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ZBIRKA DIGITALIZOVANIH FOTOGRAFIJA "KRISTAL-ZAJEČAR"

o fabrici

Tradicija proizvodnje stakla u Zaječaru počinje 1923. godine kada su građani i preduzetnici okupljeni u Industrijsko-privrednoj zadruzi AD odlučili da iskoriste povoljan geografski položaj i blizinu rudnika kvarcnog peska izuzetnog kvaliteta u Rgotini. Prva Fabrika stakla u Zaječaru bila je jedina u ovom kraju Evrope, no nije uspela da se izbori sa monopolom i stalnim spoticanjem od strane čeških i belgijskih staklarskih kartela, te je zatvorena 1930. godine.

Drugi pokušaj proizvodnje stakla otpočeo je 1965. godine kada je osnovana Fabrika šupljeg – rasvetnog stakla, koja doživljava veliki uspon dolaskom novog rukovodstva 1969. godine. Doneta je odluka o definitivnom okretanju ka Zapadnoj Evropi i njenim novim tehnologijama, kao i promeni strategije i otpočinjanju proizvodnje kristala. Nakon edukacije radnika u Zapadnoj Nemačkoj, fabrika 1974. godine otpočinje sa poluautomatskim i automatskim oblikovanjem olovnog kristala koje je bilo jedinstveno u Jugoslaviji.

Zapadnoevropski dizajn, visok kvalitet i pristupačne cene pokazali su se kao formula uspeha, te su se godinama proizvodi prodavali takoreći direktno iz proizvodnje. Zaječarski kristal se podjednako izvozio i u SAD i zapadnoevropske zemlje, kao i u Sovjetski savez i zemlje Istočnog bloka. Uspešno poslovanje fabrike prekinuto je početkom 1990-ih kada je otpočeo slom dotadašnjeg sistema. Nakon smene rukovodstva, sankcija, ratova, inflacije, bombardovanja, izolacije… fabrika je privatizovana, što je zapravo značilo njeno definitivno zatvaranje, dok istorija njenog kraja još uvek čeka da bude ispisana. 

o fotografijama

Fotografije koje smo digitalizovali predstavljaju samo deo istorije ove fabrike i nastale su za potrebe fabričkih novina pokrenutih maja 1973. godine. Izlazile su jednom mesečno, u početku pod imenom „Staklo“ a od 1982. godine kao „Kristal“ i njihova uloga bila je da informišu više hiljada radnika o razvoju fabrike, što je tada bilo definisano kao ključna komponenta radničkog samoupravljanja. Fabrika je upošljavala i zvanične fotografe, no listu autora fotografija tek treba utvrditi. 

Nekoliko hiljada fotografija koje ovde donosimo pokrivaju period od 1980. do početka 1990-ih, i prate period najveće ekspanzije fabrike, kao i njen pad. Najveći broj fotografija za koje smo uspeli da utvrdimo autorstvo delo su Radosava Todorovića koji je od samog početka pa sve do decembra 1989. godine bio i glavni i odgovorni urednik fabričkog lista.

Kategorije fotografija treba shvatiti uslovno, i njihova uloga je da donesu bolju preglednost materijala, no ne treba ih shvatiti kao definitivne. Odlučili smo se da predstavimo individualne fotografske negative na kojima se ponekad nalaze fotografije koje pripadaju različitim kategorijama, te je naš savet da pogledate što više različitih negativa je vas tamo možda čeka neka neočekivana slika iz prošlosti. Tamo gde je to bilo moguće, donosimo i fotografiju originalne novinske stranice u kojoj su ove fotografije objavljene, a na osnovu kojih smo mogli da utvrdimo autorstvo, godinu i kontekst nastanka.

Sve fotografije prikazane su u niskoj rezoluciji tako da savetujemo da nas direktno kontaktirate ukoliko su vam potrebne fotografije visokog kvaliteta.

COLLECTION OF DIGITIZED PHOTOGRAPHS "KRISTAL-ZAJEČAR"

about factory

The tradition of glass making in Zaječar begun in 1923 when the citizens and local entrepreneurs created the Industry & Trade Cooperative, deciding to use the good geographical position and the nearby quartz sand mine of highest quality at Rgotina. The first Glass Factory in Zaječar was the only of its kind in this part of Europe, nevertheless it did not succeed in winning against the monopoly of the Czech and Belgium glass cartels and their constant pressure, so it closed down in 1930.

