Shavings Volume 263 Spring 2022 - Early American Industries Association
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Shavings
The Newsletter of the Early American Industries Association
Volume 263
Spring 2022
›
The Early American Industries Association
Table of Contents The Early American Industries Association
Page 2
www.earlyamericanindustries.org EAIA Office Floods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 preserves and presents historic trades, crafts,
and tools and interprets their impact on our
John H. Verrill, Executive Director lives. Membership in the EAIA is open to any
P.O. Box 524, Hebron, MD 21830
executivedirector@EarlyAmericanIndustries.org EAIA Regional Meeting, Saugus Iron Works . . . . . . . 5 person or organization sharing its interests and
purposes.
The Early American Industries Association preserves and presents For information or to join, visit:
historic trades, crafts, and tools and interprets their impact on our Candidates for the Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
lives. Membership in the EAIA is open to any person or organization www.EarlyAmericanIndustries.org
sharing its interests and purposes. Shavings, the newsletter of the
Early American Industries Association, Inc., is published quarterly in
Ballot, Election Of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 or contact Executive Director John Verrill, P.O.
Box 524, Hebron, MD 21830 or e-mail him at:
February, April, July, and November. Current and past issues (beginning
with issue 204) are available at www.EarlyAmericanIndustries.org. Tide Mill Institute Receives Grant for executivedirector@earlyamericanindustries.org.
Editor: Daniel Miller, dan@dragonflycanoe.com [Include “Shavings” Tide Mill Archaeology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Shavings, the newsletter of the Early American
in subject line.] Send correspondence to EAIA, P.O. Box 524, Hebron, Industries Association, Inc., is published
MD 21830 quarterly: February, April, July, and November.
Submissions: EAIA’s Shavings is a member-driven newsletter.
Research Help Needed! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Current and past issues (beginning with issue
204) are available at
Contributions are always welcome and needed. Please observe the www.EarlyAmericanIndustries.org.
deadlines. Dublin Seminar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Editor: Daniel Miller, dan@dragonflycanoe.
Reporting an Address Change: Please notify Executive Director six com [Include “Shavings” in subject line.] Send
weeks before the change. Contact information above. A Major Change in the History correspondence to:
Officers 2019-2021 EAIA, P.O. Box 524, Hebron, MD 21830
President 2nd Vice President
of the Tape Measure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Dana Shoaf Vacant The deadline for the next issue (no. 264, Fall
2022) is October 2, 2022.
Burkittsville, MD
1st Vice President &
Secretary
Jane Butler
The Kilts Farm /Skip Barshied Collection . . . . . . . . 14
Treasurer Antrim, NH Submissions: EAIA’s Shavings is a member-
Sally Fishburn driven newsletter. Contributions are always
Danville, VT Scholarship Program in Traditional Hand Skills . . 15 welcome and needed. Please observe the
Directors 2019-2021 deadlines.
Reporting an Address Change: Please notify
Departments
Carol Culnan Noel Poirier
Strasburg, VA Wrightsville, PA Executive Director six weeks before the change.
Richard Cunningham David Pollak Contact information above.
Forest, VA Morristown, NJ
Cheryl Fox Rod Richer Advertising: Go to page 15 for more
Hyattsville, MD Baldwinsville, NY
President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 information and advertising rates.
Shavings 263, Spring 2022
Donald Griffin Bob Roemer
Cambridge, NY Bolton, MA Requesting a replacement copy: Contact
Ron Howard Marc Sitkin From the Executive Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Executive Director John Verrill (see contact
Brasstown, NC Harwich, MA information above).
Louise Muse Terry Wakeman
Both Shavings and the Chronicle are available on
Smithtown, NY
Donna Page
Ashford, CT
Welcome New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 microfilm from UMI, 300 Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor,
Perry, NY Michigan 48106.
Committee Chairs Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 © 2022 by the Early American Industries
Annual Meeting Nominating Association, Inc.
