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Organized in 1978, the
Appalachian Blacksmiths Association is an affiliate of ABANA. We represent blacksmiths,
bladesmiths, and farriers in West Virginia and its surrounding states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, and Kentucky. To join the ABA, click on Appalachian Blacksmiths Association
© 2008 Nothing herein may be reproduced unless permission of the submitter and/or the Appalachian Blacksmiths Association is given.
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Century-old Smithy Still Intact New Owner Making Plans to Save Shop I live in Orange, MA. I have lived here since 1971. The blacksmith shop is in the center of Orange and is about 200 years old. I first walked into Phil Nystrom's shop when I arrived in town. He was a real character. His father started the blacksmith shop about 100 years ago, and Phil learned the trade from his dad. About ten years ago my in-laws bought the building from the man to whom Phil willed it. Upon my father-in-law's passing, my mother-in-law asked me to help her. She put it up for sale and decided to sell off the tools and perhaps, demolish the building (if it did not sell) for the timbers. But, recently, I walked inside with some guys who were interested in some of the tools and just fell in love with the place again. And so, I am trying to talk her into saving everything, just as it is and perhaps, make it into a museum or an education spot. She seems up for that and I am off on another project!! I love challenges. I have gathered some folk who feel the same way as I do, and we are just starting to gather info to apply for a historical designation from the state, which will then place the building on the National Historic Register. The other step is applying for 501c3 status. I am meeting with two professionals—an accountant (the treasurer) and a lawyer! I can feel the momentum starting in my veins, and encouraging words like yours, in your email, just add fuel to the fire. You should look into what Orange was about 100 years ago—a very important part of the industrial revolution, with many industries located on the Millers River to take advantage of water power. Have a great
day, Bill Mehr
President's Message This year certainly is flying by. I just came home from the Spring Conference, and we are in the planning stages for the Fall Conference. I have some good suggestions from members regarding demonstrations they would like to see and some activities they would like to have for future conferences. One suggestion was for a contest such as, “best weather vane”, and another suggestion was for a gallery or display area for members to show their favorite forged item or shop made tool. For demonstration, it was suggested that we have someone do repousse, and I am working on that for the fall conference. The Spring Conference was a good time as always. We had excellent demonstrations by Dan Easley and lots of good items in the auction and “iron in the hat”. I won’t be able to make it to Joe’s & Jeff’s hammer-in on June 21st, but I recommend it to anyone who can get there. The Harris family always put on a good event!
See Ya! Brian
Ted and Jeff's Excellent Hammer-InBy Aaron Cutright Ted Banning and Jeff McCready hosted an ABA member Hammer-in on April 12, 2008. This writer made the short trip up Rt. 68 to Washington, WV to Ted Banning’s shop from my home in Ripley, WV that morning. Although certainly not as far to travel as some of the folks in attendance, it turned out to be well worth the trip. What a beautiful day for a hammer-in. I arrived about one-half hour late, but luckily all the action was just beginning. After a short look-see/tour of Ted’s shop and a few hello’s to other smiths I had met at previous events, things began to heat up, literally. Jeff made the announcement that the order of the day was whatever anyone wanted to make or do. Our hosts had a nice display of blades for everyone to see set up in the shop. There were Damascus blades made of differing combinations of steel, and blades made of cable Damascus on display. There were even a few “bad” pieces presented to illustrate bad welds in the material. Also on display were, I believe, some Mokume Gane pieces our hosts had created. Then the propane forge was fired up and things began to move pretty quickly. Jeff announced and pointed out that they had several pieces of cable prepped and welded up with handles for anyone wanting to try their hand at making a billet of cable Damascus. It didn’t take long for someone to step up and get busy making a billet. Throughout the day, there was a flurry of activity around the forging area. Ted worked on a spear point with a welded socket, although he did have some problems sticking the weld on the socket. Hope you finally got that critter whipped, Ted. Kim Thomas, our demonstrator for the Fall 2006 conference, attended this hammer-in and lent his expertise when needed. Good to see you again, Kim! Jeff, in between everything else going on, worked on a billet for Mike ? (Sorry, I can’t remember his last name!) That was an education in itself. That billet got welded, drawn, cut and stacked, welded again, drawn, twisted, flattened, drawn, etc. I can’t wait to see how that one turned out. I myself took a shot at a cable Damascus billet. What an opportunity, as I consider myself as somewhat a “newbie”. Jeff showed his exemplary skill and excitement for the craft by walking me through each step in what he called “a five heat process”. I’ll admit I was a little intimidated at first by the hydraulic forging press and the power hammer, but that faded very quickly. I especially enjoyed the power hammer. (Note to self: You gotta build one of those!) I ended up taking home a pretty nice cable billet to work on. Thanks guys! Lunch followed shortly thereafter. There were plenty of hot dogs and smoked sausages, along with a variety of chips and condiments. Mrs. Banning did a great job with the selection of the food. Also, the fellows that manned the grill did a wonderful job keeping up with demand. Quite a tasty spread, in my opinion. After lunch, everyone went back to the business at hand, either visiting with friends or working in the shop. The Iron-In-The-hat started taking shape, with several nice items being donated to the cause. Yours truly took on the task of selling tickets and I am proud to report that after all was said and done, raised over $100 for the association’s coffers. That’s what it is all about, fellows.
