Subject: Re: blacksmithing - my vision

From: [email-masked]
Date: Sun, 17 Mar 1996 14:11:31 -0500

Blacksmithing is my escape fantasy.  Blacksmithing is what I perceive to be
the pure coal forge. hammer and anvil type of early American smithing.  But
that's my vision and others would point out that I should be using charcoal
if I want to be a purist, as coal was not available at that time. Their
opinion doesn't make any difference to me, I know  what makes me feel good,
and hope that all of you will do what makes you feel good about your work or
hobby and call it whatever you want..  
When in the late 1800's arc welding was invented, and later gas welding,  it
was intended for use by the blacksmiths not the shoemakers.  It was our trade
that eagerly used these new technologies and I'm sure that they thought no
less of themselves as blacksmiths for doing so.  You have to know that for
every fine oil painting sold by a respectable gallery, they will sell 100
"Dogs Playing Poker" at the local Walmart.  There is no accounting for taste.
  Be creative, and use the tools which best fit your creativity.
Mike Schermerhorn
Kilo-Sierra Forge

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 1996 00:59:23 -0500

In a message dated 96-03-17 14:14:10 EST, you write:

> You have to know that for every fine oil painting sold by a respectable
gallery, they will sell 100 "Dogs Playing Poker" at the local Walmart.  There
is no accounting for taste.<

...Are you trying to say that my collection of "Dogs playing Poker" is NOT
fine art!?!?
  L.C.

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 1996 09:16:32 -0500

>...Are you trying to say that my collection of "Dogs playing Poker" is NOT

My point exactly...............
Michael

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From: [email-masked] (David Hoopes)
Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 19:57:55 -0600

>if I want to be a purist, as coal was not available at that time. 

Tell them to go jump in a lake.  I just returned from a Class on historical
trades in Colonial Williamsburg.  They use coal.  It was readily available 
in the Williamsburg area in the 1700s.

All of the trades in Williamsburg seemed to have one thing in common.  They
took in any type of work that they could do.  The foundryman took in some
blacksmithing work.  The blacksmith made bone buttons.  etc.

Saying that something isn't "traditional" blacksmithing is a load of horse
s***.  For a museum or historical purpose you might try to limit a trade to
the tools and technics that where available in a certian time period, but 
those same technics might not be appropriate in an earlier (or later) time
period.

If I use 1700 era technics to make a TV stand, am I doing 1700 era
blacksmithing?

If I duplicate something from the 1700s, but use a propane forge am I doing
1700 era work.

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