Dana Shoaf Denise Richer
Awards
Denise Richer
Publications
Louise Muse
Front Cover: For 20 years, from 1998–2017, Mark Shoalts made a tool ev-
Endowment Fund Regional Meetings ery year for his father Roy’s birthday. Now in retirement, his father’s tools
Noel Poirier Jane Butler
Long-Range Planning Research Grants came to Mark, and he made a fitted case in which Roy could display them
Denise Richer Heidi Campbell-Shoaf
Membership Website Committee
in his suite. The box is walnut, ash, and curly maple. The ash and maple
Vacant
Meetings and Programs
Noel Poirier
Whatsits
are from my property and the walnut is local, from a friend; the ash panels
Sally A. Fishburn Chris Bender are from very unusual burly/Birdseye grain in a tree that was killed by the
emerald ash borer. The keyhole escutcheon is cow bone.
« ‹ › »
President’s Message
by Dana Shoaf
Page 3
Call for Award Nominations
W ell, here I sit on an unseasonably hot Sun-
day afternoon, writing my last newslet-
ter column as the president of the EAIA. Even
during my term. I can almost smell the salt air
and hear familiar voices once again. Secretary
Jane Butler, First Vice President Sally Fishburn,
The EAIA Annual Meeting in Freeport,
Maine, is fast approaching, and the awards
with my third “bonus” year as president, the and Executive Director John Verrill have done a committee is putting a call out for nomina-
time went by very fast. The past few years have fantastic job scheduling incredible experiences tions for the Long Time Service Award and
been unusual to say the least, with the pandem- for us all. the J. D. Hatch Award.
ic causing two canceled annual meetings. Which leads me back to the fact that this is Candidates for the Long Time Service
But even as the pandemic cloud hovered the beginning of the end of an incredible expe- Award should have at least ten years of ser-
over our organization, we made progress. A rience for me. I would never have dreamed that vice to the EAIA. They should demonstrate
newly redesigned web site was launched, the I would ever be president of any organization, a high level of commitment, contribute a
board challenged itself to put on a virtual an- not to mention such an awesome organization substantial amount of time, effort, and cre-
nual meeting, our endowment fund continued as the EAIA. It gives me chills to think I am part ative imagination to the association, and
to grow very well, and the Chronicle got back on of a lineage that started in 1933. display a record of effective participation
schedule and is now printed in full color. Thank you, Jane and Sally, for being sup- in the affairs of the EAIA. The nature and
And all of you members, who are the EAIA, portive, inventive, and wise executive board importance of their contributions to EAIA,
did an amazing job sustaining the mission of members. This organization is going to be in as well as its length are factors to consider.
this fantastic organization. Renewals remained great hands with Sally Fishburn at the helm. Candidates for the J. D. Hatch Award
high, and this year they came in at such a fast Thank you John Verrill for all the sage consul should have demonstrated excellence in
and furious pace that we brought Lara Rowand and hard work as we made it through some the advancement of general knowledge of
on board to help John Verrill handle the load! rough patches. Thanks to the hardworking the EAIA through scholarly writing in arti-
Some of you got to meet Lara and Andy Row- EAIA board members for putting the time in to cles, books, or public presentations consis-
and at our October regional meeting at the Eric keep our organization rolling along. tent with the mission of the EAIA. Recip-
Shavings 263, Spring 2022
Sloane Museum in Connecticut where Andy is But most of all, I want to thank each and ients of this award are not required to be
the director, and many more of you will get to every member for having the faith in me to hold members of EAIA.
meet them very soon at our upcoming Annual this position. Being president of the EAIA has You may contact any member of the
Meeting in Maine. been a high point of my life. The time went by awards committee with your nominations.
Speaking of Maine, I can’t wait to get up very fast. Ƚ Denise Richer: 315-380-5882;
there and finally attend an Annual Meeting Richertool@aol.com
Ƚ Bill McMillen: 518-462-1264;
JudyTB@aol.com
Ƚ Alice Roemer: 978-779-6945;
Mar@roemer.com
Ƚ Rod Richer Jr.: 315-532-8032;
Rodneyr1@twcny.rr.com
« ‹ › »
From the Executive Director EAIA Office Floods
by John Verrill by John Verrill
Page 4
E ven though it was a mild winter here in
the mid-Atlantic, cool weather has contin-
ued well into April. Just a few weeks from now
York and another in northern Virginia. We are
always open for other suggestions if you are
willing to take a lead in planning!