The second attempt of glass production begun in 1965 and the founding of the Hollow and Lighting Glass Factory, whose expansion begun in 1969 with the arrival of the new management. A definite decision to turn to Western Europe and its new technology was made, as well as to begin to produce crystal. After educating workers at West Germany, Zaječar factory begun in 1974 to produce lead crystal in automatic and semi-automatic manner, which at the time was unique in Yugoslavia.

Western design, high quality and affordable prices were the formula for success, and in the next decades most of the products were directly sold from the production lines. The crystal from Zaječar was equally known in the East as well as in the West: it was exported in both the USA and West Europe, and the USSR and East Europe. The success of the factory was stopped in early 1990s when the breakdown of the socialist system begun. After the replacement of the factory management, imposed sanctions and ban on export, wars, inflation, bombardment, isolation… the factory was finally privatized in early 2000. In this case, it unfortunately meant its definite closedown, and the history of its final years is yet to be written.  

about photographs

The digitized photos bring only a part of this factory’s history and they were mainly taken for the factory newspaper founded in May 1973. They were printed monthly, at the beginning under the name “Staklo” (Glass), and from 1982 as “Kristal” (Crystal). Their purpose was to inform several thousands of workers about the developments and the news in the factory, seen at the time as the key part in workers self-management. The factory employed official photographers as well, nevertheless the exact names of the authors are yet to be confirmed.

Several thousands of photos that we bring here come from the period of factory’s expansion – from early 1980s to early 1990s. The majority of photos for which we were able to confirm the identity of the author were taken by Radosav Todorović who was also the chief-in-editor of the factory newspaper from 1973 to December 1989.

The categories below should be taken lightly, more as a guide through the overwhelming number of photos. We decided to present the complete photo negative rolls and sometimes there are various topics present on a single roll. Our advice is to see as many different categories as possible as there are many surprises awaiting. Where possible, we also included the photos of the original newspaper page where those photos were published, and on the basis  of which it was possible to confirm the author, date and the context of production.

All photos are in low resolution and we advise you to contact us directly in case you were in need of high-quality photos.

 

kategorije / categories:

Proizvodnja kristala u Zaječaru otpočela je 1974. godine i bila je zasnovana na ideji da kristal treba da zauzme mesto u svakodnevnoj kućnoj upotrebi, a ne da bude skupoceni „vitrinski eksponat“. Osnovni cilj bio je demistifikacija verovanja da je kristal privilegija imućnih.

Crystal production in Zaječar begun in 1974 and was based on the idea that crystal should have a place in everyday life, instead of being an expensive “glass-case exhibit”. The main goal was to demystify the belief regarding crystal as the privilege of the wealthy ones. 

Poluautomatsko i automatsko oblikovanje olovnog kristala bilo je u to vreme jedinstveno u Jugoslaviji i fotografije koje ovde donosimo prikazuju svaki korak procesa proizvodnje: od metalske radionice, duvača stakla, poluautomatskih peći, kristalogravernica i polirnica, sve do pakeraja, kontrole kvaliteta, prevoza i dizajna.

Semi-automatic and automatic shaping of lead crystal was at the time unique in Yugoslavia and the photos brought here show each step of the production: metal workshop, glass blowing, semi-automatic furnaces, crystal engraving and polishing, packaging, quality control, transport and design.

Sredinom 1970-ih nastupila je nova faza razvoja fabrike i njena teritorijalna ekspanzija. Pored osnovnog, ekonomskog razloga, novi potezi rukovodstva fabrike bili su i politički motivisani i usprotivili su se procesu zatvaranja domaće privrede unutar republičkih granica. U narednih nekoliko godina, kristal se za potrebe zaječarske fabrike dorađivao i obrađivao u novim pogonima otvorenim u gotovo svim republikama nekadašnje Jugoslavije: u Kladovu, Sokobanji, Kutini, Preševu, Pehčevu, Leposaviću, Rožaju i Kosjeriću.

