The Anvil`s Chorus - New York State Designer Blacksmiths

The Anvil’s Chorus
Winter 2005
Page 2
Executive Committee (Board of Directors):
President : Ernie Neild 607 527 3611 8500 St. Rt. 415, Campbell, NY 14821
email: mydad@infoblvd.net
Vice President: R Scott Oliver 585 256 9978 76 Asbury Street, Rochester, NY 14620
email: soliver@frontiernet.net
Treasurer: Harry Heuer 585 924 9627 6854 Boughton Hill Rd, Victor, NY 14564
Secretary: Steve Kellogg 315 639 4294 POB 721 22 Williams Street, Dexter, NY 13634
email : skellog2@twcny.rr.com
Forgemasters:
Adirondack: John Scarlett 315 324 5635 email: littletreefarm@cit-tele.com
Genesee: Dick Rightmyer 585 293 3299 email: richardr@localnet.com
Mohawk: John Brunell 315 676-7359
676-7359email:
e-mail:jbrunell@twcny.rr.com
jbrunell@twcny.rr.com
Niagara: Bob Corneck 716 741 4311 email: roberthc@att.net
Southern Tier: John Fee 607 523 6677 email: jfee@stny.rr.com
Newsletter Editor: Al Butlak 716 894 7185 email: butlak1@mindspring.com
Scholarship Chairperson: John Scarlett 315 324 5635 email: littletreefarm@cit-tele.com
Membership chairperson: Gene Beamer 716 695 2535 email: gene@ckfs.com
gene@ckfs.com
Librarian: Marty Snye email: msyne@ northnet.org
Webmaster: Tim
Charley
Gregg
Orlando
716 636
email:
4827
orlandoforge@infoblvd.net
email: tmgregg@acsu.buffalo.edu
NYSDB web site: www.nysdb.org Send contributions to your editor or Charley
Tim directly.
directly.
The Cover :
The cover features one of our elite members,
Charley Orlando who is really involved in the
teaching of blacksmithing. He has led the club
twice in holding the National Conference at Alfred
State College. He has been a long time member
of the NYSDB as well as past president and newsletter editor. When Charley is not out of town
teaching at some of the various blacksmithing
schools he is helping the smiths of the Southern
Tier. It was nice to see an article about him in another chapter’s newsletter.
For submissions to The Anvil’s Chorus:
We would prefer if your submissions be sent electronically, meaning via email or US mailed to us on disk/
CD. For pictures, please submit them in either JPEG,
JPG or TIF file formats.
If not sent in these forms, submissions will still be
added to publication but it makes it much easier for us
to put all the input together for print.
Please keep in mind, any way you submit your contributions we greatly appreciate them. This is the club’s
newsletter and should have all members possible share
their ideas, upcoming events, pictures, and so forth.
The Anvil’s Chorus is composed and written by the editor except as indicated. Material may be reprinted except as noted as long as proper credit is given to NYSDB. It’s
officers demonstrator’s writers, editor, and members specifically disclaim any responsibility or liability for damages or injuries as a result of the use of any information published in the Anvil’s Chorus. The use of any information published is strictly
at the user’s own risk.
Page 3
EDITOR’S
NOTES
Another year has come to an end and all the snow storms are over. We are enjoying some Miami weather at about forty
degrees melting all the snow so we can all get into our shops and do a little forging.
Every one seemed to be too busy to send any meeting articles or demo ideas, so we will do our best without the member’s
notes. The Niagara Forge members had their Christmas party at the Amherst Museum. We had a fair turn out despite of
some lousy weather. The dinner was good and all was consumed.
The high point of the evening was the exchange of gifts that all the ladies received. Forged items were the gifts. Then the
museum’s director Jean Neff gave a talk of blacksmithing in the town of Amherst at the turn of the century in 1900. As industry developed the blacksmith population declined as they took on other chores as repairmen for farm equipment and
some household items. And a couple old time games were played where a story was told and everyone had a part when a
word was mentioned. It was a lot of fun.
The ABANA flag project is going to get underway and anyone is welcome to get involved. Also the ABANA Ring project
is still on for the Seattle conference. Anyone that wishes to participate notify your forge master or your editor.
Tim Gregg is now taking over the web site from Charley Orlando who finds himself with little time to run it with all his
other commitments and teaching assignments in a few of the blacksmith schools.
John Scarlet has proposed some changes in the scholarship program as to the procedure for obtaining one. Contact him if
you are interested in obtaining one. His address is on page two.
Anyone who has any ideas on how we can increase exposure to the public and also make the meetings more hands on, let
your forge master or the executive officers know of your ideas and they can be taken under advisement.
Al Butlak
How much does an anvil weigh?
If your anvil has three numbers stamped on the side, it has been marked using the traditional hundredweight system. A full hundredweight is 112 lbs. Suppose your anvil is marked with the numbers 3-3-8. The first number indicates
the number of full hundredweight, the second number indicates the number of one-quarter hundred weight (28 lbs. each).
The last number is actual weight in pounds.
Back to those three numbers -- 3-3-8. They equal 428 lbs.