O n April 6, 2022, I entered the EAIA office
to the sound of water running. Opening
the door was a shock as water was flowing
(days, perhaps, when you read this) the EAIA We have two new candidates for the board from an open pipe in the sprinkler system.
will be in Maine for our 2022 Annual Meet- and a current member to reelect. Be sure to The EAIA work files sitting on my desk, as
ing. It is hard to believe that our last annual mark your ballot and return it before May well as other files stored in banker’s boxes,
in-person meeting was almost three years ago; 20th. Your board works hard to make sure were drenched. All of the EAIA stationery and
we really look forward to seeing and greeting everything goes smoothly at the EAIA, so the office supplies were destroyed by the liquid,
all of you who are able to attend. For people people we elect have a great responsibility. which was water mixed with antifreeze, the
who live south of Maine, weather in May can Elsewhere in this issue you will read about the mixture is essentially sugar water, so not only
be the most beautiful of the year, and many of growth of the EAIA endowment and how it were papers wet, but they were sticky. Some
the flowers and trees you recently enjoyed at helps to secure the organization’s future. Your of the files we were able to salvage, but many
home will be blooming. So if you are coming gifts to the endowment are much appreciat- are lost, as pages were stuck together and ink
bring a coat, the coast of Maine can be quite ed and welcomed, so if you haven’t given this was blurred. Our landlord came immediately
cool in May and you may well need it! year, please take a few moments and consider and he and a damage remediation company
You may have read about the regional a small gift to ensure the EAIA’s future. helped me move out of the office to another
meeting we held at the Eric Sloane Museum Between the time I began planning for this space in the building, it was a haphazard move
last fall in the winter issue of Shavings. We issue of Shavings and today, the normal publi- as it was done hurriedly. Many things that
are pleased to announce that more than one cation date, our office was flooded and we lost were not damaged were thrown in boxes to
regional meeting is planned for this season. many files and communications. To say that it move to the new space and the damaged ma-
The first will be at the Saugus Iron Works in put us behind schedule is an understatement. terials were moved to an area where I was able
Shavings 263, Spring 2022
Saugus, Massachusetts. Board member Bob We had to move out of the office hurriedly, to sort, dry, and salvage what I could. Fortu-
Roemer has done a good deal of planning for and so even those things that were not ruined nately none of the files are critical, nor did we
this meeting, which will allow us to see this are now sitting unorganized in boxes being lose any archival materials. I can certainly put
important early industrial site near Boston. sorted as time allows. You can read all about things to right with time. Our computer and
The date scheduled is June 18; we will send the flood in this issue. other equipment were located on the opposite
an email with more information closer to that Wishing you a new year of renewal, free side of the room from the leak, so we did not
date, as well as posting it on the website and from the restrictions of the pandemic. Make lose equipment.
on our social media. an effort this spring and summer to visit your The sprinkler system was undergoing an
The second meeting will take place on local museum or historical society, attend tool annual inspection and the technician per-
September 10th, during the Crafts Weekend trading and auction events, and follow your forming tests opened a valve that had been
at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Mas- interests in the tools, trades and crafts that chained shut, the valve was chained shut be-
sachusetts. A third and fourth are in the plan- built America! cause it drained an open pipe in the EAIA of-
ning stages for later this fall in western New fice ceiling, which was unknown to the tech-
« ‹ › »
nician. The company responded immediate-
ly, shut off the flow, and made a permanent
EAIA Regional Meeting, Saugus Iron Works
Page 5
repair to the valve so it won’t happen again. Saturday, June 18th, 2022: Co-sponsored by the EAIA and the National Park Service
They also hired a remediation company that
responded within two hours. In addition to Program 2:00 pm– All participants meet on lawn for
the papers lost, carpeting had to be replaced. 9:00 am– Tool trading (See location below.) closing remarks and any ques-
The leak also damaged a room below our of- 10:00 am - Registration, coffee and pastries tions.
