[TheForge] Re: [NEBList] bud oggier

[theforge@mailman.qth.net]

A crosspost from the New England Blacksmiths list, by request of the 
author...


In a message dated 10/26/02 6:35:34 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
bayhill291@aol.com writes:

> As we all think back on our varying degrees of association with Bud Oggier 
> over the years, a lot of stories should be coming up about him. He was a  
> very interesting man and lived life "his way", retiring from "the nut 
> house," 
> (the Allison Division of GMC) in the late sixties. He was a smart man and 
> had 
> a lot of retirement years to develop his many interests. One of them was 
> blacksmithing. Machine work was his profession. He was a Master Mechanic 
> and 
> as he once said to me when I naively asked if he knew anything about some 
> machine I was lusting for. "Dave, I've set up and ------ up every machine 
> ever made." In the sixties his signature could appropriate machines up to 
> one 
> million dollars (when it was real money) and they had to pay for themselves 
> 
> in 6 months. A year at the most.
> 
> I first met Bud in 1971 when he and his wife Val visited my first shop in 
> Newfield Maine. It was a rickety old two car garage. You could throw a 
> stone 
> out through the cracks in the walls. When Bud walked in he introduced 
> himself, looked around to take in the situation and made up his mind. A 
> work 
> bench, grinder, wooden forge, good anvil and a hand blower. that's all. 
> "This 
> guy is a nut, needs help and I wonder if he'll make it" is what he must 
> have 
> thought. Good luck and goodby.
> 
> Over the years our paths, of course, crossed often. He was a great help and 
> 
> resource over the years and it was at the 1978 ABANA conference when 
> several 
> of us from NE, including Bud, decided to form up the NEB.  This last 
> workshop 
> Bud attended was the 50th event and our 25th year. There's only two of us 
> still around.
> 
> One of my favorite stories was one he told about his journeyman's migration 
> 
> to the Midwest. His intent was to work for any company for six months or 
> until he stopped learning, whichever came first, and then move on. One shop 
> 
> he found himself at was a locomotive repair shop. There was an evident 
> difference in perspective between the management and Bud. When he stated 
> his 
> intent to move on (his six months were passed) they insisted he stay on and 
> 
> increased his pay. This happened a couple of times but he didn't think he 
> was 
> learning any thing new. So, while helping to lift a locomotive, he saw the 
> floor was clear, and dropped it. He was on the road again. 
> 
> We'll miss you Bud
> 
> David A. Court
> Bay Hill Forge
> Northfield, NH.



   Bill Alleman
   Tavern Village Forge & Woodcraft
   Weare, NH



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