3 x 112 is 336
3 x 38 is
84
plus 8 is __ 8
428
Reprinted from Newsletter of The New York Designer Blacksmiths 11/1987.
Tim Gregg has taken over maintenance of the NYSDB site from Charley Orlando.
Tim's contact info is tmgregg@acsu.buffalo.edu (716) 636-4827
For the moment Tim does not plan any changes only updating your chapter info as you send it.
I would like to take a moment to thank Charley personally for getting things going and hosting our site for so
long - I hope we can continue to call on you for these special tasks.
Bob Corneck
Page 4
ABANA Affiliate Liaison Letter
December, 2005
As we all look forward to the holiday season, we can also help
the fund. Here is an idea. Address an envelope to the ABANA
This month, a message from ABANA Relief Fund Committee: Relief Fund, P. O. Box 816, Farmington, GA 30638-0816. Put
that envelope where you see it every day. Then put at least a
The ABANA Disaster Relief Fund committee is working stead- dollar in it every week. As March arrives put that cash in your
ily to learn the extent of losses suffered by blacksmiths in the
pocket, write a check for the amount of cash and mail the check
Gulf Coast area. Even affiliate presidents and members are hav- to ABANA. The ABANA Relief Fund to date has about
ing very great difficulties making contact with a majority of
$15,000. The ABANA Relief Fund Committee would like to
their members. How do you locate smiths who lost so much or distribute at least $30,000. This is very possible goal if everymoved away? The U.S mail and electronic communication are one does just a little. Your donation is tax deductible and 100%
not of much help to date.
gets to those who need it. Thanks in advance for those who
need the help!
During the Christmas LAMA meeting members talked about
The ABANA Relief Fund Committee
their losses due to the hurricanes. One person, Joe Strain, so
simply and eloquently reminded everyone what is really imporHappy Holidays!
tant. He described to the group how lucky he was that in spite
Dave Mudge
of losing some friends, his home, his possessions, his shop and Affiliate Liaison
most of his tools...he lost no family! Joe and his wife are also Member Services Division
Chairman Internet Committee
expecting their first child in four months.
985.735.0049 / davemudge@abana.org
The Blacksmiths of the Gulf Region still need our help.
Keep them in your thoughts for 2006.
They need our support rebuilding their
shops. The ABANA Hurricane Relief Fund
is active, and continues to accept donations.
Donations should be by check, US Postal
Money Order or Canadian Postal Money
Order made out to: “ABANA Relief Fund”.
ABANA will provide a receipt for all donations of $250 or more. Please address
your donation to:
ABANA Relief Fund
P O Box 816
Farmington, GA 30638
Page 5
President’s Message
We had an all member meeting at Deke Wedows shop on
Oct. 22 & 23, John Fee put on a tool making demo, Deke put on
a demo using a hydraulic press after the demo all those who
wanted to had a chance to build a press, we set up an assembly
line system and the build went vary well. Before the business
meeting the E board meet and it was decided to form a committee to capture issues and concerns about how we should be
spending clubs assets, secondly we tried to address some of the
issues and problems we're experiencing. In other words are we
meeting the needs of the membership? I would like to thank the
committee and everyone who contributed to this project; the
following is a report from the committee.
"A" Priority Activities:
--Better news coverage of the club's activities. More advertising
at All Hands meetings and summer picnics. All were in agreement that this is something that should be done as a matter or
course but we've been lax on doing it.
--Improve the newsletter. Al Butlak needs our support. A larger
percentage of the newsletter needs to be dedicated to providing
technical information, projects and techniques. Provide incentives to authors who provide original, quality newsletter articles.
--Use newsletter to focus on the activities of our Senior Smiths.
--Expand scholarships amounts an additional $100. Rethink the
weeklong program length requirement.
Why do people join and maintain their membership in --Provide club sponsored opportunities for members to sell their
work at club events.
the NYSDB?
-- They are hobbyists who enjoy reading and learning about the --Reimburse local smiths for travel in exchange for demonstrations of teaching of programs.
trade from the newsletter.
--Explore finding through rental or donation monthly meeting
-- They learn about the trade at local chapter meetings. The
places in outer areas.
hands on experience.
-- Have the ability to legal learn blacksmithing techniques from --Reimbursement incentives for officers to run and attend the
all hands meetings.
nationally recognized Smiths at the all hands meetings.
--Personal interface with others interested in the same trade.
"B" Priority Activities:
--Networking with people interested in the trade provides a
--Provide seed money to expand basic blacksmith course at
source of students to those that teach.
--A source of materials and equipment. Many don't have a forge Amherst museum. Some concerns were voiced about the relationship with the museum and payment of the instructors. But it
and anvil at home and use club resources for projects.
didn't seem that any of the issues were insurmountable.
--Provide larger project activities. Getting the right project was
Current problems with the club, as pointed out by fellow
of concern. Some too big.... some too small.
members at the last meeting:
--Formalize a fund and procedure for families of deceased
--Not enough work stations or meeting places. Some forges
lack a regular fully equipped shop for their monthly meetings. members.
--Few people volunteer for office or special projects. Many
"C" Priority Activities:
appear burned out.
