Ejner Handberg

Shop Drawings of
Shaker Ironware and
Tinware

Berkshire House Publishers
ISBN 0-936399-45-7

Review by Jim Wilson pawpawsforge.com

This little book sure packs a lot into a little! It only has 85 numbered pages, but every page has one or more drawings on it.

"All beauty that has not a foundation in use soon grows distasteful and needs continual replacement."

Click For details The first section is on blacksmithing, and is 23 pages long. On those 23 pages, there are 25 separate drawings of 14 different pieces of wrought iron. There is very little text with the drawings, but the drawings themselves are so clear that very little text is needed. Every one of the pieces could and should be with in the blacksmiths range of ability. I've got some work to do to learn some of them that I haven't tried yet.

Click drawing for enlargement

"We find out by trial what is the best and when we have found a good thing we stick to it."

The next nine pages contain drawings of 4 different cast iron pieces. This section is interesting, but is not of much use to a blacksmith.

"Let it be plain and simple"

The rest of the book has the shop drawings for 19 tinsmithing projects. Most of these could ALSO be done in any sheet metal. Tin or copper would be best, but thin gauge sheet iron could be used. So this section is also of value to a blacksmith.

There are also tables in the book with lists of suppliers, and schools where classes can be taken in both blacksmithing and tinsmithing.

All in all a very handy little book. I'm glad I picked it up at the John C. Campbell Folk School Craft Store.

A solid 4 ringie dingies!


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