Subject: Re: Traveling Forges, Civil War Blacksmithing, limbers, etc

From: "Dave Einhorn" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 1996 09:06:05 EDT

> Is there a book pertaining to Mordecai's work?
> Frank 

  Supposedly, but I am having a difficult time acquiring it.  I will 
certainly post the information on where to find it and a book review, 
if and when I acquire a copy or copies of the material available.
So far getting the information has been like pulling teeth.  I will 
also inform Morningside House Inc. about any books found, in the hope 
that they will stock these books for us.

  In the meantime, call Morningside House Inc, or check their web 
site, and get yourself a copy of "The Ordnance Manual for the use of 
the Officers of the Confederate States Army".  This should be on 
every blacksmith's bookself, since it answers questions about metal 
finishing, parts for portable forges, traveling (wheeled) forges, 
limbers, caissons, cannon carriages, etc.  As far as I am concerned 
it is a must-have book for blacksmiths interested in the how-to of 
the 19th century.

   Also, if you like Richardsons book "Practical Blacksmithing", then 
you might like his book "Practical Carriage Building".  It has very 
little, specifically on blacksmithing, but has related things from 
the perspective of other crafts (carpentry, etc) that may have 
informative and/or entertainment value to someone interested in 
blacksmithing and/or the 19th century.  Published by Astragal Press 
(201) 543-3045.

   Dave Einhorn                    
   [email-masked]

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From: [email-masked] (David Hoopes)
Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 06:52:32 -0500

I received the copy of the description.  I have tryed several times to read
through it and form a mental picture.  I can't get it to come together in my
mind.  I think the next thing I would do is to build a cheap and quick model.

Cheap, because I think you would go through 3 or 4 models before you got one 
you liked.  I wouldn't try for any detail on the models, just what boards and
where they go.

Did you ever get in touch with Steve Allie from the Frontier Army Musemum?  Was
he able to help any?

------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Hoopes
[email-masked]
Lenexa, Kansas (Near Kansas City, Mo)