--Overall membership appears to be dwindling. Club events not --Charter bus for the group to go to major conferences. There
were some concerns about cost vs. amount of people attending.
drawing the attendance they once did.
--Many of our members only participate with the club through Who will organize? What will the bus do there all week?
--Build a shop on a trailer. Or purchase a plain trailer to haul a
the receipt of the newsletter.
--Some "Founding Members" don't participate with the level of shop. On the surface a good idea but we wondered about how
big a truck would be needed to haul it. How would we cover the
enthusiasm they once had.
--Level of demonstrations at all hands meetings doesn't have the insurance of the truck as the trailer uses the insurance of the
driver? How do we cover the gas expenses?
attendance draw it once did.
--Rising gas prices make the cost of attending April and Octo- --Explore concept of purchasing, leasing or renting land to
build a permanent facility. It was generally felt that we were not
ber meetings prohibitive for many members.
ready for a project of this scale.
-- We need to motivate senior smiths within the club.
-- We need a novel approach to motivating green coal smiths.
Sincerely,
President Ernie Neild
How should we be spending our assets to supports and grow
membership? On Nov 11th, a small group discussion (Rausch,
Oliver, Canterbury, and Heuer) did some initial prioritization of
suggestions made by the membership. Here is a summary of
those discussions:
Page 6
Meet Charley Orlando
By Ned and Esther Digh
When looking through the John C. Campbell (JCCFS) course catalog you will find Charley listed as the
instructor for "Forge Welding", "Blacksmithing Fundamentals", and "Aran-style Knitting”. His website
(www. orlandoforge.com) features a full range of artistic and functional metal creations. His talent doesn't stop
with blacksmithing and knitting. He plays the fiddle, guitar and harmonica and has a reputation around the folk
school for being a competitive Scrabble player.
Charley lives in upstate New York and retired from the public schools as Director of Special Education. He was
a farrier for twenty years and took his first blacksmithing course from Jim Wallace in 1983. Later he took
courses under Frank Turley and Ivan Bailey. He said he started knitting in 1941 in the 4th grade for the British
War Relief. He finished his first sweater on the day he got married. For his Aran-style knitting, also known as
Irish knitting or fisherman style, Charley has figured out the patterns on his own.
While on the ABANA Board in 1991, Charley encouraged the BAM Officers to have an annual conference. He
was the coordinator for the two successful ABANA Conferences held in New York State in 1990 and 1996.
Charley said the key to his success in organizing these conferences centered around three words-- "organize",
"deputize" and "supervise" and "don't worry about anything you can't control". He has served as the president,
vice president and newsletter editor of the New York State Blacksmith Association. He is currently on the board
of the JCCFS and will serve as secretary of the board in the coming year.
Charley was doing a double hitter at John C. Campbell. The first week, he assisted Roberta Elliott with a class in
Beginning Blacksmithing and the second week he taught a class in tin can art, assisted by Bobby Harisson, once
his teacher of tin can art. The weekend after the tin can art class, he taught forge welding. His specialty is
efficiency at the anvil and forge welding in the propane forge. Observing Charley in the blacksmith shop was
indeed watching a master teacher at work. He moved about the shop, with personal attention to students.
Charley says he loves teaching and will continue to teach whenever possible. He now teaches or assists in
courses at Touchstone, New England School of Metalwork, Jacksonville Craft Center, and John C. Campbell.
He also does one or two shows per year. During the interview Charley said he was known for his one-liners such
as "When in doubt, throw it out." or "If you have to ask yourself if you need flux, the answer is "yes". He is
highly desired as a teacher and has the enthusiasm to make any class interesting and enjoyable.
For a special experience in blacksmithing, take a course taught by Charley Orlando, truly one of the masters of
the craft.
Taken from:
NEWSLETTER of the BLACKSMITHS ASSOCIATION OF MISSOURI
July-August 2005
Page 7
Welding-Cleanup, Strength for Small Stuff
by John Emmerling, Gearhart, Oregon from the California Blacksmith
Brazing With Brass/Bronze Rods
Several years ago I began to look for alternatives to tig and mig welding in the construction of lighting and components.
Since joinery cleanliness and ease of cleanup is paramount, mig and tig welding did not always work to my advantage. I
wanted to use as little filler material as possible and have a strong joint that required minimal cleanup. So, I began to explore brazing. I first used coated brass rod. The brazing worked well, but I did not like the excess flux on the brass rod while
brazing because I couldn't see the joint clearly, its cleanup seemed excessive, and the strength was not up to expectations.
Next, I tried low fuming bronze bare rod and dipped it in the flux as necessary. It worked well and was an improvement
over coated brass rod. However, there were two drawbacks: one, the strength, while generally adequate, was not always so,
and two, if the finish of the piece was to be natural buffed iron, the bronze color was a detriment.