fice. After some wrangling, some of the repairs on the lawn northwest of the ex-
have been made, and we have agreed on a set- hibit area Visit with demonstra- RSVP or more information:
tlement. Hopefully by May 1, we will be able tors. Bob Roemer: rer@roemer.com;
to move back into the office. I feel like this is 10:30 am – All participants meet at the meet- (978) 394-5827
one of the most overwhelming experiences I ing room in the museum building Meeting Information:
have had at work, how people recover from a for welcome, introductions to the Ƚ Location: 244 Central St, Saugus,
major home flood, fire, or other disaster is be- NPS and the EAIA, and a brief MA 01906
yond me. introduction to the Saugus Iron- Ƚ Parking: NPS Parking Lot at Saugus
We are still reconstructing files and sort- works history, processes, and re- Iron Works
ing through things that were hastily moved, stored structures. Ƚ Contribution: $15 (Covers box
and we look forward to getting back to work 11:00 am– First tour of the Ironworks with lunch)
in earnest once we are back in the office. NPS Ranger (limited to 15 partici-
We look forward to seeing all of you who pants). Remaining attendees visit Note: The National Park Service doesn’t allow pri-
will attend the Annual Meeting in Maine. If the museum exhibits, Ironmasters vate transactions on their properties. Tool trading
you are not able to attend, look forward to House, and demonstrators will be at Extra Space Storage, 222 Central Street,
great photos of the meeting that we will share 12:00 pm– Box lunch for all participants just north of Saugus Ironworks in their northern
in the next issue of Shavings! 1:00 pm– Second tour of the Ironworks led parking area (Circled in yellow on map below).
by a NPS tour guide (limited to 15
Shavings 263, Spring 2022
participants) First tour attendees
visit the museum exhibits, Iron-
masters House and demonstrators
Saugus Ironworks
« ‹ › »
Candidates for the Board of Directors of the
Early American Industries Association 2022
Page 6
L isted below are the statements of the candidates for the open positions on the EAIA Board of Directors. EAIA members may vote for up to two
candidates for the board. To vote, please print out pages 7 and 8, two-sided, or simply print out page 8, fold it and mail it to Sally Fishburn, 399 Old
Stagecoach Road, Danville, VT 05828. Please return before the Annual Meeting.
Patty MacLeish Andrew Rowan
I want to thank the nominating committee
for considering me for a position on the
EAIA Board of Directors. I joined the EAIA in
In 1999, as my husband and I were leav-
ing Cooperstown for a new job in Newport,
Rhode Island, my friend David Parke (past
O riginally from West Virginia, where he re-
ceived his BA in Social Studies Education
from Shepherd University, Andrew currently
1999, the same year I was hired as the editor of president of EAIA), introduced me to the EAIA serves as the curator and site administrator of
the Chronicle. Later, I would also assume edi- and suggested that I apply for the editorship the Eric Sloane Museum. His prior experience
torship of Shavings. of the Chronicle. My connection to the EAIA includes working at public history sites like
I have a degree through the Chronicle was a most wonderful Harper’s Ferry National Historical Park, South
in American His- professional experience. From the beginning, Mountain State Battlefield, and Henricus His-
tory from Temple I was impressed by the men and women who torical Park, managing the recreation of a 17th
University and a researched and wrote the articles for this ex- century Virginia tobacco farm.