During 1970s the new phase in the factory development begun through its territorial expansion. Beside the main economic reasons, the new decisions of the management had political goal as well: they clearly opposed the tendency to limit the economy to republic borders. In the following years, the crystal for the needs of the factory in Zaječar was processed in new branches founded in almost all Yugoslav republics and regions: Kladovo, Sokobanja, Kosjerić and Preševo (Serbia), Kutina (Croatia), Pehčevo (Macedonia), Leposavić (Kosovo), and Rožaje (Montenegro)

U ovoj kategoriji donosimo lica radnika i radnica iz različitih segmenata proizvodnje, od kojih je za neke bilo moguće utvrditi identitet, a za neke nažalost ne. Takođe, želimo da naglasimo da se mnogi portreti radnika i radnica kriju u ostalim kategorijama, prikazujući svoje subjekte u različitim segmentima života i rada fabrike.  

This category shows the faces of workers in various departments of production, and for some we were able to establish the identity, while for others unfortunately we were not. We would like to stress the fact that many portraits of workers are to be found in other categories, depicting people in various moments of the life of the factory.

Radničko samoupravljanje osnovna je karakteristika socijalizma u nekadašnjoj Jugoslaviji i podrazumevao je aktivno učešće svih zaposlenih u procesu odlučivanja o ključnim pitanjima funkcionisanja i razvoja fabrike. Fotografije sastanaka, kao i različitih oblika radničkog udruživanja i aktivnosti svedoče o načinima sprovođenja principa samoupravljanja u zaječarskoj fabrici kristala.

Workers self-management was the main organizational system in the socialism of former Yugoslavia. It implied active participation of all employees in the decision process on factory’s functioning and development. The photos from workers’ meetings, as well as various forms of workers’ organizing, testify about the manners in which the principles of self-management were implemented in this factory. 

Ovaj segment fotografija otkriva trenutke zvaničnih manifestacija i nagrađivanja radnika i radnica, od zvaničnih priznanja za unapređenje funkcionisanja fabrike do njene promocije kroz sportske igre i radnička takmičenja.

The photos in this category bring the moments of official events and rewards to the workers, from official recognitions for improvements in the factory to its promotion in sport events and workers’ competitions.

Krajem 1970-ih zaječarska fabrika kristala postala je jedna od najvećih i najpopularnijih fabrika u Timočkoj Krajini, tako da su je posetile mnogobrojne zvanične državne delegacije, lokalni i regionalni političari, inostrani partneri, istaknuti sportisti, vojnici, glumci, radnici iz drugih krajeva Jugoslavije, itd.

By the end of the 1970s, Crystal Factory in Zaječar had become one of the largest and most popular in the Timok Region, hence it was visited by numerous state delegations, local and regional politicians, international partners, prominent sportsmen, army generals, famous actors, workers from other parts of Yugoslavia, etc.

Sa razvojem fabrike, rukovodstvo je prepoznalo u sportu ne samo način promocije očuvanja zdravlja i vitalnosti radnika, već i njegov sve veći marketinški potencijal. Početkom 1980ih od lokalnih amaterskih klubova nastaju profesionalni klubovi koji nose ime fabrike: fudbalski, rukometni, bokserki, šahovski timovi, dok sami radnici dugi niz godina nisu imali konkurenciju u brojnim disciplinama na Staklarijadama koje su organizovane širom Jugoslavije. Takođe, ostalo je upamćeno da je u periodu of 1980-86. godine Kristal-Zaječar bio i glavni sponzor FK „Crvena zvezda“, jednog od najboljih fudbalskih klubova u Jugoslaviji.

With the expansion of the factory, the management recognized in sport not only the tool to promote workers’ health and vitality, but also its PR and marketing power. In early 1980s it transformed local amateur sport clubs into professional ones and which were all named after the factory: football, handball, boxing and chess teams. The workers were unbeaten for many years in different sport categories at the yearly “Glass Workers’ Olympics” all over former Yugoslavia. Also, Zaječar Crystal Factory was the main sponsor of Belgrade “Red Star” from 1980-86, at the time one of the best football clubs in the country.  

U ovu kategoriju uvrstili smo sve one fotografije koje nismo uspeli da uvrstimo ni u jednu prethodnu, i koje otkrivaju neke neočekivane scene i trenutke iz života i rada ove fabrike.

This category brings all photos which we were not able to categorize in any other, with some of them surprising us with the unexpected images from the life of the factory.

JOŠ TEKSTOVA O ISTORIJI FABRIKE:
(ARTICLES ON FACTORY HISTORY - IN SERBIAN)

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