Making wagon wheels is an art that not many people appreciate. The curves have to be sawn from different pieces and must still fit together perfectly. To prevent wear, the rim has to be covered in iron. The hub and the axle must be made in such a way that they can support a fully loaded cart easily. And the spokes have to provide enough support to the wheel as well as giving the cart stability. Alex Franken is a professional who appreciates this art. His work place smells of sap and sawdust, which his wife Rachelle and her parents who live with them love. That’s why they often come and watch Alex at work. Right now he’s making a plough for Herbert Speyer, the biggest farmer in Ville de Reidy.

For "le Docteur" Henry Waldkirch and his wife Inge he has just finished a two-wheel cart with large wheels to be pulled by their fast and elegant dapple grey so they can be on location quickly in the case of an emergency. Together with the smith, Alain Petit, Alex fitted the extra slim wheels with a strong rim of cast iron so that "monsieur le docteur" can have total faith in his cart. A few days ago the doctor used the cart to take a customer of Christian Thion's "Kayzer's Bar", who fell down the cellar stairs when he wanted to carry some beers up himself, to hospital in the town. The man had a broken leg and the doctor was not sure whether or not there was any internal bleeding. Alex considers the fact that the victim managed the journey without too much discomfort is the greatest possible compliment to his skill.