Subject: Re: 18th Cen. Traveling Forge

From: [email-masked]
Date: Sun, 30 Jun 1996 09:26:21 -0400

In a message dated 96-06-29 20:00:58 EDT, you write:

>I am interested in building an 18th Cen. traveling forge.

Robert, there is a traveling forge at the Williamsburg restoration at the
Armory or Magazine I guess they call it.  It was a military vehicle, two
wheeled as I recall, with a coal forge mounted on the back end. I believe
that Williamsburg has a website which may give you some help regarding who to
contact for more info.  A number of years ago I purchased a calvary anvil
(Civil War vintage) which is a stump anvil used for horse shoeing, and was
part of a kit which included tongs, punches, clincher, etc.  There was no
forge with it unfortunately.    I have never heard of farmers using traveling
forges, thought they were all military.  Good luck,
Mike Schermerhorn

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From: Dave <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 30 Jun 1996 09:05:24 -0500

At 06:31 PM 6/29/96 CST, you wrote:
>I am interested in building an 18th Cen. traveling forge.  I have just
>started working metal, but I am so happy with it as a hobby that I
>know I will keep it up and I want to build a forge that I can use with
>my re-enacting.  I re-enact a farmer from the Pennsylvania area around
>the 1779 time period.  Would anyone have, or know where to get, a
>diagram, drawings or instructions that would help me construct a
>traveling forge from this time period?  I would appreciate any help
>that I get.
>
>Robert
>
>  Robert H. Neidlinger                      [email-masked]
>  "The Tomb Guard"                          [email-masked] 
>  "Ask me a question and I'll reply, Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie"
>                                                Winnie the Pooh
>
>
Try the folks at Williamsburg, VA.  They have (or at least used to have) a
traveling forge as used by the farrier.

Dave B
Heritage 'Smithing
Heritage Hill State Historical Park
Green Bay, WI

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From: Dave <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 30 Jun 1996 09:18:01 -0500

>forges, thought they were all military.  Good luck,
Traveling forges were in common usage by farriers. I don't know about
farmers using traveling forges, unless one did double duty as a farrier.
So, it seems possible that some farmers may have had traveling forges, but
most likely it was a farrier's setup.

Dave B
Heritage 'Smithing

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Sun, 30 Jun 1996 13:17:49 -0400

The museum located at Fort Huachuca, Arizona has a blacksmith/ farrier
traveling wagon. A  U.S.Cavalry force, an all black unit, used the Fort and
equipment during the late 19th century, 1880 or thereabouts. As this is a
horse drawn wagon, there was probably a predecessor of it, during your time
of interest.

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From: "Bruce M. Freeman" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 8 Jul 1996 21:23:12 -0400

At 08:36 AM 7/5/96 -0500, Jim McCarty wrote:

>I have seen two examples of a traveling forge, GI issue. These had a 
>blower and four legs that broke down to fit into a small, olive green 
>box that measured about 2-foot square. I passed on one for $250 -- 
>wish I had bought it. Think the ones I saw were WW 1 vintage but 
>perhaps older?

One of our members has one of these little forges.  Works nicely (I've used it
at a demo).
Bruce