MA in American traordinary publication. As time went on and A dedicated student and avid supporter of
Folk Culture from I learned more about the history of the EAIA, all historic trades and crafts, Andrew is a cord-
the Cooperstown I learned more about the motivation of the wainer by trade and may even be found work-
Graduate Program. individuals who founded EAIA and how they ing aboard tall ships in his spare time. He and
I later worked in the influenced the founding of living history mu- his wife are thrilled to be living in New England
Shavings 263, Spring 2022
Folklore Archives at seums throughout the country. in a small timber-framed farmhouse with their
the New York State I have been retired as editor for four years two pups and cat. An-
Historical Associa- now. I did not, however, retire from the EAIA drew is interested in
tion and at Western Kentucky University. In and I would be honored to serve on the board contributing to the
1980, my husband Bruce and I returned to and be a part of continuing this legacy. I under- fantastic work done
Cooperstown, and I was busy raising our sons stand the depth of the commitment it would by EAIA to study and
and volunteering in the community. When entail and am happy to undertake the task. I preserve the tools,
the children entered school, I began a small hope that my long history with the organiza- trades, and crafts that
desktop publishing company, Ideas into Print. tion and my professional experience will be of built America while
I had a variety of clients and some of them re- value to the Board of Directors in performing working together to
quired my folklorist and oral historian skills. their duties, and ultimately to the EAIA and its create new opportu-
In particular, I had a long association with the members. nities for the organi-
Wooden Canoe Heritage Association and edit- zation in the future.
ed their journal, Wooden Canoe.
« ‹ › »
The Early American Industries Association
Page 7
ELECTION OF OFFICERS 2022
The officers of the EAIA are elected by the membership in attendance at the Annual Meeting, which
will be held on May 21, 2022, at Freeport, Maine .
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
BALLOT
T he following four candidates have been placed in nomination by the Nominating Committee to fill four
vacancies on the Board of Directors. No additional nominations were received from the membership.
For information about these candidates, please refer to their written statements in this issue of Shavings.
Note: if both husband and wife are members, please mark the ballot twice or make a copy of this page
and mail both ballots to the address on the reverse side.
Mark the ballot, remove it from the magazine, and fold it so the address on the other side is on the
outside. Place a stamp where indicated and mail. If you receive e-Shavings, simply print out pages 7 and 8,
printing on both sides and mail this ballot. You may also simply print page 7 and place it in your own enve-
lope and mail to Denise Richer, 7201 Van Buren Rd, Baldwinsville, NY 13027.
VOTE FOR TWO.
Q Patty MacLeish
Shavings 263, Spring 2022
Q Andrew Rowan
« ‹ › »
Shavings 263, Spring 2022 Page 8
clip here
PLACE
«
POSTAGE
HERE
Denise Richer
‹
7201 Van Buren Rd
Baldwinsville, NY 13027
›
»
fold here first
Ballot appears on the previous
page. Candidates’ statements
appear on page 6.
Tide Mill Institute Receives Grant for About 1780, Robert Bell, from St. Andrews ly mills and their effect on settlement of the
Tide Mill Archaeology Scotland, built a tide mill at a likely spot in area. Few mill buildings have survived, but
Page 9
western Cobscook Bay. It operated for some many ruins remain; a site tour offered last year
T he Tide Mill Institute has received a grant
of $3,000 from the Eastern Maine Con-
servation Initiative (EMCI) to support archae-
years under his direction and that of his family.
That mill ceased operation, and the Bells cre-
ated a fresh water mill further up the stream.
was extremely well received.
Geoff Kirkham, an HHS member, was part
of a team who identified, investigated, and
ological work this summer at the Bell mill sites A generation or so later, a freshet tore that mill documented the thirty-two known sites in He-
in Edmunds, Washington County, Maine. The apart, but by then, some family members had bron. Geoff is our tour leader and studies in
work will be done by Independent Archaeo- switched their activity to farming and forest detail how mills produced their products.
logical Consulting LLC of Dover, New Hamp- products. Today, those activities have mor- Our featured site this year produced bit
shire. phed into an active organic farm operated by stocks, cotton, and paper, thus the request
This summer, Tide Mill Institute and the seventh, eighth, and ninth generations of for bitstock production information. We
EMCI will sponsor an archaeological study of the Bell family. have already received information from a few
the two mill sites on the property to explore There will be several public meetings so EAIA members but are hoping to gain more
these examples of the county’s early milling the public can view the remains of the mills. knowledge. Please contact Geoff Kirkham at
culture and to develop an inventory record of Email info@tidemillinstitute.com for more geoffkirk@comcast.net.
all previous tide mills in the area. information. Thank you for your assistance,
Susan Porter
Research Help Needed! Geoff Kirkham
T he two Taylor patent
bitstocks pictured here
were produced in the 1830s
in the water-powered mills
of Hebron Mfg. Co. and H. O.