When this writer left that afternoon, there was still action in the shop, and
several attendees still having a great day. Attending the hammer-in: Archie Owens, Jay Hayes, Kim Thomas, Rob Barnett, Aaron Cutright, Richard Caplinger, Gary Thomas, Steve Thomas, Don Conner, Mary Schiffbauer, Tim Schiffbauer Sr., Tim Schiffbauer Jr., Mike Bolen, Jim Shaver, Larry Bailey, Dave Masten, Ken Liegey, Chris Buckley, Dave Summerfield, Joe Harris, Dave Robertson, Paul Merkel, Jeff McCready, Ted Banning, Ann Banning, Walter Banning
More about the Hammer-In I hope someone will send you a more complete write-up about Ted's Hammer In. A lot of those in attendance spent time making cable Damascus billets, under the friendly supervision of Ted and Jeff. They were using a gas forge fired by Jay Hay's burners. A press and hammer both made by Ted and Jeff were used to forge the billets. There was hot coffee available during the whole sometimes chilly day. Cold drinks were also available all day. Lunch time brought folks together in small groups to share their knowledge about blades and other ironwork or just to socialize. My time was well spent looking at the horde of stock Ted has, the blades and knives he and Jeff had made, and the armor that Ted made. Also of great interest were the machines used to make all of this and more. Many of the machines were made in the shop. Kim Thomas and Ted struck a deal on a large fly press. So the press now has a new home and will fit right in with all the other production tools in Ted's shop. There were two membership renewals and iron in the hat netted $124.00. All in all, a great day.
Joe Harris Greetings. This year's Hammer-In was a big success! The shop was clean after a month of 16-hour days cleaning and the weather was perfect! We had over 25 attendees from all over—see the list. The main activity this year was forge-welding steel cable or "wire rope" into billets to make knives out of later. We used both the press and the power hammers to make the billets. The press does the welding in two heats and the hammers were used to draw out the material to the desired size. This was all done in of Jay Hayes' two-burner forge kits. One attendee, Mike Bolen, brought an L-6 laden stack which was welded up, twisted, and folded many times yielding a very fine pattern. Dave Robertson produced a quite large (of course) cable billet which had a single, large cold shut in the middle so we cut it in half and sandwiched a piece of spring steel between them, and it all welded up beautifully. That's actually a Japanese technique called San Mai which simply means, "three layers". Chris Buckley had a real headache of a project to repair some farm implement...I think a still have a couple drill bits left after all the drilling. ;) My apprentice from when we lived in South Carolina came for several days. He really wanted to make a spear, but Jeff and I never made one before so we tasked our honored special guest-star Kim Thomas to lend a hand. Lunch was great. And Iron-In-The-Hat was really fun with my four-year-old son, Walter, calling out the numbers.
Ted Banning Rekindling the FiresThis article is available online
Appalachian Power HammersA blacksmith in Canada and a bladesmith in Oklahoma sent in photos of their power hammers built from "Rusty" plans. You can view more “Rusty” style power hammers in the Worldwide Gallery at the ABA website: http://www.appaltree.net/rusty/association/association.htm
By Dave Allen, Editor
Alfred Habermann, the renowned European blacksmith, died April 28, 2008 in Austria. He was 78. His colleagues called him “the pope of blacksmiths” and also a “globetrotter” because he had demonstrated his art just about everywhere. He was living in the former Czechoslovakia in 1982 when he was granted permission to travel to the United States and demonstrate at the ABANA Conference held at Ripley, WV. At the time, Czechoslovakia was under Soviet control—the Iron Curtain. Alfred’s wife and family were not allowed to travel with him. They were essentially held hostage to discourage Habermann from defecting. Bob Bergman remembered Alfred’s demo at Cedar Lakes. Alfred told the crowd, " If it comes out good, it’s a sculpture. If not, a candleholder."
Here’s a photo of Alfred taken by Ed & Linda Stutler.
Print and Publishing Information The Appalachian Blacksmiths Association Newsletter is composed and written by the Editor(s) except as noted. ABANA Blacksmith Affiliate Newsletter Editors may reprint material herein provided its use is for non-commercial, educational purposes and appropriate acknowledgements are given. For all others, the material printed herein may not be reproduced without permission of ABA and/or the submitter. The ABA, its officers, its members, contributors, editors and writers specifically disclaim any responsibility, or liability for any damage, or injury as a result of the use of any information published in the ABA Newsletter or demonstrated at an ABA meeting or conference. Every effort is made to insure the accuracy and safety of information provided but the use by our members and readers of any information published herein or provided at meetings is solely at the user’s own risk. The Appalachian Blacksmiths Association is a non-profit, WV corporation, formed under Sec. 501(c)3, and is an affiliate of the Artist Blacksmiths Association of North America.
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