The CLINKER BREAKER - Florida Artist Blacksmith Association

. -
CONTRIBUTORS:
The
AUGUST, 1990
Carl Austin
Norma Austin
Mike Berlin
Mary Brandenburg
Pete Brandenburg
John Dittmeier
Joe Farina
Jim Lollis
Clyde Payton
Florida
CLINKER BREAKER
Florida Artist Blacksmith Associatiorr-Chapter &f ABANA, Inc .
Established May 18, 1985 Treasury: $6269.61 Membership: 161
ONLY TWO MEW LOGO SUGGESTIOMS, SO FAR
The April Quarterly Statewide meeting assigned Joe Farina to consider nek logo
designs. So far, Joe has proposed one new design himself, and received one more from
Mike Berlin. If you have a design or a suggestion for changing one of the logos below,
send it to Joe Farina, 374 River Edge Road, Jupiter, PL 33477. It doesn't need to be
final artwork. Mike's is a preliminary sketch, and Joe's is a reduced resolution
computer plot.
Sketch of New Logo
by Mike Berlin
Sketch of New Logo
by Joe Farina
Our Present Logo
by Jerry Grice

The Florida Clinker Breaker, August, 1990 '
FLORIDA ARTIST BLACKSMITH ASSOCIATION - Chapter of ABANA, Inc.
PO Box 1601, Zolfo Springs, FL 33890
President (90-91): Lewis Riggleman, PO Box 247, San Antonio, FL 33576 Chl (904) 521-3515, Cwl (813) 937-4281
Vice-President (89-90): Jerry Grice, PO Box 5914, Tallahassee, FL 32314, CAI (904) 421-4788, Iwl (904) 878-1977
Sec./Treas. (90-91): Norma & Carl Austin PO Box 1601, Zolfo Springs FL 33890 [hl (813) 735-0257
Newsletter Ed. (89-90): Pete Brandenburg, 249 Granada Rd., Uest Palm ~e&h FL 33101 Ihl (407) 833-2708 [wl 640-0445
Program Chair (90-91): Steve Kalb, 691 Astarias Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33419, [hl (813) 481-8420, Iwl (813) 489-1620
Board Memb. #I (90-91 ): Clyde Payton, RR 3 Box 124D, Monticel lo, FL 32344, [hl (904) 997-3627, [wl (904) 488-0577
Board Memb. #2 (89-90):Skeeter Prather, 2816 Terry Road, Tallahassee FL 32312, Ihl (904) 386-9246
Board Memb. #3 (90-91 ): Joe Farina, 374 River Edge Road Jupiter, FL 33477 [hl (407) 744-8323
Board Memb. #4 (89-90): Tico Rubio 6121 NU 60 St. ~ca[a, FL 32675, [hl (404) 351-8056
Board Memb. #5 (90-91 ): J. C. ~awkins, 13534 NU 166 Avenue, Morriston, FL 32668, [hl (904) 528-3348
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The regions have no boundaries-everyone is welcome everywhere. Come to more than one if you can. Ue hold regular
monthly meetings in each region (except that we all try to get together at one Statewide Meeting quarterly) on the fol-
lowing Saturdays of each month: NE-lst, NU-Znd, SE-3rd, & SU-Last. The actual dates may vary from month to month;
check the schedule below. Our meetings are informal gatherings around the forge. Prospective members are always
welcome, of course! Come for all or any part of a meeting. Bring your tools or just watch. Most meetings run from
9 am to 4 pm, and youlLL need Lunch if you stay all day, unless the schedule below says otherwise.
August 4, 9 am:
August 11, 9 am:
August 18, 9 am:
August 18:
August 25, 10 am:
Sept. 8, 9 am:
Sept. 29, 10 am:
Oct. 12-13:
Mid-Oct . :
Nov. 10, 9 am:
Nov. 24, 10 am:
Dec. 8, 9 am:
Dec 29, 10 am:
April, 1991:
Northeast region, Pioneer Settlement, Barberville.
Northwest region, Ed & Nancy Crane's shop, Tallahassee.
Southeast region, Bob Ringer's shop, Fort Lauderdale.
Deadline for getting something in next month's newsletter (two
weeks before the first Saturday of the following month).
Southwest region, Crowley Museum, Sarasota.
Northwest region, Clyde & Vi Payton's shop, Monticello.
Southwest region, Crowley Museum, Sarasota.
Annual State Conference, Pioneer Settlement, Barberville, featuring
Peter Ross of Colonial Williamsburg
Fred Caylor's week-long Fall blacksmith class, Ocala area. The
class is full. Call Fred Caylor (below) to get on a waiting list.
