A Sculpture on Every Corner: The Chiselled History of Radom
In 2018, a series of eye-catching outdoor sculptures were erected in the streets of the city of Radom located in central Poland. They present everyday objects such as bicycles, telephones or even… a packaged snack. Each of these sculptures has something to tell about the city it embellishes.
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Statue of Witold Gombrowicz by Sławomir Micek, Radom, photo: Piotr Polak / PAP
Radom is a sizeable city located about 80 kilometres to the south of Warsaw. In 2018, it became the site for a unique project. Throughout various places in downtown Radom, 14 bronze sculptures were erected, portraying products that were or are still being manufactured in the city. These products, realistically depicted on a 1:1 scale, include mostly everyday things such as telephones or shoes. Among them, you can even find a small container of homogenized cheese – a popular Polish snack made by a local milk processing plant. Each of the 14 sculptures is accompanied by a plaque with information about the object it portrays. This nifty series, entitled Symbole Radomia (Symbols of Radom), testifies to the industrial heritage and history of Radom.
The idea for this project came from Maciej Stępnikowski and Sebastian Pawłowski, social activists who were inspired by the famous sculptures of gnomes spread across the city of Wrocław. You can find out more about this curious phenomenon in our Wrocław: In Search of Gnomes article. In 2018, Stępnikowski told the Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper that:
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Our idea was to choose such products that were known not only in Radom, but also in all of Poland, and which were also exported to many countries around the world.
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From: radom.wyborcza.pl, trans. MK
The bronze castings of the chosen objects were made by the sculptor Sławomir Micek, hailing from Kielce. Before he worked on this project he created, among other things, the outdoor statue of the famous Polish writer Witold Gombrowicz, which stands on Radom’s Konstytucji 3 Maja Square. All the 14 sculptures showing Radom products were ready by the end of November 2018. Below you can find out more about the intriguing objects they depict.
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Sculpture of the Type XX army bike by Sławomir Micek, Radom, photo: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Internationa / Merete25
We start off with the biggest sculpture in the Symbols of Radom series, showing an army bicycle manufactured by Radom’s State Arms Factory. Known as Łucznik Type XX or Model 35, this unique vehicle went into production in 1935. Interestingly, in those times the Polish Army included bicycle units and their official means of transportation was precisely the Type XX. The military character of this bike is evidenced by its special rifle holder, reinforced frame and the fact that it came in a concealing khaki colour. Its sculpture stands on Żeromskiego Street.
Sculpture of Łucznik’s racing bike by Sławomir Micek, photo: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Internationa / Merete25 Aside from manufacturing army bicycles, the State Arms Factory also produced regular, civilian ones. About 20 different models were available and they were all offered under the Łucznik brand. These civilian bikes were immensely popular in pre-War Poland; about a 100,000 of them were sold, making the Radom factory the biggest producer of such vehicles in the country. This sculpture, located on Narutowicza Street, shows Łucznik’s racing model, which was described with the following words in a 1933 catalogue:
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A light bicycle, fit for fast riding on city streets and smooth roads.
Author
From ‘Polskie rowery PWU’, trans. MK
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Sculpture of the Vis wz. 35 pistol by Sławomir Micek, Radom, photo: Marta Dudzińska / AW
Next up, we have a sculpture of another item produced by the State Arms Factory – the Vis wz. 35 pistol. This weapon was designed by engineers Piotr Wilniewczyc as well as Jan Skrzypiński and began being manufactured in 1936. By the outbreak of World War II, about 50,000 units were made. The eight-bullet gun, which was widely used in the Polish Army, was praised for its reliability and resistance to dirt. Interestingly, it was originally named WIS after the surnames of its creators, but the military had it rebranded as Vis, which is Latin for ‘force.’ The pistol’s sculpture is located on Malczewskiego Street.
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Sculpture of the wz. 24 gas mask by Sławomir Micek, Radom, photo: Marta Dudzińska / AW
This sculpture, located on Kilińskiego Street, shows yet another object that was used by soldiers in the Polish Army. The wz. 24 gas mask was manufactured in Radom first by a company by the name of Protekta and later by the Army Manufactory of Anti-Gas Equipment. Its design was based on a French gas mask called A.R.S. 1917 and it was the first gas mask officially used by the Polish Army. Its production began in 1925 and stopped shortly after the outbreak of World War II, when the management of the Army Manufactory of Anti-Gas Equipment decided to blow up the plant so that it wouldn’t fall into the hands of the Nazis.
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Sculpture of a can of Radowil Gr-Tix paint by Sławomir Micek, Radom, photo: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Internationa / Merete25
Similarly to our last sculpture, this one also shows a product providing protection against chemical agents. It’s a representation of a can of Radowil Gr-Tix paint. This industrial paint – a product that’s currently on the market – is manufactured by the Radom Factory of Paints and Varnishes RAFIL. Here’s how this commodity is described on RAFIL’s website:
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As an active primer, Radowil Gr-Tix paint is meant for painting steel, aluminium, zinc, cast iron and zinc coated steel surfaces as well as concrete and plaster. […] It creates semi-matte, quick-drying coatings resistant to the effects of chemical agents (solutions of acids, bases, salts and mineral oils).
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From rafil.pl, trans. MK
It’s worth adding that the Radom Factory of Paints and Varnishes has a long history going back all the way to the year 1917. The sculpture of its product can be found in Kościuszko Park
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Sculpture of packaged homogenized cheese by Sławomir Micek, Radom, photo: Piotr Polak / PAP
Like the Gr-Tix paint, Radom’s famous and delicious vanilla homogenized cheese is a product that is being manufactured to this day. It has been on the market since 1974 and continues to boast great popularity among Poles who appreciate its delicate taste. It’s sold in small containers and can be enjoyed as a standalone snack or as an addition to pancakes, desserts, etc. An old-school container of the creamy cheese is what can be seen when looking at the sculpture standing on Żeromskiego Street. This tasty snack – nowadays sold under the Rolmlecz brand – has always been produced by Radom’s Agricultural Milk Cooperative, whose origin dates back to 1926.