Nickel/Silver Rod
After searching the Internet, I found a nickel/ silver rod that works well. Allstate 11 comes in 1/16 and 3/32' bare rod. (I use
more of the 1/16 in general and occasionally 3/32 for larger gaps.) It’s equivalent is Harris-Welco 17, which is not available
in 3/32' bare. The strength of these nickel/silver rods is 50% greater than low fuming bronze and the color, while warmer in
tone (platinum colored) than buffed iron, blends in nicely when buffed. Since it is stronger than low fuming bronze, a
smaller amount is needed which helps in color blending. Also, these rods have excellent capillary action and tend to follow
the heat readily. A fillet can be obtained by simply pulling back on the heat source, adding more filler rod and gently washing the joint with heat. Cleanup is minimal.
The flux used is boric acid. I bought the Allstate recommended flux, read the label that said it was boric acid, and began
using the same boric acid I use in mixing forge welding flux. I bought the boric acid at Nuremburg Scientific in Portland,
Oregon. Wetted, it is applied to the parts to be joined with an acid brush. Only a very dilute solution is needed. The flux can
be removed with warm water and/or use of a wire wheel.
Meco Midget Torch
I also purchased a Henrob torch several years ago and had been
using it regularly. Anyone who has used a Henrob to braze with
knows that after a period of time the weight of the torch and hose
combined with the ergonomics of the pistol grip becomes tiring.
Not long ago I discovered the Meco Midget torch and its lightweight hose (see picture ). This little torch is amazing for its size,
weight (6 oz.), maneuverability and heating capacity. Tips available
go from a #0 to #3. I use the #2 and #3 tips most frequently. Although it will not do everything a Henrob will do, at a cost of $105
for the torch and $8 for each tip, I consider it a good bargain.
Sources
For info on this torch, go to: www.tinmantech.com.
The Harris- Welco 17 brazing rods were purchased thru Quimby Welding in Portland, Oregon, at $54 per five pounds of 16
bare rod. They are a special order item and can be drop shipped for minimal delay. Info on Allstate 11 can be found at:
www.fredparrcycledesign.com
Taken from New England Blacksmiths Vol. 25 No 5 Scrap Box 2005
Page 8
Leaf Bag Holder
Leaf Bag Holder with bag
Leaf Bag Holder
The above pictures represent a bag holder that I made to hold a plastic trash bag while picking up debris or leaves
around the yard or even in the house or garage. The fabrication is rather simple. First measure the width of the bag
you plan on using. Then cut a piece of string or wire twice the width of the bag. Form the wire or string into an elliptical shape with all curves more or less equal. Chose your stock one half inch square or one quarter inch by one inch
is suitable for the top ring. After forming ring using stock cut to the length of the wire or string. Try the final ring in
the top of the bag. If the fit is tight then weld the ends together. For the legs use any suitable rods cut about one inch
shorter than the length of the bag. Weld to the elliptical ring in a triangular fashion, if you want to be fancy you could
forge a scroll or foot at the base of the legs. Fold the bag over the edge a bit and hold in place with two or three spring
clamps. The oval shape makes it easier to empty a leaf rake when using same to pick up the leaves or debris.
-Al Butlak
Jack &Tim Burns, Peter Parry, Chuck Canterbury at
Cottage St. Forge 11/6/05
Page 9
Thak the Blacksmith & Armourer
2282 Floradale Rd., Floradale, Ontario Canada N3B 1V0
Tel (519) 669-0721 Toll Free 1-866-664-3622
Fax (519) 669-0943
www.thak.ca
Give the gift of learning the traditional art of blacksmithing. Gift certificates available with open dates to be scheduled by student within a year.
We have a new one-day course added for those who have taken our Basic and Intermediate 1 classes. We're offering 10% off second and more
courses per student if scheduled within a year or 10% total of courses per student if two or more are paid for all together and scheduled within a
year. Group rates available also.
Thak is hosting the January 14th OABA meeting for members. This will be a hands on demonstration with 7 forges available.
We continue to welcome visitors to our shop. Supplies and coal are available. Please call ahead as we may be away doing installations. Shop
hours are typically Monday-Saturday 8 am - 4 pm and closed over the noon hour, but this may vary. For directions to our shop,
visit http://www.thak.ca/map.html
$5.00 off purchases of supplies over $50 till January 30th, 2006 to anyone who mentions this deal. Not combined with any other offer. Limited
to one purchase per customer.
Thak supports a new and much needed vocational trades school in Nicaragua for students 16-30, run by missionary/teacher/blacksmith Mike
Diebert. We are accepting donations of new and used blacksmith supplies & tools on behalf of Mike Diebert and Missionary Ventures International and will be sending a package in the New Year of items we have collected. Presently there is one blacksmith work station, but are hoping
for several. For financial donations and receipts, please contact Mike Diebert at mike.deibert@mvnicaragua.org. The Thak team will be visiting
and teaching blacksmithing at the school early in 2007. Blacksmithing, metalworking, woodworking, welding and vehicle repair will be offered. If you are interested in going down for a week or so to share your skills and knowledge, you are certainly needed. For more info visit
www.christianblacksmiths.com
Basic Forge Work Course- 2 1/2 day
This course is designed to help the beginner develop good basic techniques. We start with lighting and controlling the fire and hammer control,
using assigned projects to create tools for the forge that are yours to keep. Includes the use of high carbon steels. Tempering and heat-treating
will be introduced. No experience required. Suggested prerequisite: Test- New Edge of the Anvil available at
http://www.thak.ca/blacksmithingbooks Cost: $475 (includes GST). All materials included. Courses run 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday and 8:30am
to 5:30 pm Sat. and Sun. *Please note the hours. We've had students show up at 4:30 on Friday.
