This article is a presentation of the history of a smithy, located in the village of Porszewice, in Pabianicki County, Łódzkie Voivodeship. The forge was established at the beginning of the 20th century and worked almost uninterruptedly until 2012 when it was purchased by the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography in Łódź. Throughout its existence, the forge was connected with the activities of the Górniak family, who had a tradition of blacksmithing for over a century. Currently, the forge is open to the public at the Łęczycka Zagroda Chłopska open-air museum in Kwiatkówek, which is part of the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography in Łódź.
A traditional rustic forging has already made history. In the past, during the interwar period and even in the 60's of the XXth century, rural forge used to be inherent almost in each country. In the smithy horses were shoed, tools and various objects were produced, carts were built, agricultural horse -drawn carriages were repaired and overhauled. A special position in the rural society was held by a smith, who enjoyed the respect of people's entourage, especially as far as his manual skills were concemed. The farrier used to improve on various utensils, and sometimes even constructed sef - invented devices -what important, the blacksmith's craft had usually drawn an attention of the technically skilled rural youth. In this article I am presenting the issues connected with blacksmith's craft apprenticeship concentrating on law regulations it depended on, practical and theoretical job learning, and servants' and masterly examinations. I also showed the moral sphere and tradition included in the model of educating students to the craft. Blacksmith's craft apprenticeship in the pre -war period took place under control of the master in the forge, and in the additional school. A great attention was also paid to the practical job and tradition learning that was to make students perceive their work to be the value it self. The pupil could not drink the alcohol, smoke the cigarettes, or take part in any amusements. The craftsman was instructed in conducting self- dependent job activity that brought about craft and initiative development. In the period after 1945, in communistic times the system was changed. The new authorities were drifting towards educating the workpeople, and not the craftsmen able to run self- dependent economic activity. In the educational sense -through the law regulations and other steps that were taken -both educational significance of the masters and relations between master and pupil were impaired. Education was often practised in the state institutions. The main result of these changes was an expanding moral and work discipline decline among the pupils deprived of the authorities.