Shavings 263, Spring 2022
White Co. in Hebron, Con-
necticut. With a patent date
of June 30, 1836, the patent
awarded to Jeremy Taylor
of Hebron, Connecticut, de-
scribes an improvement in
the spring and lever mecha-
nism that better keeps the bit
in place.
The Hebron Historical
Society (HHS) has been pro-
moting interest in our ear-
Bell farmhouse and bedlogs of the 1780 tide mill.
(Photo by Bud Warren.)
« ‹ › »
Dublin Seminar
Page 10
T he EAIA is proud to co-sponsor the 2022
Dublin Seminar of New England Life,
which will focus on tools and toolmaking
series focuses attention on emerging areas of
folk studies, regional and local history, cultural
geography, historical archaeology, and vernac-
place where scholars of all kinds—academics,
students, museum and library professionals,
artisans, citizen historians, and committed av-
in New England. We join the lead sponsor, ular and antiquarian studies. Conferences are ocational researchers—who share an interest
Historic Deerfield, and co-sponsor, the Eric held in June or July of each year with concur- in a specific subject can pool their knowledge
Sloane Museum, to make this program possi- rent exhibitions at participating museums and and exchange ideas and methods. The Semi-
ble. art galleries. Dublin Seminar conferences are nar will include a keynote address, Tool Stories,
The Dublin Seminar for New England sponsored by Historic Deerfield. by Steven Lubar, professor of American Stud-
Folklife is a continuing series of conferences, The Dublin Seminar for New England ies, History, and the History of Art and Archi-
exhibitions, and publications whose purpose Folklife is pleased to announce the subject of tecture at Brown University, and author of a
is to explore everyday life, work, and culture in this year’s conference, “Tools and Toolmaking book in progress exploring the cultural history
New England’s past. Founded on the premise in New England,” to be held in Deerfield, Mas- of tools.
that traditional lore and material folk culture sachusetts, on June 24–25, 2022. The purpose
are rapidly disappearing in New England, the of the Dublin Seminar is to serve as a meeting
Tools and Toolmaking in New England, June 24-25, 2022
3–3:15 PM Break Form and Use Moderator: Barba-
Friday, June 24 3:15–4:45 PM Special boot-making ra Mathews, Historic Deerfield
1:00 PM Registration opens demonstration & talk Ƚ Peter Thomas, University of Ver-
1:30 P Welcome, John Davis, Historic Sarah Madeleine Tierney Guerin, mont Department of Anthropology
Deerfield; Marla Miller, Depart- Saboteuse, Ten Footers—History (retired), An Alternative Vision of
ment of History, University of and Living Traditions Tool: Squakheag Material Culture in
Massachusetts Amherst 4:45–7 PM Break. 1663–Tradition, Adoption, Adaptation
Shavings 263, Spring 2022
1:30–3 PM Panel 1: Plane Talk: Moderator: 5–7 PM Attendees have an opportunity to and Soul.
Rob Emlen, Brown University (re- visit the Museum of Our Industri- Ƚ Michael P. Dyer, New Bedford
tired) al Heritage. Whaling Museum, Energy & Enter-
Ƚ David Scott Merrifield II, Colonial 7–8 PM Keynote lecture prise: Industry and the City of New
Williamsburg, Cesar Chelor: The Steve D. Lubar, Brown Universi- Bedford.