B9- Dec. 2, 3, 4
B10-Jan. 20, 21, 22
B11- Feb. 17, 18, 19
B12- March 24, 25, 26
B14- April 21, 22, 23
B15- May 26, 27, 28
Intermediate One- 2 days
This course is for students who have completed our Basic Forge Work course. We will continue to develop the skills learned, and on to new
techniques and design skills, with special emphasis on tool design and execution. We'll be making necessary blacksmithing tools which allow
for a wide variety of traditional forging procedures such as upsetting tools, hot sets, hot punches, spring fullers, and bending forks. Our next
recommendation for literature is The Complete Modern Blacksmith available at http://www.thak.ca/blacksmithingbooks for tool making theory
and design. Cost: $475 (includes GST). All materials included. Courses run 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Sat. and Sun.
A5- March 4, 5
A6- June 10, 11
***NEW*** Intermediate Two- 1 day
A one-day course for students who have completed the Basic and Intermediate One forge work courses. Each student will work on their own
candle abre using tools and techniques from the previous 2 courses. Drawing out, upsetting, splitting, punching and twisting will all be incorporated along with traditional joinery techniques such as riveting, collaring and brazing to produce a medieval style 20" tall candle abre. Different
finishes and surface treatments will also be explored. Bring your handmade tools from the previous courses. Cost: $250 (includes GST). All
materials included. Course runs 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Saturdays
W1- Feb. 11
W2- May 6
Classes limited to 7 students. Please call to reserve before you send payment.
Knife Forging and Introduction to Armoring Courses to be scheduled. Visit http://www.thak.ca/courses.html for more info on these. We are
also in the midst of scheduling our yearly Japanese Swordsmithing Classes. There are 2 Japanese Swordsmiths who teach and demonstrate. For
info and pics on last year’s classes, visit http://www.thak.ca/japaneseswordsmithingtaro.html and
http://www.thak.ca/japaneseswordsmithingmuh-tsyr.html
Blacksmith Supplies http://www.thak.ca/supplies.html
Anvils, Aprons, Books, Carts and Blowers, Blacksmith Coal, Firepots, Gas and Coal Forges, Gloves, Hammers, Tongs and Anvil Tools, Vises
Welding Compounds
Page 10
Eight Years in the Making
by: Terry Rose
That's how long ago Jerry Brubaker, the curator of Old Fort Niagara, and Harald Sticki decided to build
new doors to replace the original sally port doors that had been installed in 1872. The old doors had deteriorated severely since then. They were made of heavy oak timbers with genuine wrought iron hardware. Harald, a master carpenter with the New York State department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation,
and his partner, Pete Pulano, faithfully reproduced the doors from oak timbers donated by Wolfe lumber.
The doors then languished in storage for seven years awaiting the attentions of someone to remove, restore
and remount the iron ware.
Enter Bob Corneck, Forge master of the Niagara Chapter of NYSDB. After Meeting Jerry on a tour, Bob
expressed an interest in doing the ironwork. Well be careful of what you ask for, because he got the job. I
was enlisted to help and away we went. After eight trips to the fort and many hours of hammering, pounding, welding and cursing we were done. The doors stand proudly; ready to resist the onslaught of ores, Indians, Frenchmen and tourists for another one hundred plus years. Thanks to Steve Q'Lay and Frank Dengate
for assistance with the forklift and the bull work. Many, many thanks to Al Butlak for his expertise and
equipment because without it we would still be out there pounding away.
Page 11
Andri Hand– Amherst
Museum 9/25/05
Dominic Spano at the anvil.
Cottage St. Forge 11/6/05.
Page 12
Taken from New England Blacksmiths Vol. 25 No 5 Scrap Box 2005
Page 13
Winter Demos in the North Country
The Adirondack chapter of the NYSDB
The Adirondack chapter has had a good winter and fun at monthly workshop demos. We have concentrated
on starting out each meeting with a demo from one of our members. Then another member gives a short talk on
“Shop Notes”. We have covered use of files, hardening and tempering, and other short topics. That is followed with
getting out our tools and having a hands-on project.
Our May meeting focused on blacksmith’s knifemaking. We reviewed some of Gene Chapman’s pamphlets
on penny knives, “little uglies”, and other simple knives that are made largely of steel. This was fun as it let us use
creativity and our blacksmith’s skills to make little pocket knifes. We also experimented with oil quench hardening
and tempering.
Our June 12th meeting will include a charcoal burn, more primitive knifemaking, and the planning session for
the 2005-06 year. We hope members from other regions will come up and visit us through the next year.
Keep hammering,
Steve Kellogg – ADK Co-Forgemaster
This shows a little “Thank You” from the Girl Scouts to Pete Andrew’s demo he did
for the girls. Thanks for showing the youth our trade.