Northwest region, Skeeter & Lou Prather's shop, Tallahassee.
Southwest region, Crowley Museum, Sarasota.
Northwest region, Tallahassee Junior Museum.
Southwest region, Crowley Museum, Sarasota.
Fred Caylor's week-long Spring blacksmith class, Ocala area. Con-
tact Fred Caylor for details: 3602 S. 800 E., Zionsville, IN
46077, home (317) 769-6351, shop (317) 769-6537.
FABA'S 1990 ANNUAL CONFERENCE AT BARBERVILLE
The Florida Artist Blacksmith Association will hold its 1990 Annual Conference on
Friday, October 12, and Saturday, October 13, at the Pioneer Center for the Creative
Arts in Barberville, Florida, near Daytona Beach. The program will include two nation-
ally known demonstrators, A1 Pendray and Peter Ross. We also will have a series of
craft workshops in the family program organized by Maggi Rubio.
A1 Pendray will lecture and demonstrate on the subject of Wootz and Damascus
steel. A1 is a Master Bladesmith and an internationally recognized expert on the
ancient Wootz cake steel of India and Persia. Peter Ross is the resident blacksmith at
Colonial Williamsburg. He specializes in colonial hardware, tools, and other imple-
ments. Peter is well known for his exquisite work and excellent demonstrating ability
(for example, see page 5). Of course, we will have several other demonstrators to
cover the broad field of blacksmithing.
We had our 1989 Conference at the Pioneer Center for the Creative Arts. It was
an ideal Conference site. There are a number of inexpensive motels nearby, there is
camping space on the premises, and the Center provided excellent home-cooked meals.
We'll have more details in next month's newsletter.
The Florida Artist Blacksmith Association - Chapter of Artist Blacksmith Arsociatlon of Worth America IN: (iABA) Is a m-profit rducatio~l
organiratlm uhos. prposes are
to teach, pramtc end preserve the art of blacks?ithing. FAOA is a state chapter of the Artist nl&ksmiih Associatlon of North America Ire (ABANA). The Florida Clinker
Breaker 3% plblirlkd mthly, srd ormal rubscrlpt~on is Iml4 with FABA mrherrhip. Ue salicit correspondence and -id articles on'ony iubjects related to FABA's pr-
Send to' 1532 Old Okeechobee Road #I03 Vest Palm Beach, FL 33409. Information received by the 15th of the month can be Included In the neat math's issue. Won-cow-
!%:;d materlsi ma be reprinted in ABluA cheiter newsletters, provided it is credited to the author and to this newsletter. The author's prmirsion is required to reprint
copyrighted mterisr wless otheruise noted-uealt plt you in touch.

I
7/14
NORTHWEST REGION
Ed & Nancy Crane's Shop
(904) 893-3212
829 Lake Ridge Drive
Tallahassee
7/28
SOUTHWEST REGION
Dale Kipp (813) 747-6743
.
The Florida Clinker Breaker, August, 1990
HOW TO FIND THE AUGUST? 1990? MEETINGS
Settlement \\
Deland
Highway 11
I
To New
Srnyrna Beach
717
NORTHEAST REGION
Pioneer Art Settlement
Tico Rubio (904) 351-8056
Barberville
4 N
7/21
SOUTHEAST REGION
Bob Ringer (305) 772-3802
Welding
Crowley Museum (813) 322-1000 old-~ixie
1 16404 Myakka Road, Sarasota 792 NE 45 St., Fort Lauderdale

The Florida Clinker Breaker, August, 1990
.
BOOK REVIEW . . . Time Again
Clyde Payton
From many corners, our members and readers have been asking about some books on BLACKSMITHJNG, which (by some)
might be referred to as the CLASSICS, or at Least those that must be-on one's I'MUST HAVE" List. First of all Let me
assert that, according to my observations and experiences, the def in1 tive works pub1 ished on the subject of btacksmithing
down through the ages have been so few, so far between, so anemic, or so downright off-track, that it necessitates
anything written on the subject to be put on the MUST HAVE List! Such is the sad state of the available Literature
on a foundation industry and art that birthed the Fi%-Lization," as known by you and me.
The lBOOK1a is the greatest achievement ever accomplished by the intellect of mart-but, books come in many covers.
So, before I delve into a book review, let me gently remind the reader that MUSEUMS are also fantastic
llBOOKS1@-storehouses for knowledge, also.
