Pasir Wetan, the center for ironwork crafts in Banyumas

Pasir Wetan, the center for ironwork crafts in Banyumas

Agus Maryono
The Jakarta Post
Purwokerto

In a simple workshop, craftsman Sutoto is busy creating a unique
handicraft made from iron.

"This craft is meant for export, and maybe it will be
displayed in someone's home," explained the 39-year-old resident
of Pasir Wetan, which is in the Karaglewas subdistrict of the
Banyumas regency of Central Java.

He has crafted a swing, locally called angkrek-angkrekan --
one of the numerous creations he has wrought from iron over the
last six years, on an on-order basis from a Jakarta-based
exporter. Sutoto said the swings were usually destined for
France.

In just one month, Sutoto can sell up to 8,000 swings. There
are four different models and 2,000 are made of each model every
month.

The swing is named after the figure it has on it, like the
Goyangan Ikan Paus (whale swing) or the Goyangan Perahu Layar
(boat swing).

Unfinished swings usually sell for Rp 15,000 each, and the
buyers can paint it themselves with the color of their choice.

"I have no idea how much the company sells the product for
abroad," said Sutoto.

After paying wages and meals for 30 workers, Sutoto makes a
profit of Rp 3,000 for each of the swings he produces. At the end
of each month, he can pocket up to Rp 24 million.

Obtaining the raw material to make the products, consisting of
iron rods used in construction, iron sheeting and tin, is
relatively simple and easy. He has only to buy the tin from the
store while the rest can be bought from scavengers.

A kilogram of used iron sheeting or rods, for instance, costs
him Rp 2,500, while a kilogram of tin costs Rp 4,000.

A swing, which is 40 centimeters in height, including the tin-
made ballast of some 0.5 kilograms, weighs only 1.6 kilograms. A
swing usually costs Rp 4,500 to produce.

Sutoto, however, is not the only craftsman in Pasir Wetan. In
fact, he is only one of hundreds of villagers who have been
earning a living from producing various kinds of iron
handicrafts.

Sutoto said that at least 500 residents in the village who
also work in the village administration office, depend on the
handicraft business, and are either craftsmen, business owners or
workers in the trade.

"I don't know exactly when this industry began. As far as I
remember, people have been making iron handicrafts since I was a
little boy. But the village elders told us it began during the
Japanese occupation," Sutoto said.

Swings are not the only items produced. Other products include
home appliances, agricultural appliances, home accessories and
even children's toys, badges, placards and tractor wheels.

Orders for badges do not just come from nearby towns such as
Purwokerto, but from as far away as Sumatra, West Java and
Jakarta.

Once the best-selling product, the iron lighter, made under
the Djawatan Rek Pasir (DRP) trademark, is no longer produced.
"The lighter is no longer produced as people prefer buying
modern, gas ones," Sutoto said. The DRP lighters, which closely
resembled modern ones, used gasoline.

Sutoto said he could produce almost all of the iron products
except for tractor wheels. "The equipment needed to produce them
is too heavy to be supplied here," he said.

Thanks to the handicraft business, many residents of Pasir
Wetan do not need to go outside the village to earn a living.

"As you can see, you can hardly see any unemployed youths
here. Most prefer to work in this industry and do not want to go
outside the village to work," Sutoto said.