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Sculpture of the kitchen scale WD-2 by Sławomir Micek, Radom, photo: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Internationa / Merete25
Speaking of food, our next item is something you’d want to use at home while cooking. The kitchen scale WD-2 was designed to weigh things up to 2kg, allowing for precision in the execution of recipes. The charming-looking WD-2 scales, made mostly of ceramics and hand-painted in patterns referencing folk art, began being produced in the 1980s by the small Radom manufactory Radwag. Today, this company is much larger and is Poland’s leading producer of electronic scales; it’s still headquartered in Radom. The sculpture of the WD-2 scale is located on Jagielloński Square.
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Sculpture of the Łucznik KL. 82 sewing machine by Sławomir Micek, Radom, photo: Marta Dudzińska / AW
Also meant for home use was the Łucznik KL. 82 sewing machine whose production began in 1954. It was designed and manufactured by Radom’s General Walter Metal Works, a plant that also produced… firearms. In the mid-20th century, the Łucznik KL. 82 was one the most popular sewing machines in Poland (back then sewing at home was much more prevalent than today). It came in two colours: shiny black and metallic grey. You can find the sculpture of the Łucznik Kl. 82 sewing machine on Focha Street.
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Sculpture of the Łucznik 1301 typewriter by Sławomir Micek, Radom, photo: Piotr Polak / PAP
Aside from producing firearms and sewing machines, General Walter Metal Works also manufactured typewriters. The Radom plant started making them in the year 1969. At first, it produced non-electric office typewriters, but over time it also started making electric and briefcase ones.
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The machines were made, based on in-house construction solutions, in different language versions, such as Arabic and Thai.
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From symbole.radom.pl, trans. MK
This sculpture, standing on the corner of Sienkiewicza and Moniuszki Street, shows General Walter Metal Works’ Łucznik 1301 typewriter, a non-electric, briefcase model.
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Sculpture of the CB-49 telephone by Sławomir Micek, Radom, photo: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Internationa / Merete25
Whereas our last object is connected to writing, the next one is linked to another form of communication – speaking. The classic-shaped CB-49 telephone went into production in the 1950s at Radom’s T-9 Teletechnological Devices Plant (which eventually changed its name to Radom Telephone Factory). It was produced there until 1963. For a few years it was also manufactured under the name T-4 by a plant in the city of Łódź.
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The CB-49 was very well-made and popular from the start […] to this day it constitutes a beautiful icon of Poland’s telecommunications industry. Its casing and all exterior parts were made from black Bakelite (there were also red and green models, but these are very hard to find nowadays).
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From telesfor99.org, trans. MK
The sculpture of the CB-49 phone is located on Kilińskiego Street.
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Sculpture of the Malwa telephone by Sławomir Micek, Radom, photo: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Internationa / Merete25
In 1978, the Radom Telephone Factory started making a retro-looking telephone referencing designs from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. It was named Malwa and its production went on until the mid-1980s. This remarkable product was sold in Poland, in other countries of the former Eastern Bloc, as well as in the US (where it was offered under the name of T-350). Generally, it came in two colours: ivory and red. There was also a pink version with… a Barbie logo, but it was available only in America. It’s hard to find more information about this model; it probably was marketed in collaboration with the owners of the famous Barbie-doll brand. The sculpture of the Malwa telephone stands on Traugutta Street.
An award-winning telephone
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Sculpture of the Bratek telephone by Sławomir Micek, Radom, photo: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Internationa / Merete25
Our next sculpture shows yet another product from the Radom Telephone Factory – the Bratek phone which was manufactured from 1983 until 1994. It was designed by artist Maria Osterwa-Czekaj, architect Jacek Czekaj and constructor Stanisław Józwowicz, who began working on it in 1977. Aside from giving their phone a chic look, they also provided it with versatility by making it suitable for use both as a desktop and wall-hanging device. Their design was awarded a gold medal at the Poznań International Fair in 1983. The sculpture of the Bratek telephone can be found on Jagielloński Square.
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Sculpture of Sofix winter boots by Sławomir Micek, Radom, photo: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Internationa / Merete25
The same year the Bratek phone won the gold medal in Poznań, the footwear company Sofix was founded in Radom. It became immensely popular in Poland as a manufacturer of sports shoes and winter boots. An excerpt from an article about Sofix published by the Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper conveys to us all the rage:
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The biggest sensation was caused by the white sneakers with red and navy-blue stripes. Also the […] winter boots with artificial fur lining and Velcro straps on the side gained a cult status.
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From ‘Sofix – Namiastka Kapitalizmu w Radomiu’, trans. MK
This sculpture, located on Szewska Street, depicts the above-described winter boots from Sofix.
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Sculpture of Radoskór women’s shoes by Sławomir Micek, Radom, photo: Marta Dudzińska / AW
Our final sculpture is also footwear themed as it shows a pair of women’s shoes made by the Radom Leather Industry Factory Radoskór. This factory existed from 1959 to 1999 and in Poland – under the communist regime – was the biggest producer of shoes in the country. At its peak, it employed a whopping 14,000 people. A bulletin published by Radoskór in 1985 stated that:
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The company’s primary product is women’s footwear.
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From symbole.radom.pl, trans. MK
The sculpture of a comfortable pair of Radoskór women’s shoes stands on Focha Street.
According to the press, the Symbols of Radom series is set to be expanded by four additional pieces. Sounds like good news for Radom!
Written by Marek Kępa, Apr 22