Those museums that feature blacksmithing in particular are some well known, and some not so well known:
1. The SHELBURNE MUSEUM, INC.: Shelburne Vermont (seven miles south of Burlington). This is a 50-acre site,
featuring one of the best-equipped antique blacksmith shops in the world-plan to spend at Least three days.
2. OLD STURBR!DGE VILLAGE: Sturbridge Massachusetts-this Living history museun was established in 1946. It has
over 40 buildings, and covers over 200 acres. The Large, well-equipped blacksmith shop features more than one
resident blacksmith.
3. COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG: Williamsburg, Virginia-the resident blacksmith for this I1Living is ABANA member,
Peter Ross; he will be a chief demonstrator at the FABA October Conference at Bart?erviLLe, Florida.
4. The SAMUEL YELLIN FOUNDATION & MUSEUM: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-(see book description #lo).
5. The TULLIE SMITH BLACKSMITH GUILD: Atlanta, Georgia-ABANA member Mike Shaffer is president.
6. Restored OLD SAINT AUGUSTINE, Florida.
7. The NATIONAL ORNAMENTAL METAL MUSEUM: Memphis, Tennessee. ABANA member Jim Wallace is curator of this museum.
8. PIONEER PARK FORGE: Andersonville, Georgia-this is the site of the National Historic Monument & Cemetery of
the Civil War Andersonville Prison. Ja Reakirt is the resident blacksmith.
9. PIONEER ART SETTLEMENT AND MUSEUM: ~arLrvi 1 le, F Lorida-FABA members Bi 1 1 Gichner and Lester Hol lenbeck
donated the tools and equipment for the blacksmith shop, which FABA members built for this Central Florida
museum.
10. TANNEHILL STATE PARK: McCalla, Alabama, near Bessemer and Birminghawthis pre-Civil War iron furnace features
a restored blacksmith shop, which is the frequent site of meetings of the Alabama Forge Council, a chapter of
ABANA .
11. SLOSS FURNACE STATE MUSEUM: Birmingham, Alabama-this was the site of the 1988 ABANA International Conference.
When you happen to be in their areas, be sure and stop by these museuns, and drink deeply of their offerings-a serious
visit to a museun is worth the reading of many books.
And Now for the BOOKS, a Few of the IIMUST .HAVESm1
The ONE book that put l~blacksmithingl~ back into the vocabulary of America was written in the nineteen-sixties by
an Atlanta, Georgia, advertising executive. Alex W. Beater, deceased now, was a hard-working family man and the father
of five children. His eldest daughter is married to Ivan Bailey, a well-know professional blacksmith former1 of
Savannah, Georgia-now racticing in Atlanta. Alex had an~obsession with the old fashioned craft of blacksmitling, and
he wanted to preserve tiis Lost art forever-how well he did! His book, now in its third printing, was the sole instrument
that revived this forgotten craft.
1. BEACER, Alex W., The Art of Blacksmithing, New York, Funk & Wagnalls Press, 1969438 pages. This should be
our very first book.
3. SMITH, H. R. Bradley, Blacksmithin and Farriers' Tools at Shelburne Museum,.Shelburne, Vermont, The Shelburne
Museum, Inc., Publishers. ~ u s e ~ ~ ~ m ce 2 ~ / 2 pages. e s ~ rs r an excel lent, comprehensive catalogue
of the description and use of all blacksmith tools.
3. CoSIRA, Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas, Publisher:
W. S. Cowell, Ltd., Butler Market, Ipswich
London, England - UK - SW19 4UP
also
CoSIRA, Advisor Services Division
P. 0. Box 717, 55 Camp Road, Wimbleton Comnon
London, England - UK - SWl9 4UP 01-946 5101
- .
This crafts preservation agency in England has printed a great deal of materials on blacksmithing. My favorite works by
CoSIRA are:
a. The Blacksmith's Craft Publication #54, 1952-1976, 104 pages;
b. f i u t ronwor ,mication #55, 1953-1974, 97 ages; and
c. Deco%ti-ork, Publication #73, 1962-1973 79 pages
4. Now comes a very unusual blacksmith author who was born'in Java, and educated in Hot land as an engineer. He is
an absolute master in teaching you how to make your own tools, also tempering and recycling. He wrote three excellent
books:
WEYGERS, Alexander G., Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. Press, New York, New York,
a. The Makin of Tools, 1973 93 pages;
b. Th"6 d - ~ ~ a m t 1974 h , 96 pages- and
c. m-in Use, andReiir of TOOIS, 1978, 112 pages.