Page 14
Reading Material
Wagon-Making in the United States during the Late-19th through Mid-20th Centuries: A Study of the Gruber Wagon Works
at Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, by Paul A. Kube, With Contributions by Clayton E. Ray and Cathy L. Wegener, was released
October 1, 2005, to correspond with the 24th Annual Heritage Festival at the Berks County Heritage Center located in southeastern Pennsylvania.
In the 19th century, Berks County was home to many wheelwright and blacksmith shops that produced and repaired
wagons and other horse-drawn equipment. These craftsmen faded from the industrial scene with the passing of the horse and
wagon era. The Gruber Wagon Works was the last of these shops to succumb to the automotive age, ceasing operation in 1971.
Frank P. Gruber, the last operator of this family-owned factory, provided on-site information to Paul A. Kube in the 1960s, enabling him to document the details of wagon construction from the company's beginning in a farm shop in 1860 to a small, modestly mechanized factory typical of local industries in the burgeoning industrial age.
Published by The McDonald & Woodward Publishing Company of Blacksburg, VA, and Granville, OH, this book presents, virtually unchanged, Kube's 1968 thesis on the Gruber Wagon Works, prepared for his Master of Education degree at Millersville State College (now University). Born in 1918 in Chester, PA, he taught industrial arts at the Boyertown Area High
School, after retiring from the US Navy as Chief Warrant Officer. He investigated the growth and development of the Gruber
Wagon Works through examination of the tools, techniques, materials, products, and people significant in its creation, operation,
and continuing viability through a period of rapid and radical change in American industry. Kube passed away in 1988. His thesis, however, had been sent to the files of the Smithsonian Institution's American History Museum, where Clayton Ray became
acquainted with it.
Kube's thesis presents what is perhaps the best description ever recorded of wagon-making in the United States during
the late pre-automotive era. Another unique and significant aspect of the book is its description of this rare surviving example of
late 19th century manufacturing, presented as a living history, which was recorded while the factory was still in operation. Specifically, it details a step-by-step illustrated account of procedures and tools used in the construction of traditional farm wagons of
the 19th and 20th centuries, made by a small, typical, family business.
In 1976, the Gruber Wagon Works factory was moved five miles from Mt. Pleasant to its present site on the grounds of
the Berks County Heritage Center, near Reading, to make way for the Blue Marsh Reservoir. This move was the largest relocation/restoration project undertaken by the Army Corps of Engineers. A map is included showing the original and current locations of the factory. The Wagon Works is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, open to the public, containing more than
19,000 original tools, plus products made in the factory. There is no other wagon-making facility similarly intact, with contents,
historical records, and documentation.
More than 100 black and white photos from the original thesis are included in this book, along with a few additional
photos which accompany the ancillary materials. The book also includes a chapter on wagon-making in general, a biographical
sketch of Paul Kube, and production records of the Gruber Wagon Works.
Wagon-making in the US has hitherto been inadequately documented, in spite of the fact that wagons were central to the
evolution of American culture from agrarian subsistence to modern urban industrialism. Wagons, canals, and railroads moved
people and products from the nineteenth century into the age of automotive and aerial transport. Documentation of wagonmaking by the Grubers is important not only for its immediate role in the development of our society, but also as one of the best
preserved and documented records of a critical phase in the foundation of modern industry.
Clayton Ray coordinated and synthesized the materials gathered from many sources, including information from Cathy
Wegener, for this publication. According to Ray, "There is no other similarly detailed description of wagon-making written in
this manner. Our book presents a unique surviving example of late 19th century manufacturing, presents living history recorded
when the factory was still operating, and explains how the craftsmen's tools were used in the manufacture of these historic wagons."
Wagon-Making in the United States during the Late-19th through Mid-20th Centuries… will appeal to historians of
industry and technology. Collectors of tools and farm implements, as well as those interested in Americana, will find value in the
descriptions of tools and how they were used by the craftsmen of the period. The draft-horse community, living history farms,
blacksmiths, and others interested in early American craftsman will enjoy reading this book.
Lead Contributors
Clayton E. Ray was born in a farming community in central Indiana. He holds degrees in Geology from Harvard University (A.B., 1955; A.M., 1958; Ph.D., 1962), and taught at the University of Florida, Gainesville, while also serving as Assis(Continued on page 15)
Page 15
Reading Material
(Continued from page 14)
tant Curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History (then Florida State Museum). In 1963, he relocated to the Department of
Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, from which he retired as curator
emeritus in 1994.
Ray continues to keep a hand in his past career through studying remains of ancient animals at the Smithsonian, while
living in the past on an old farm near Fredericksburg, VA, surrounded by his family, Suffolk draft horses, horse-drawn equipment
(including two Gruber wagons), and a variety of antique tools, most of which he routinely uses. These continuing interests have
lead to many visits to southeastern Pennsylvania, where the horse-drawn era thrives, and have inspired him to make Paul Kube's
unique contribution widely known and available through preparation of this book, with assistance from Cathy Wegener and many
others.
Cathy L. Wegener is Superintendent of Interpretive Services, Berks County Heritage Center, Parks & Recreation Department, Wyomissing, PA. She is in charge of the Gruber Wagon Works, its preservation, and its interpretive programs.
