[TheForge] Reproductions, was PLEASE! Stop the Stupid comments

Tue Apr 30 17:54:03 2002

I have to disagree that the only reason for doing a piece non-traditionally
is to make as much money as possible. I do the work I do with the skills I
have so as to produce the best piece possible. If I make more money, so be
it. If I make less than a traditional smith, so be it. The goal is to
produce the best product I am capable of using whatever techniques I have
available to me.

Regards,
Donn

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Rackers" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 4:15 PM
Subject: RE: [TheForge] Reproductions, was PLEASE! Stop the Stupid comments

> My simplest explanation is this.
> If the end product is most important, then do it however you want to get
it
> done as efficiently as possible.
> In other words, if your primary concern in blacksmithing is to make as
much
> money as possible doing it, then do what it takes to do that.
>
> If the process is the most important, then stick to the traditional
process.
> If your primary concern is learning how things were done when blacksmiths
had
> no choice but to do them that way, then using more modern methods isn't
going
> to teach you much.
>
> If the goal is to make as much money doing it as traditionally as
possible,
> then you've got more decisions to make about where the dividing line is.
>
> By the way, I highly recommend the show on PBS "Frontier House".
> The same principle applies.
> Why would anyone put themselves through the experience of trying to live
as was
> done in the late 19th century and forego all the modern conveniences?
> I'm sure we all know the answer to that one.
>
> Bob
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of D.E. Barnes
> Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 4:58 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [TheForge] Reproductions, was PLEASE! Stop the Stupid comments
>
>
> That is exactly what I am saying. The only person who will have any
> knowledge of the process is the smith producing the work. If traditional
> process/material is important to her/him, then use traditional
> process/material for the pure satisfaction of doing so. Otherwise what
does
> it matter? You are producing a product to sell. Your client won't
> know/care/understand traditional process/material, so unless it is a
deeply
> held philosophy, why should you?
>
> Regards,
> Donn
>
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