5. WIGcI NTONTE a f F o 7 i re-6bP*n%orms ~nchor Press/Doubl+ay,. Garden City, New York. This is a
series of nine books that treats every kind of country and folk craft you can imagine. His first was published in 1972,
and number nine in 1986. Nunber five devotes a considerable portion to 01' fashioned country blacksmithing. Number
nine devotes more than half of the book to wagon making by ABANA member Jud Nelson of Sugar Valley, Georgia.
6. RICHARDSON, M. T., Practical Blacksmithin Weathervane Books, New York. This is actually four volunes in one,
which was originally published in 18-i volune covers just about every area of the craft you can imagine,
and a few you can't.
7. BLANDFORD, Percy W., The Practical Handbook of .BL;cks;ithin] and Met;lworking, TAB Books, Inc., Blue Ridge Summit,
Pennsylvania 17214, 1980,745 pages. ~hisaafair y a vance book, a is very thorough.
8. SCHMIRLER, Otto, Werk und Werkzeu des Kunstschmieds, Verlag Ernst Wasmuth, Tubingen, Austria, 1981, 128 pages.
9. TUCKER, Ted, P r a c ~ l ~ o d r - Blacksmith, e
Roda le Press, Emus, Pennsylvania, 1980, 227 pages. This
is a good book for the beginner.
10. ANDREWS Jack, Ed e of the Anvil, Rodale Press, Emnaus, Pennsylvania, 1977, 210 pages. This is another basic
book that contafns a p o r d h ofmraphs ~
of Samuel Yellin's work. Andrews is the curator of the Samuel Yellin
Foundation and Museum mentioned above.
Yes, there are a few other good books around, and for the experienced reader in the art, I am sure I have missed one of
your favorites. If I have, please send a review of it into the Clinker Breaker. But, for now this w i l l certainly get
one on track. Just go to our friendly neighborhood book store (at m g ma1 l), and ask them to order your
choices-I guarantee you tley will not have any in stock on the shelves! You also may check your Local Library, and ask
that they procure these titles for you through their interlibrary lending service. !!!HAPPY READING!!!
[Editor's note: the interlibrary loan service is great for getting unusual or expensive books. Any public
Library w i l l do this for you if you have a library card. Some even take requests over the phone.
(continued on page 11)

PETER ROSS WORKSHOP NOTES
Notes by Doug Hendrickson
Illustrations by Jerry Hoffman
The Florida Clinker Breaker, August, 1990
[from an article about the Blacksmiths Association of Missouri's
March, 1990, workshop from their April-May, 1990, newsletter]

The Florida Clinker Breaker, August, 1990

The Florida Clinker Breaker, August, 1990

The Florida Clinker Breaker, August, 1990
I ' I
NEWS FROM ALFRED: THE 1990 ABANA CONFERENCE
Pete Brandenburg -
Nine FABA members made the Long trek-to Alfred, New York, for the 1990 ABANA conference on June 27 through July
1 (and inspired three more ABANA members to join FABA). This was a good showing, considering the distance and the number
of our members who never received the conference mailing. The mailing screw-up turned out to be just about the only
blip in a flawlessly organized and smoothly executed conference. Even the mild s m r weather was near perfect, and the
food was f i-ne.
This was the Largest conference that Alfred State College ever held. About 800 blacksmiths, accompanied byabout
600 family members and guests, attended. The New York State Designer Blacksmiths did an outstanding job putting
the conference together. Because of the Large number of people, they stressed safety precautions at every turn. Even
the electrical hooku s for the demonstration sites, an area where blacksmiths are notorious1 casua!, were carefu!Ly
thought out. The 1990 conference wi 11 be a tough act to follow for the California Blacksmitx Association, which is
sponsoring the 1992 ABANA conference.
There was too much to do. At all times during the three days, the conference was running six blacksmithing
demonstrations, a beginners1 teaching station, a consultatjon demo with Jud Nelson or Francis Whitaker, four or five
business seminars, a number of slide shows, and seven or eight
family craft programs. There were also an assortment of
meetings on ABANA business, the ABANA-chapter relationship and
so forth plus a tinsmithing demonstration one-day an onghing
art exhi6ition and demonstrations by the Yellin sriliths and LMC
Corporation, who did the repousse work on the Statue of Liberty
restoration. In the evenings, the art exhibit, slide lectures,
panel discussions, the auction, and the Alfred pubs kept most
people busy, while a few determined souls kibitzed and hamnered
into the night out at the demonstration sites.