Wagon-Making in the United States during the Late-19th through Mid-20th Centuries: A Study of the Gruber
Wagon Works at Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, is available with a laminated soft cover, in a 6" x 9" size, with 264 pages, including text with photos/illustrations, introduction, glossary, bibliography, appendicies, and index for $22.95. The book is more
fully described on McDonald and Woodward’s website at www.mwpubco.com/gruber.htm. Special-pricing offers and detailed
information about this and other titles, including The Gruber Wagon Works: The Place Where Time Stood Still (also available
October 1, 2005), is available at www.mwpubco.com or by calling toll free 1-800-233-8787.
All royalties earned from the sale of this book will be donated to the Berks County Parks & Recreation Board, and are
designated specifically and exclusively for the support of the Gruber Wagon Works.
Founded in 1986, The McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company publishes books on cultural and natural history.
Check This Out
Attention Metalworkers:
Our company, the Astragal Press, is a small, independent publishing company based in Mendham, NJ. We publish unique books
devoted to the subjects of trades (such as copper and metalsmithing), antique tools, and early sciences.
Many of our books are historically based - good for students, collectors, historians, curators, academics or just plain lovers of
history.
Our books might have some relevance for you. I’ve included the URL for two of our books:
Professional Smithing http://astragalpress.com/professional_smithing.htm
The Art of Coppersmithing http://astragalpress.com/art_coppersmithing.htm
Would you be interested in receiving a complimentary catalog?
Kathryn Bednarz, Editor
The Astragal Press
5 Cold Hill Road
Mendham, NJ 07945
(973) 543-3045
www.AstragalPress.com
Page 16
Reading Material
THE GRUBER WAGON WORKS: THE PLACE WHERE TIME STOOD STILL
By Carol J. Hunsberger
Contact Person: CATHY L. WEGENER – BERKS COUNTY HERITAGE CENTER
610-374-8839 (voice)
Cwegener@countyofberks.com
610-373-7049 (fax)
www.countyofberks.com/parks
The Gruber Wagon Works: The Place Where Time Stood Still by Carol J. Hunsberger was released October 1,
2005, in conjunction with the 24th Annual Heritage Festival at the Berks County Heritage Center, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Published by the Society for the Preservation of the Gruber Wagon Works, a non-profit foundation established in 1983
to promote this National Historic Landmark, the work presents a broad range of historical and biographical material that illuminates the late nineteenth century to mid-twentieth century wagon-making factory.
The business itself began in the late 1860s with founder Franklin H. Gruber repairing and building farm wagons at his
family farm. The structure which exists today (the only one of its kind in the country) was built by Gruber in 1882-84 and housed
the family business through two additional generations until 1972 when it was closed due to a flood control project on behalf of
the Delaware River Basin.
Recognized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a unique piece of Americana and an intact relic of early industrial
technology, the building was characterized as “a place where time stood still.” The rural manufactory was listed on the National
Register of Historic Places in 1972. For the next decade Corps personnel, local organizations and residents, legislators and family
members, and a team of five companies specializing in historic relocations joined forces to move this massive structure to a
county park five miles from its original site and to restore the building to its 1915 condition. Since 1982 the building has been
open to the public as a museum, complete with its original tools, machines, and nearly 19,000 artifacts.
For the first time, the vast amount of documentation pertaining to this historic factory has been worked into a volume
that tells the tale of the Gruber Wagon Works from its start (including a brief biography of the Gruber family) through its peak
years of production (with many photographs of their signature hay flats and box wagons) to its declining years as a wagon repair
facility, concluding with its historic move and restoration. Hunsberger has divided the topic into three segments: the history of
the wagon works, the people involved, and the preserving of the structure. Content includes personal interviews and reminiscences as well as thorough documentation of the historic move, the largest ever undertaken by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Copiously illustrated with family and archival photographs and graphics, The Gruber Wagon Works: The Place
Where Time Stood Still is available in hardcover copy, 8½ " by 11" with 195 pages including text with illustrations, table of
contents, bibliography and index for $35. Further information may be obtained through the Berks County Heritage Center at 610374-8839.
About the Author:
Carol J. Hunsberger, a native of Lehighton, PA, received a B.S. in Education from Kutztown (State College) University,
Kutztown, PA, in 1964. She taught secondary school English classes for thirty-five years, retiring in 1999. She is the author/
editor of The Muhlenberg Story: A Township Evolves, 1851-2001, a history of Muhlenberg Township, a suburb of Reading,
PA. She resides in Muhlenberg Township with her husband Bruce who served as editorial assistant for the Gruber volume.
This book is being marketed through McDonald and Woodward Publishing of Blacksburg, VA, and Granville, OH. Special-offer pricing and detailed information about this book, as well as the release of Wagon-Making in the United States During the Late-19th through Mid-20th Centuries: A Study of the Gruber Wagon Works of Mt. Pleasant, Pennyslvania, (also
available October 1, 2005) may be found at www.mwpubco.com/gruber.htm.
Page 17
Welcome!
