[TheForge] Museum Shop Work

[Jerry Frost]

Most places doing living history are always looking for 
volunteers to demo or as in your case provide product 
for the gift shop. The couple times I've had an 
opportunity to visit one, (no living history sites in 
my area of AK.) I was all but given the keys to the 
place.

The first time I was visiting my folks on Lake Davis 
Ca. and they surprised me by calling a local mining 
museum. The curator called the guys who demoed on 
occasion, put a notice in the paper that the park would 
be open on such and such date and sold tickets. All 
because I wanted to get together with a smith and play 
with fire or at least swap lies.

The second time was on a visit to Ft. Nisquali (sp) 
near the Narrows Bridge in Tacoma, Wa. On that occasion 
I walked up to the smithy where there were three or 
four young men hanging out answering questions. I 
discovered upon talking to them that the Master and 
resident smith were both away at a ceremony. Signing of 
the articles or reafirming the contracts or some such, 
I don't recall.

Anyway, when I mentioned I did a little smithing and 
asked if I could join the fun, they sent me to the fort 
office. As it turned out they hadn't sent me to get 
permission but to get into period garb. I got to spend 
several hours helping the young men, college students 
all and when the resident smith returned learned a 
number of things myself. Then the Master showed up and 
admonished me for beating black iron. I was drawing a 
really fine point on an awl and doing it cold with many 
annelaing steps, the fire was just too hot to try hot 
forging. Anyway, when he asked if I knew how a smith 
went to hell I replied, "just packin the iron boss." He 
replied, "be sure to get your full price then."

It was more joy than I'd had in a long time.

Another example being Lindsey. She contacted me vie 
E-mail one day wanting to learn blacksmithing. We 
talked via phone for a bit and set a day the next 
weekend. She did quite well though didn't have enough 
strength to go more than a few hours total. I split the 
time between forging and talking to prolong it as long 
as possible and she managed to get her first project 
done. A simple leaf coat hook with twist, finial 
scroll, etc.

As we were talking after shutting the forge down she 
wanted to know if there were any exercises she could 
do. I told her to NEVER air-hammer but if she set a 2x4 
stake in the ground at anvil height she could borrow a 
couple of my hammers and work out that way. I then told 
her driving finish nails with a ball pein would 
improver her accuracy.

The next weekend I discovered she'd spent two hours a 
day woking out! One on strength, one on accuracy 
exercises. That day and subsequent ones she had no 
problem forging all day. She also told me she'd devised 
some other exercises, her major was sports medicine. 
She also told me she only had a couple more days to get 
through as much as possible because she was off to her 
next school soon.

Anyway, in just over 40 hrs. she went through every 
exercise I showed her, and finished up with a nice 
little sheath knife as her tool steel / heat treating 
project. Most students make a cold chisel, Lindsey did 
a fine knife.

On our last day I gave her some Myrtle wood for her 
knife and advised her to ask around at living history 
museums and contact the ABANA affiliate to find smiths 
in her next locale. Told her to be sure to take her 
knife with her to show off too. About three weeks after 
she left I get an E-mail from her. She'd visited a 
couple knife shops who directed her to a bladesmith who 
directed her to a living history site. After talking to 
the resident master smith who's arm injuries were 
ending the smithing, Lindsey found herself the resident 
master smith.

So, anyway, all you'll probably have to do is find out 
what the period rules you'll need to follow are. Maybe 
talk to the "master" smith so you can convince him you 
know what you're doing. And try to keep the schedule 
reasonable enough for you or they'll have you there 
full time. <grin>

Frosy
-------------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.


From: "Peter Hirst" <saltydog335 at aol.com>


Ok I have preparations for my first show more or less 
under control, and this group was very helpful in that. 
Thanks again.

 I'm sending out the SOS again.  I happened to visit a 
historic reproduction/reenactment venue yesterday for a 
little research.  The smith was not in (and wouldn't 
you know, the only building in the whole complex that 
was closed was guess what.)  Anyway, I was hanging out 
talking to the potters and the museum gift shop 
manager,   and it turns out that the smith, unlike the 
potters. woodworkers, etc, is so busy he has no time to 
make things to sell at the museum store.  It is full of 
beautiful repro pottery, furniture, basketry,etc, but 
the ONLY piece of iron in the store that did not come 
from China or India (several stores actually) is a 
plain round stock drive hook, and that was made 
off-site, and no longer available.  One point, two 
bends. No taper, twist or scroll.  Maybe two heats. 
$5.25 retail.  The artifacts in the museum exhibits are 
all right in my wheelhouse:  fireplace and cooking 
equipment, gardening/farming tools, household hardware, 
some non-ferrous, exactly the stuff I am most 
comfortable with.

SO here we have a well-known, highly respected museum 
with an early colonial forge,(and I mean EARLY) with no 
ironwork to sell along side its high quality wood an 
pottery.  Yes I left cards and yes they are interested. 
I expect a call.

Anyone have any experience and/or sage advice in 
dealing with this type of market?

Keziah