Walt Anderson made it to Alfred after visiting a
number of places on the way, including the impressive Yellin
shop in Philadelphia. Walt seemed to be trying to take
everything in at once. Pete And Mary Brandenburg tried to do
the same. Mary had been to the Last ABANA conference and
several state and regional conferences, but this was her first
blacksmithing conference where she didn't have to spend the
entire time teaching. Mary took in some blacksmithing demos,
the tinsmithing demo, and a few of the family craft rograms.
Pete and Mary picked up a bonanza of hamner and axe Leads at
Lunch by winning a prize-taped-under-the-chair-seat contest and
two iron-in-the-hats. Also as a Lunchtime orize. Ernest and
Marcella Frederick won a copy of the book, becoritive Hardware
for being married 48 vears. onger than most others there.' Demonstration Sites at Alfred State
Bi 11 ~ictiner was everywhere, of-course, taking it all in and
trying to sell a few things. Bill brought along the ironwork
collage that FABA gave him Last year for his 75th birthday to
display in the art exhibit. Herman and Genevieve Leukhardt also came, and Herman entered a sculpture in the art
exhibit. Four of our other members were busy demonstrating or Lecturing.
John Dittmeier took a stint at the beginners1 teaching station again. He had done this before at the 1988 ABANA
conference. John gave an unusually clear demonstration of basics, showing the fine points of how to keep things from
going wrong. Teaching what not to do is tricky because it's eas for students to get confused Later, by incorrectly
remembering the em asis on the thing that was wrong. On the otxer hand, the student need? to know whar not to do, and
how to correct progk when things start going wrong. John has an interesting twist in his demonstrations to avoid
this problem. First, he explained and demonstrated a technique. Then he got a volunteer to repeat his demonstration.
Finally he repeated the demonstration himself, explaining how his technique avoided the problems the volunteer was having.
This way John was able to hamner away at correct approaches without reinforcing wrong ways of doing things. The
result was a c[ear, effective demonstration where the students have a better idea of what to expect when they start
pounding. John1s demonstration was extremely popular, and won him a lot of praise.
Alex and Sharyn Klahm were busy trying to do everything. Alex gave a Lecture on practical business tips entitled
llWork Smarter Not Harderr1 in the tSusiness program. Alex is current1 the president of the National Ornamental &
Miscellaneous ~eta[s Association (NOMMA). In the past, Alex has written txe regular I1Work Smarter, Not Harder1' column
in NOMMA1s journal, The Fabricator. Alex specializes in ractical solutions to difficult problems encountered in historical
restorat~on = reconstruction, his firm's speciarties. His second presentation was entitled I1Restoration
Work.I1
Ray and Patti Nager both gave resentations at the conference. Ray and Patti don1t belong to FABA, but Ray is a
prominent Tampa blacksmith, and many or us know Ray and Patti well. Ra gave a cou le of demos and showed slides of his
work. Patti Nager gave a business program on the use of computers in txe Nagers1 byacksmi thing business.
Ray's first demo was one side of a stainless steel
repousse antelope head for a stainless steel gate. He showed
the complete development of the head from 16-guage sheet, with
a running comnentary about the peculiarities of stainless
steel. In his second demo, he covered the cleaning and
polishing of stainless steel, the problem of surface contamination
of stainless steel from steel tools, explained antique
finishing in detail, and talked about a flame galvanizing
system he uses in his shop. Ray has spent a Lot of time
perfecting weatherproof finishing techniques that w i l l stand up
to Florida's sun and w i l l protect his forge work from our
corrosive environment.
Ray also gave an impromptu Lecture on forging a mouse.
Herman Leukardt had made of copy of Ray's special anvil tool
for making mouse ears but found his.mice still didn't Look
Like Ray's. Ray expliined his technique. He has a remarkable
gift for forging animal figures. Let us know how it works,
Herman. Better yet, write it up as a newsletter article.
David Ponsler gave a presentation on fabrication and
forging in the business program. While he wasn't lecturing, he
was oarticularlv interested in LMC Coroorationls oresentation
on repousse and'the Statue of Liberty work.
Sculpture by John Dittmeier
Forged Steel & Found Object, 16"
,P
7

The Florida Clinker Breaker, August, 1990
John Dittmeier Francis Whitaker (R) Ray Nager Demonstrating
Demonstrating Compliments John on Stainless Steel Repousse
Beginning Techniques Demonstrat ion
Clay and Jackie Spencer are active primarily in the Alabama Forge Council, but belong to FABA as well. Clay
gave two demos, one on treadle hamner use and the other on treadle hamner tools, and Jackie took in some of the family
craft programs. Clay has concentrated on the treadle hamner in his blacksmithing work. In-fact, he took his first
blacksmithing class in 1987, but he hilt the treadle hamner that he used in his demonstrations in 1986. He has made an
impressive selection of dies and special tools for the treadle hamner.
