Disclosure Statement - Hand Tool Makers is one of my sites. Which is to say, whatever I say in this review is completely biased, self-serving and should be taken with no more than one grain of salt. Or in my case, no salt at all. High blood pressure, ya' know. Read Full Story
This may very well be one of my shortest blog posts in history. What out-of-print crafts and trades books would you like to see in print again? I have my list, many of which are new to the community (my secret... if I told you, it wouldn't be a secret, as my nephew so wisely put it). Everyone has their favorites. What are yours? Read Full Story
A few people have contacted me about the recent release of Mechanick Exercises in a digital format. The experience of reading it as it was printed, warts and all, gave the hands-on feeling I was looking for. But... the question is: why is there scan-through and is that a mistake? Read Full Story
Lately I've been reading up on cloth book bindings of the 19th century. It's not a difficult topic to read up on as there is not all that much written on the subject. At least in comparison to some other topics. i've become one of those peculiar people who, if he reads or purchases a book with a jacket, immediately removes the jacket to see what the cased cover looks like (casing being the typical cloth binding method of today). I want to see if there is an imprint in faux gold on... Read Full Story
At long last the digital version of Joseph Moxon's Mechanick Exercises: or The Doctrine of Handy-Works applied to the Arts of Smithing, Joinery, Carpentry, Turning and Bricklayery, to which is added Mechanick Dyalling... is for sale through The Toolemera Shop. Glitches have been deglitched. Usable on most any operating system out there (I don't know about Mac OS 5, but you never know), all you need is a computer. On CD-Rom, complete with a nice introduction (written by yours t... Read Full Story
it's hard enough digging up information on the history of tool makers. Usually the answer you need is buried in some book, on some shelf and most likely you forgot where you put it. Or at least that is typically my problem. Even more problematic is that most independent researches into the history of tools and trades publish one edition and that is that. The initial print run is sold out and then it's off to Ebay or a tool auction in hopes of finding a copy at an affordable price. Read Full Story
I ask you, what does an old book have in common with a Stanley #55? Or even a #444?? The answer is, drumroll please... lots. Sorry if that was a letdown in the excitement department. Hey, you made a choice in reading this blog post. I just write the stuff when the spirit moves me.Lately I've been researching authors of 18th, 19th and early 20th century books on the trades. Mostly on woodworking, but also on leather, bookbinding, textiles, and even design. What surprises me most are the n... Read Full Story
The Deacon's Masterpiece; or The Wonderful "One-Hoss Shay"
by Oliver Wendell Holmes
A Logical Story
Have you heard of the wonderful one-horse shay,
That was built in such a logical way
It ran a hundred years to a day,
And then, of a sudden, it--ah but stay,
I'll tell you what happened without delay,
Scaring the parson into fits,
Frightening people out of their wits,
Have you ever heard of that, I say?... Read Full Story
