Broom-maker

Even though they were salespeople, Desimir and Slobodanka Adžić spent the greater part of their working lives making brooms. They started doing this business in 1968 when Desimir lost his job in one shop. They chose this business because it seemed the most profitable. They didn’t need many workers, machines, or big basic capital. Although they were self-taught, Desimir had to get a licence in order to open a shop. While Desimir and Desanka were doing this job, everything was done manually.

A broom is a product which will always be used. However, the trade itself where everything is done manually has started to decline. The machine which was used back in the past also had manual controls. The machine which was used for making handles was called “brundalica”. Sorghum was the material used for making brooms, and it was cut lengthwise. Broom head is the longest part of the broom, and the longest cut sorghum was used for making it. Shorter cover was put over the head. The spikes which would remain following the sorghum cutting process would be placed in the middle. The sorghum which they used was bought in Vojvodina, and they sowed it on their own. There were about fifteen types of brooms made: cut, small, with a short handle, kitchen and porch broom, cabin broom, cobweb broom, fireplace broom, young pioneer broom, whisk broom, turkey wing broom…

They also made brooms from birch tree, and they procured material in Kadinjača and Pljevlja surroundings. Desimir sold brooms on the market and street fairs. They didn’t have competition in terms of production in Gornji Milanovac, but people came to the market in Milanovac from other places to sell brooms. With the appearance of modern technology and industry, the production process has become faster. Industrially manufactured brooms brought down the prices, and they gradually stopped doing this business.

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