Uatching Clay's demo, ! could see that the treadle hamner has two obvious and intriguing capabilities, but two
vexing Limitations. Its two big advantages are that-it-can lef. the blacksmith hamner by foot power, Leaving both hands
free to control the work, and that the hea head swinging on its secure pivot can precisely deliver a tremendous blow.
Clay's many treadle hamner tools Let him txe advantage of one or both features to combine very high striking force and
very good control in the same forging operation.
The treadle hamnerls major shortcomings are that it's inefficient, and that there are awkward movements in operating
it that seem to magnify the inefficienc . Single blows are fine, but prolonged hamner~ng 1s much easier w~th a
hand hamner. The treadle hamner itself probagly could be made as efficient as anyone would want by making it more complex
and expensive to eliminate friction losses in the seven ivot points and in the s ring vibrations. It's hard to
think ofa design that would make it easier to orrate, thougi One problem is that tR spring that holds the hamner
head up is stretched to its maximun force just w en the head strikes the work. It feels wrong. With a hand hamr, the
end of the swing is the easiest part. It's a more natural movement, which allows you to concentrate on control when it
matters most. Is there a way to design a treadle hamner spring mechanism with an over-center action, Like a snap-action
centerpunch, so the spring would be releasing built-up energy at the end of the stroke? It might seem more natural.
A more basic awkwardness is that ou obviously can't keep both feet firmly planted on the ground to steady yourself
while you work because you need one root to stomp on the treadle. Clay uses a hand grip on the head much of the
time to maintain good balance and to help hit harder. It works well, but it loses the advantage of hands-free hamnering.
Man more questions come to mind. Watching Clay, obviously an expert, use this machine was fascinating for a
novice ~iZe me
The cdnference included hours of animated meetings
and discussion of ABANA1s future and the ABANA-chapter
relationship. I'm optimistic. Things that have needed
fixing are getting fixed.
Unfortunately for Florida blacksmiths, the 1992
ABANA conference w i l l be even farther-away-than Alfred: It
w i l l be held on the ca s of the California Polytechnic
Institute in San Luis Xspo, California. Jere
Kirkpatrick, President of the California Blacksmith
Association, says the Institute's campus setting is much
Like that of Alfred State College and the have excellent
smithing facilities in their farr:er schoor. The
Institute's conference department sent. a representative to
work on the 1990 conference with the Alfred conference
people so they would know what to expect-a good idea. The
1994 ABANA conference Location is stjll up in the air but
the most Likely place at the moment is Depere, Wisconkin,
the site of the 1984 conference.
9
Clay Spencer Demonstrating
the Treadle Hammer

The Florida Clinker Breaker, August, 1990
I . b
NORTHWEST REGION MEETING AT JERRY & TYCEE GRICE'S, SATURDAY, JUNE 9
Jim Lollis
When you go to a meeting at Jerry's, you may as well be ready to work. Jerry had
a careful drawing of a gate prepared, and proceeded to call his troops together and
divide up the work. Jerry sectioned up his drawing, and assigned parts of it to
approximately 7 teams of two, each team responsible for producing about 4 pieces of the
gate. With a little advice and a demonstration of a scrolling jig from Jerry, everyone
jumped to it and commenced banging out some of 22 scrolled pieces from $" by
&" flat stock. This was a process of taking a close look at the drawing, working
through a couple of heats, going back to compare the steel with the sketch, and repeat-
ing these steps 'ti1 you had a reasonable facsimile. Clyde Payton and J. C. Hawkins
were charged with building a frame for the gate out of +" by 1" flat bar. Ben Ferguson
cut and finished two long-tailed birds from =" sheet, to be placed in the gate's upper
half, singing throatily to each other to be heard above the noise in Jerry's shop.
Most of the gate's components were completed before a delicious meal of barbeque and
trimmings.
After lunch, Jerry began to assemble all the pieces, and join them with spot
welds, covered by bands. The overall size of the gate is 5"-2" by 30" wide, and would
be worth near $800 locally to someone contracting for a wrought iron, hand-forged gate.
Should we start the auction bidding at $200?
