[TheForge] Bill Gichner

[Woolley]

Greetings,
The first blacksmithing event I ever went to was a hammer- in at 
Gichner's Iron Age Antiques.  Although I hammer a bit I could never call 
myself a blacksmith, certainly not then, but being a fabricator and 
interested in all manner of handicraft it didn't take much from my 
blacksmith friend to get me down there for the day.  We got there early 
 and started the day checking out the tools for sale outside.  I had my 
eye on a rather nice Cincinatti Tool Co. post vice, you know, picking it 
up, turning it over, opening it and closing it, asking my friends 
whether $65 was a good price for it etc. when from behind me I hear " 
What are you waiting for, you know you want it.  At that price I can't 
believe it's still sitting there."  I laughed and turned around, knowing 
whoever just said it was right, and there was Bill Gichner looking at me 
like  come on kid, get with it.  That was my first meeting with Bill and 
although we never had a relationship I can truly say that I thought alot 
of him for being a catylyst and  just a positive influence on the 
blacksmithing community.  The demonstrations that were given that day 
were just great, each in their own way..   Brad Silberburg  twisting 
square stock,  Bob Bergman making flowers out of soda cans,  Lou Muller 
( I hope I got that name right)  showing Streeter's devices, writer Joan 
Kahr speaking about and showing an advance copy of her book  Edgar 
Brandt Master of Art Deco Ironwork.  The event was well attended and 
everyone got along so well  that it really made quite an impression on 
me.  Bill had quite a collection of tools for sale and I was 
particularly impressed with the amount of great books on metalworking of 
all kinds that he had.  I was interested in many of them but was put off 
by some of the prices.  Little did I know that many of the titles were 
out of print and not commonly available.  At one point later in the day 
I ventured upstairs and found a book on aluminum welding for $5.  Bill 
was directly involved in the sale and when he opened the book and saw 
the price he shot me a look like, got away with one didn't you boy.  Or 
maybe it was just my imagination.  What a character, what a great guy, 
 I will miss him.

Regards,
Bill Woolley


Bob Ehrenberger wrote:

>I've told this story before, but with Bill's passing this will probably be
>the last time.
>
>Several years ago Bill was at the Ozark Spring conference in Potosi Mo. My
>son Daniel who was about 14 at the time made the mistake of telling Bill
>that his tools were over priced, and that he could get the same thing for
>half the price a couple trucks down the tailgate area. Bill let him have it
>big-time about buying quality tools.  Daniel stood there and took it like
>someone that had gotten caught swearing.  But Bill didn't stop there,  every
>time he saw Daniel for the rest of the conference he would give him another
>leacture.  By the end of the weekend Daniel was like a hunted man, and
>always kept an eye open to where Bill was, and made a wide detour around him
>to avoid future lectures.
>
>Robert Ehrenberger
>Shelbyville, Mo.
>
>----Original message----
>From: RICK KORINEK <rickkorinek at rcn.com>
>Message-IDRe: [TheForge] Bill Gichner
>
>I know Bill Gichner is on the minds of many of you who knew
>him over the years.  I am one who has come to this craft
>recently and did not really know him.  I am hoping that you
>will continue to share your accounts of him and his
>contributions to your own carears and to the craft.  This
>will give us new-commers a better sense of him and the
>history of our craft.  I suspect he is one of the giants on
>whose shoulders we stand.  Thank you very much.
>
>-Rick
>Rick Korinek
>Emerald City Forge
>46 Joseph Road
>Framingham, MA
>508/320-7425
>
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