On the occasion of Keti Koti, VPRO/Het Spoor Return rebroadcast Katinka Baehr's documentary about the Surinamese inventor of the automatic shoe lasting machine: Jan Ernst Matzeliger. Jan Ernst, born into slavery on the Twijfelachtig plantation, developed this revolutionary machine that was the final step in the mechanization of the shoe manufacturing process.
With the automatic shoe lasting machine, producing shoes became much cheaper and this brought footwear within reach of people who previously could not afford shoes. Jan Ernst himself was never able to reap the benefits of his invention. He died of tuberculosis at the age of 37 and disappeared, completely unjustly, into oblivion.
The documentary also features former director of the Dutch Leather and Shoe Museum, Drs. Wim Blok. He explains the importance of the automatic shoe lasting machine and its inventor for the footwear industry. The machine is still used, albeit in a modern guise. An antique machine from the museum's collection is part of the permanent exhibition of the current museum, the Shoe Quarter in Waalwijk. Matzeliger's story is of course told in image and sound.
Worker behind the automatic shoe lasting machine designed by J.E. Matzeliger. Photo: J. de Bont, Image Bank Regional Archives Langstraat Heusden Altena, WAA8434.
Jan Ernst Matzeliger is commemorated in Paramaribo by a street sign, but even in Suriname he and his revolutionary invention are hardly known. A man of his caliber deserves at least a place in the gallery of the most important inventors in the world. I've added him to the list of inventors on Wikipedia. Please let me know if a statue is erected for him. He should definitely have one.
Katinka Baehr's documentary can be listened to as a podcast, including here.