Products of His Hands, Enslaved and ty, Tool Stories; Moderator: Marla Ƚ Dennis Picard, Pioneer Valley His-
Free. Miller torical Network, ‘Me to saw pit-fash-
Ƚ Ted Ingraham, Arnold Zlotoff Tool ion:’ The Invention of Ice Harvesting
Museum, The House Joiner’s Wood- Saturday, June 25 Tools in the 19th Century and The
planes 8:30 AM Door opens, morning refresh- Tradesmen Who Made Them
Ƚ Andrew Rowan, The Eric Sloane ments 10:30–10:45 AM Break
Museum, Partial to Planes: Eric 9–10:30 AM Panel 2: Innovation and Ad- 10:45 AM–12:15 PM Panel 3: Powering
Sloane and a Museum of Early Amer- aptation: Exploring Changes in Up: Tools and Mechanization
ican Tools”
« ‹ › »Moderator: Kate Viens, Indepen- 12:15–1:45 PM Lunch break 3:30–5 PM Panel 5: Ingenuity Illustrated:
dent Scholar 1:45–3:15 PM Panel 4: In the Workshop: Tools in Representation and
Page 11
Ƚ Emily Whitted, Department of Tools in Constellation Modera- Symbol Moderator: Lynne Bassett
History, University of Massachu- tor: Gigi Barnhill Ƚ Laura Wasowicz, American Anti-
setts Amherst, Knitting Sheaths and Ƚ Michael J. Emmons, Jr., Discovering quarian Society, Thimbles, Bodkins,
Those Whizzing Things With Wheels: the Sampson-White Joiner Shop: The Workbaskets: The Tools of the ‘Work
Hand-Knitting Tools in Industrializ- Architecture of Woodworking in the Woman’ in Nineteenth-Century Chil-
ing New England Early Republic dren's Books
Ƚ Robert Forrant, Department of Ƚ Rich Colton, The Tools They Left: Ƚ Mariah Gruner, Historic New
History, University of Massachu- An Early American Clock & Silver England, Third Hand, Constant
setts, Lowell, Amongst the Onions Shop in Northampton, Massachusetts, Companion: The Pincushion and the
and Tobacco A 19th Century Anomaly 1785–1994 Boundaries of the Self
Grew: The Porter-McLeod Machine Ƚ Bob Frishman, Bell-Time Clocks: Ƚ Hillary Anderson Stelling, Scottish
Works Tools for New England’s Clockmakers Rite Masonic Museum & Library,
Ƚ Jay Boeri, Battison Museum Birds and Watchmakers Tool Marks: Cherished Tools on Ma-
of a Feather: Three Generations of 3:15–3:30 PM Break sonic Mark Medals, 1800-1830”
Inventors and Their Protégé Edwin A. 5–5:15 PM Concluding Remarks, Kate Viens
Battison
Calendar of Events We Welcome New Members
Pennsylvania
June 26, 2022
Adamstown— M-WTCA Area P Meet: Sun-
W e wish to express our thanks and extend a warm welcome to these members who have
joined since last fall. Your interest and support is very much appreciated.
Shavings 263, Spring 2022
day, IronSpire (Angus), 2800 North Reading Gordon Clidence, West Kingston, RI Marla Miller, Hadley, MA
Road. Don Stark, Starkcd@aol.com; 717-367- Peter Corriveau, Nottingham, NH Joel Shaughnessy, Athol, MA
5207. Wilfred Dyer, DDS, Salisbury, MD Edward Shaw, Boothbay, ME
Bobbie Hernke, Boise, ID Timothy Shaw, Boothbay, ME
Neal Keesee, Saluda, VA David Sosnoski, Sterling, MA
Michael Lear, Middletown, PA Richard Yehl, Allegany, NY
Jenny Lynn, Williamsburg, VA
« ‹ › »A Major Change in the History of the Tape Measure
Page 12
By George Wanamaker
A s a tape measure collector for over thirty
years, I have known for a long time that
the very first spring return pocket tape mea-
Early development of the tape measure
was centered in the Waterbury and Meriden,
Connecticut, area. This was where Waterbury
sure patented and produced in the United Brass Company and Bradley and Hubbard
States was Alvin J. Fellows patent #79,965 Company, both early tape measure manufac-
granted July 14, 1868. Or, at least, I thought it turers, were located. Inventors Alvin J. Fel-
was until now! lows, John A. Evart, William H. Bangs Jr., and
I recently purchased several tape mea- Lewis P. Bradley, all from this area, were work-
sures from Joel Hodapp’s collection. Among ing on both long tapes and spring return pock-
them was a brass-cased model with a cloth et tapes in the 1860s and early 1870s.