Present were: Carl & Norma Austin, Henry Brewer, John Butler, Russell Collins,
Ben Ferguson, Jerry & Tycee Grice, Wayne Grissett, J. C. Hawkins, Lewis Hughey, Pat
Imbimbo, Jim Lollis, Debbie Parramore, Clyde Payton, Joe Piela, Bill Robertson, Maggi &
Tico Rubio, Art & Connie Schmidt, Ralph Thrower, Earl Woodland, and others. Everyone
didn't sign in. Debbie Parramore recorded the whole process on video cassette, we
assume for network TV.
NEWS FROM THE NORTHWEST
Jim Lollis and Clyde Payton
About 18 members and guests attended the July 14 Quarterly Statewide meeting at
the Tallahassee Junior Museum. The group finished the gate the northwest region had
begun at the June meeting at Jerry and Tycee Grice's shop, worked on a number of small
projects, and had a business meeting. Tycee Grice is writing up the minutes. We'll
have them in the next newsletter.
THE ANVIL-GOD'S WORD
submitted by Carl Austin
Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith's door,
And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;
Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor
old hammers, worn with beating years of time.
"How many anvils have you had," said I,
"To wear and batter all these hammers so?"
"Just one," said he, and then, with twinkling eye,
"The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."
And so, thought I, the anvil of God's Word,
For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;
Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,
The anvil is unharmed-the hammer's gone.
Author unknown
-
CAN YOU SOLVE THE MYSTERY?
Jerry Grimes, editor of The Tuyere, the newsletter of the Illinois Valley Blacksmith Association needs some
help. In his June/July, 1990, newsletter, he wrote: '#The Bill Valerius hamner-~n drew a 'quality' crowd May 6 in
Bensenville, IL. This was an excellent opportunity for participants to see, the Valerius Blacksmith Shop and enjoy the T
fellowship of other blacksmiths and their families .... A visiting blacksmith from Flor~da was also there, but doggone
~t, 1 didn't get his name. Somebody help me out."
If you were at the Valerius Blacksmith Shop on May 6, please Let Pete Brandenburg know, and he'll pass the word
to Jerry Grimes. And if anyone visits a meeting or a blacksmith in another state, tell the rest of us about it. Maybe
you've pick up some ideas we could use.
'-3

* 4945GLenwoodDrive
NEW MEMBERS
Carl and Norma Austin and Clyde Payton
' The Florida Clinker Breaker, August, 1990 '
Ken & Arlene Alexanderson Walter & Roby Howard Steve & Wendy Mamone Charlie Stemnann
P.O. Box 1436 9901 SW 67 Terrace 353 Shady Lane Road
Williamsville NY 14221 Yulee FL 32097 Ocala, FL 32676 Palm S rings FL 33461
H: (716) 631-3942 H: (964) 225-9475 H: (407) 964!8834
Bill & Jane Buckelew Ronald & Chinka Hoult David & Heather Olmstead Ed Swanson
15 Rue De Le Roi 4180 SW 48 Avenue Burtts Corner, NB EOH 1BO St. Lucie Cty. Hist. Mus.
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548 Palm City FL 34990 Canada 414 Seaway Drive
H: (407) 286-2628 H: (506) 363-5097 Fort Pierce, FL 34949
W: (407) 286-2628 W: (506) 453-9921 W: (407) 468-1795
Eddie Durrance Michael &-Maria Kidd
Route 1 Box 1452 (CR 90E) 1708 Hyacinth Avenue Roger & Lou Ann Scott Dan Thomas
Bunnell, FL 32110 FL 33872 P.O. Box 180 P.O. Box 163
H: (904) 437-3619 Eb;%!i 385-8506
Union KY 41091 Safety Harbor FL 34695
W:(904) 446-6117 w: (813) 453-1579 H: (666) 384-4097 H: (813) 855-6763
W: (606) 384-4122
Dr. Bill Buckelew8s main interest is in 01' timey farm blacksmithing. He grew up on a farm-he has been a
farmer-and wants to know the basics of smithing. Presently, he has no forge, but he just bought some tools in Missis-
sippi. He will be needing more tools of all kinds. Bill runs a family practice clinic in Fort Walton Beach.
Michael Kidd checked EVERY block on the-membership applicarion: He needs it all, including ltother.ll
Eddie Durrance says he had I1minor experience through shop in high school.11 Eddie needs a forge, blower, and
hand tools.
Ed Swanson is director of the Saint Lucie County Historical Museum and the nearby Underwater Demolition Museum.
He is starting from scratch, he needs EVERYTHING on the List! He is particularly interested in obtaining wheel and
wagon making tools.
Steve Mamone has had no blacksmith ex erience, and is interested in knife and tool making.
Ronald Holt needs anything and everytEing to get started . . . anvil, blower, etc.