We welcome these new members
Name
Jack and Tim Burns
Aron Kehlenbeck
Ralph Lapidus
Dominic Spano
Town/City
Grand Island
Oakfield
W. Nyack
Elma
Region
NI
NI
ST
NI
CurrentMembers
Remember to check your mailing label. If the date is highlighted, a
renewal of membership is needed. Send your check to Harry Heuer in a
timely manner so your name does not get deleted from the membership
list.
New England School of Metalwork
Winter Session Workshops
2005-2006
November 4-8 English Wheel; Build it, Use it
December 2-5 Beginners Blacksmithing
January 6-9 Tool Forging for the Smith
January 27-29 Coal Forge; Build it, Use it
February 10-13 Botanical Forms
March 10-13 Found and Forged; Vessels or Sculpture
April 7-10 Traditional Joinery in Architectural Ironwork
See the website for class details, call to register 1-888-753-7502 or online at www.newenglandschoolofmetalwork.com
please direct inquiries to dglaser@newenglandschoolofmetalwork.com
Page 18
1800 Dale Road
Buffalo, NY 14225
(716)892-8434
Coal Is Back!
UPSTATE STEEL INC.
Offering 15% discounts to members on Steel
In the Rochester area:
20% discount is offered on purchases
Metal Supermarkets
95 Mt Read Blvd 10A
Rochester NY 14611
585-235-5170
Rochester Steel and Surplus
1829 Lyell Rd.
Rochester NY 14606
585-458-8100
For Sale Stainless steel flat bar 3/8”x1/2”x12’ lengths
$13.00 ea. Contact Gene 716-695-2535 or 716-694-3932
Shop made tools for the beginning or hobby blacksmith
eBay: seller - scharabo If you want to see the type of tools
and prices just do an eBay search on scharbo. Ask for a count
of 100. Ken Scharabok - scharabo@bellsouth.net
Supplier of stainless steel burner flares to fit the Reil, Side
arm, Mongo and T-Rex burners. Carries a full line of quality
propane regulators, hoses and fittings. Sell all the parts for the
burner designs in Michael Porter's book both separately and in
kit form. Have 1" and 2" Durablanket 2300 degrees ceramic
blanket and a refractory coating, Plistx 900F, that will replace
ITC 100. Call for pricing. Zoeller Forge Phone: 502-361-0706
Email: zman59@earthlink.net
Website: www.geocities.com/zoellerforge
Norm Larson Books
Sells hard to get blacksmithing and knife making books. Free
catalog. 5426 E Hwy 246 Lompoc, Ca 93436 Phone 1-800743-4766 email larbooks@ impulse.net
For Sale- 100lb Beaudry Power Hammer. $3000 or best offer.
Please contact Jim Robarr 716-433-8564 or 716-310-5037 I
also have a piece of steel about 4 inches in diameter by 8 feet
long (great for the bottom die of a treadle hammer). In addition I will be selling some large tool lockers/boxes (on
wheels).
For Sale Bradley upright helix hammer #500, complete # 9
tons $2500.00 Neal Pardy 518 747 9180 or Bob Trout 505
265 2334 Also #75 Scranton Very tall older hammer needs a
proper motor with dies $1500.00 (Bob or Neal)
Pieh Tool Company
Blacksmith Supplies
437 General Crook Trail, Suite D Camp Verde AZ 85009
Got something for sale?
Send it to us and we could print it here!
Reboy Coal
Maple & Jamison Rd
Elma, NY
(WNY)
716-652-4321
Dennis Coal
7987 #5 Rd West
Fabius, NY
(CNY)
315-677-9383
Coal For Sale Niagara has obtained a supply of coal again
this year. What a deal. I checked at Quad-State and coal is
going for 18cents/#. Niagara is selling it for 14.6cents/#
Yes cost has gone up 25% from last year! What! But still a
deal. Price $5.00 for a 33# bucket (bring your own bucket)
Steel buckets with lids are available – we request a $2.00
donation to NYSDB for each bucket. Pay Bob Corneck (716
741 4311) Collect from Amherst Museum, Tonawanda
Creek Road (South)
(Museum not involved in money collection- just storage)
Page 19
The New York State Designer Blacksmiths
New Membership Form
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Your experience level:
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Membership includes 4 issues of the newsletter: Anvil's Chorus published about Jan 30, April 30, July 30
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Please write amount
All New memberships require an initiation fee of $10.00.
Regular membership dues are $20 per year. Multiple years are accepted.
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Send completed form and remittance (checks payable to NYSDB) to:
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New York State Designer Blacksmiths
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Buffalo, NY 14211-2826
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T he A n v i l’ s C h o r us
Remember!
Genesse Region:
Meetings held 3rd Saturday of the month. Rush, NY
Mohawk Region:
Meets at the Chittenango Barge Canal Museum Chittenango, NY
Meets 2nd Saturday of each month, excluding Dec.- Feb.
No meetings in months with schedule NYSDB Statewide meetings.
Niagara Region:
Meetings will be on the first Saturday of the month
Southern Tier Region:
All meetings are on the third Sunday of the month.
Adirondack Region:
First Saturday of each month
Feb 14 - Host Jeremy K., Depyster, NY
March 11- Host Marty Syne
April 8 - John Scarlett
Please submit your region’s schedule so we can post them here for quick reference.