In colonial America it was considered treason for a blacksmith to make iron tools to sale,all iron tools had too be made in England and import taxes paid .In 1774 John Ames of Mass. started making iron shovels .He desinged a very important feature the handle socket that is used to day.Ames shovels are still in business they are sold thru True Value Hardware stores.Since the 1860's Ames shovels were standard issue for troops from the Civil war thru the Korean war.

Sounds typical of the period.

More info in re the Ames shovels please. This is interesting.

all the colonist had was wooden shovels or wooden shovels with iron bracing between the blade and handle.John Ames design was the curved neck socket that the handle fits in, greatly reducing breakage and increasing leverage.The wooden shovels and early iron shovels used by the colonist had straight handles that broke fairly easy.Jseal I couldn't find a pic of the early wooden shovels but I'll keep looking.

jay-t,

Live and learn! TY.

John

these are from another thread a while back.




http://pixies-place.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31593

I love those.

Since the time of the Vikings until 1940 blacksmiths in Europe have been allowed to perform handfastings (a wedding).As they were considered upstanding and important people in the village.Scotland was the last country to ban weddings by any one other than a priest in 1940!Blacksmithing at Renn. faires we have been ask to preform a symbolic handfasting for a marriage forged in fire and bound by iron.



http://www.langust.ru/review/gretna_g.shtml

Wasn't that what Lil told me about shackles in the dungeon, that it was all about love?

And, is it not?

some day I'll get around to posting some of the iron work my wife's grandfather did

Yes, love.

amazing craftmanship jay-t

Have been posting my work mainly on Facebook.So I thought to finally post some here

I also do a little wood carving

This is so far beyond my ability. I can nail timber together, but this is creativity.

I'll second that OF. Jay-T, you do some really nice work. Wow! Thanks for sharing those pics.

There are no words for how lovely your work is. I still collect iron but have not gotten anything lately. Your work is stunning.

jay-t,

Very nice things. Thank you for sharing them with us.

Where are the faires you go too?

Teddy Bear 2 fairs in okla. 1 of them is the largest 3 day free fair in the U.S. they have a gate of almost 400,000 in 3 days.The other one is 5 weekends in May.Then applied for 1 in N.W. Ark. Maybe when I retire I can travel around some to other fairs.

Love your creations...thanks for sharing with us. :cheers:

Jay-T, just looked back thru the pictures you've posted and again, I'm in awe of your talent. Wish we lived closer ... I love to go to one of those fairs and see your work (not to mention meeting you in person). :thumbs:

I wish you could it would be an honor

I have one of his 'feathers' and can attest to the craftsmanship. "Craftsmanship" hell! He's an artist in every way.

I do not think I have seen this thread prior to this evening. Excellent work!

This seems to be the best place to ask this....

Daughter and I went to a Flea Market today. Lots of antiques, besides me I mean.
At one table there were a lot of what the man said were 18th century tools.

There was one interesting one that was held and opened/closed by scissor type handles. At the opposite end instead of the scissor blades were half balls. When closed the half balls would form a complete solid ball.

The man had no idea what they were for. He said some one had thought they were used by vets to hold a cows tongue so it could be given medication.

I'm hoping someone might identify what they are.

OK, look at this picture......

This is NOT what I saw but similar.....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-SIL...R-/151321554614

The pc is of a melon baller. The tool I saw was older and not aluminum.

The main difference is that the half balls are not scoped out like these are but they are filled in solid.

Any idea what it is used for?

Bullet mould?

No, each half of the ball is filled in solid. Its like they took a solid ball and cut it in half and attached each half to the end things.

If it was about a foot long they are commercial salad tongs from around 1940's . My wife bought some for me thinking they were for blacksmithing. they also made some with fork ends on it

They were maybe 6" to 8" long. The half-ball-thingys when together were about an inch in diameter. It was made of iron and quite heavy for its size.

Don't think you'd get much salad using them.

Thanks jay-t

:faint: *WOW* How big are the wheels on your cannon?

I'd tell you, but then I'd have to tell you again. LOL.

I get the feeling that there may be a heating aspect to these.

Darn, I thought this was one of those things TB might use to grab the "SCOTUS" hanging down from some poor guy. :(

(True and False Smut Game ... :D )

oooooo DB... such an evil mind................. wahahahaha, I love that idea. :D