Subject: Getting Started!

From: Norm Lampton <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 13:55:26 -0500

Good Day!

I have finally realized my goal of getting a country place so I could do
blacksmithing.  Now I find that I don't know how to get started.  I have
searched the internet sites for basic info or basic books but everything
seems fairly advanced.  How does one get started?

Thanks
Norm Lampton
email [email-masked]
snail mail 
412 W. Smith St.
Sturgeon, Missouri 65284

voice 573-687-0362

Psalm 19:14

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From: Jim McCarty <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 16:29:04 -0500

> email [email-masked]

Hi Norm -- Think I got a letter from you looking for tools. Did you 
get my reply? You need to join BAM, the Blacksmiths Association of 
Missouri. We meet every other month to share techniques and swap 
tools. We have coal stockpiled for members' use and I do the 
newsletter which also features tips and projects to make. It's a great 
group. You just missed our annual blacksmith conference which is held 
in Potosi the first weekend in May. At this conference there are 
several vendors with books tools and supplies for sale. There's also 
countless pick-ups full of rusty iron.

If you would like to come down some evening drop me a line and we will 
build a fire. I love just east of Jefferson City at Taos. My phone 
number is (573)-395-3304.

If you want to join BAM send $20 to treasurer Gary Kobermann, 2337 
Whitshire Dr. St. Louis, MO 63129. There's also a national 
oraganization called ABANA, of whicvh we are a chapter. ABANA dues are 
$35 per year which includes a slick Quarterly magazine called the 
Anvil's Ring. ABANA also has a conference every two years -- next one 
is June 27-30 in Alfred NY.

There are other chapters of ABANA in other states. The Illinois Valley 
Blacksmiths Association has a conference like ours on June8-9 
featuring Peter Ross from Colonial Williamsburg as demonstrator.

Hope this helps you out. There are other BAM members near you 
including Steve Willsie who lives in Sturgeon.
Take care, Jim McCarty