David Olmstead joined at the ABANA conference in Alfred. David has built a complete shop in rural New
Brunswick. He has been blacksmithing for a number of years, but his two young children, Katie and Josh, have been com-
peting for his time Lately.
Charlie Stemnann Inhas had about 4 years blacksmithing experience.'' Charlie is an experienced machinist with his
own shop. Dan Thomas "has had 32 years as a shoer on racetracks.I1
FABA BALANCE SHEET FOR THE QUARTER ENDING JUNE 30, 1990
ASSETS :
Cash at First National Bank, Wachula, FL $6,138.41
Undeposited cash and checks 131.20
$6,269.61
LIABILITIES:
Total liabilities
ADDENDUM
Cash in the amount of $2,268.50 will go into and out of the FABA checking account
for the eleven (11) anvils ordered through me. Member Pat Imbimbo, also has orders,
and will pay for those direct to the foundry. Anvil funds are not included in the above
totals for the quarter.
BOOK REVIEW-CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
Submitted by Carl Austin, Treasurer
Ask for a Reference Librarian. Give him or her the title, author, rblisher, and date-the Librarian can usually dig
this out if you don't have everything--and ask for an interlibrary oan. Wait a few days to a few weeks. The Library
will request the book from other libraries, starting with those nearby, but going on up to the Library of Congress if
they can't find it anywhere else. Many Libraries w i l l also get copies of magazine articles for you this way. Best of
all, interlibrary loans are usually free.
Other good sources of blacksmithing books include the Centaur Forge, which sells dozens of books (plus tools and
supplies) by mail. To request their free catalog, write to the Centaur Forge at 117 Spring Street, Burlington, WI
53105. Another, with many books available, is Norm Larson, 5426 East Highway 246, Lompoc, CA 93436. Norm also has a
free catalog.. Both Centaur Forge and Norm Larson stock most of the books Clyde listed.1
SHOP TIP
To keep your slack tub from freezing, pick up a farmer's stock trough water heater at a farm supply house (about
830). It floats on the water, and has a built-in thermostat that only turns on when it gets below 35°F. It's electric,
and you want one with the wire coming out of the top. Also, unplug and remove it when quenching your iron, or you could
heat something else up! [From an article by Randy McDaniel from the newsletter of the Mid-Atlantic Smith's Association,
as reprinted in The Pennsylvania Striker, newsletter of the Pennsylvania Artist-Blacksmith Associationl.

Date
Name
Address
FABA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Florida Artist Blacksmith Association
- Chapter of ABANA, Inc.
El ty State ZIP
Home Business
Phone: Phone:
Spouse1 s name:
Are you interested in procuring:
[ I anvil [ I coal 1 I hand tools
1 I blower [ I forge I I post vise
[ I other
Send this application and a membership fee of $15 to:
Norma & Carl Austin
FABA Secretary/Treasurer
P. 0. Box 1601
Zolfo Springs, FL 33890
Make check out to FABA. The FABA membership year begins
May 1. Membership is a for a family. You don't have to
be an ABANA n#mber to join FABA, but many FABA members
are, and we encourage membership in both organizations.
The Florida Clinker Breaker
Florida Artist Blacksmith Association
1532 Old Okeechobee Road #lo3
West Palm Beach, FL 33409-5226
(407) 640-0445
Tallahassee
Sarasota
Barberville
(814)
AUGUST, 1990, MEETINGS
See page 2 for details
ABANA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Artist Blacksmith Association
of North America, Inc.
Name
Address
-
tl ty State ZIP
Phm:
1,
hereby apply for membership in the
Artist BLacksmlth Association of North America and
em 1 ose as my annual membership dues for one year.
Checks m u m US funds. Membership includes a subscription
to The Anvil's Ring.
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
VISA [ I Card nunber
Master Card [ I Exp. date
Signature
1 I Full time Student (1 year only) $25.00 per year
[ I Regular Membership ............. $35.00 per year
[ 1 Fami Ly Member (one vote) . . . . . . S40.00 per year
1 I Senior Citizen (age 65) ........ $25.00 per year
1 I Overseas Membership . . . . . . . . . . . 945.00 per year
[ I Contributory Member . . .. . . . . . . $100.00 per year
[ I Public Library Subsrciption .... $25.00 per year
Fort Lauderdale
(8118)
Call (812) 988-6919 to charge your membership to VISA or
Master Card, or make out a check to ABANA and send to:
ABANA
P. 0.-Box 1181
Nashville, Indiana 47488
r,,, 7°C Q
--.
A NEW FABA LOGO?
see page 1