounds of the equipment for the squealing of pigs! When the reporter observes that the shop hasn’t changed much in 170 years, Schmidt replies that it was perfect then, and is still perfect.
If you need some advice on sharpening your new carving tools, take a look at this video by carving teacher Mary May on sharpening a gouge.