tape, side button return, and two patent dates Reading Bangs’s patent, which is on file
stamped in the case; an incomplete patent at the United States Patent Office, we learn
date—September 7th, 185_, with the last digit that it was assigned to Nathanial Bradley and
missing completely—and a complete patent Walter Hubbard, who owned Bradley and
date of December 6th, 1864. Looking at the Hubbard Company that made, among other
patents, I knew it was not an American tape Front view of William Bangs Jr.’s tape measure. things, kerosene lamps. It was a prosperous
measure because the patents were too early, The top partial patent does not exist in the patent company because the country was switching
well before Fellow’s patent of August 14, 1868. records. The bottom patent is registered to William from whale oil to kerosene lamps in the 1850s
Thinking it was probably British due to the H. Bangs Jr. and assigned to Nathanial Bradley and 1860s. The Bradley and Hubbard Compa-
early patent dates and similarity to a Chester- and Walter Hubbard. ny, one of the early tape measure producers in
man tape measure, I purchased it because of the United States, received the first of two pat-
Shavings 263, Spring 2022
the early patent dates. patent #45,372 for an improvement to a spring ents of their own on July 13, 1869. They also ac-
The next evening, I got the tape measure return on a pocket tape measure. quired use of five other patents from four oth-
out to look at. For some reason, I got out my What does this all mean? It suddenly came er inventors, including one of Alvin Fellows’s
US patent spreadsheet. In 2016, I had spent to me, Fellows could not claim the first US patents, in 1872 and 1873. It is now believed
January and February searching for and writ- patent tape measure to make it to production! that Bradley and Hubbard Company was also
ing down all the tape measure-related US pat- That honor was for William Bangs. His spring the manufacturer of this tape measure as the
ents from 1835 to 1907, and information about return tape measure was patented three years
them, in a spreadsheet. Looking at the sheet nine months earlier than Fellows’s was pat- The tape is very frayed and missing fourteen inch-
there was nothing close to the incomplete pat- ented. es. It has a round pull ring.
ent. Checking the complete patent date, De-
cember 6, 1864, I was very surprised to see a
US patent issued on that date to William H.
Bangs Jr. of West Meriden, Connecticut. It was
« ‹ › »of December 25, 1852 stamped on it, but there tent, partial patent date on the tape measure
has been no patent issued on that date for a case.
Page 13
tape measure patent or to William Bangs. This tape measure appears to be regular
Finally, I checked for appropriate dates production, not a patent model or experimen-
in the early 1860s. There were none. There tal model. Neither of those would have had
seems to be no United States patent related to a patent stamped on them. Also, I have now
a tape measure issued on September 7th in the seen two of these tape measures and both had
1850s or early 1860s. both patents on them.
This is only a guess. In the patent, William Why has this tape measure, and the fact
Bangs related that his patent was for “an im- that it is quite possibly the first manufactured
provement to spring return tape measures.” with a United States patent, taken so long to
That implied that there was a spring tape come to light? It was produced during the Civil
measure prior to the Bangs tape measure. I be- War, though at the very end. It was a new type
lieve he based his improvement on an English of item and probably few were made for sale,
The back of the Bangs tape measure has the return tape measure, probably a John Chesterman. perhaps only several hundred. They were not
button on the side, similar to Chesterman tape As mentioned above, Bangs’s tape measure is in demand and did not sell well, nor was there
measures. similar to a Chesterman. Not wanting to ac- wide distribution of this tape measure. Histo-
knowledge that it was patterned after an En- ry simply missed Bangs’s accomplishment at
patent had been assigned to them by Bangs, as glish tape measure, he put a partial patent on the time. Because of the above reasons, there
noted in the patent. the tape to confuse those looking for his start- are few left, 150+ years later, to shed light on
The second patent on the case is more of a ing point. They would never find it because Bangs’s accomplishment.
mystery. After checking my patent listings and this partial patent was a deception. In the Directory of American Tool and Ma-
not finding anything, I checked to see if Sep- This may not be the answer, but for some chinery Patents, under manufacturer, it is noted
tember 7th was ever on a Tuesday. Patents are reason Bangs stamped a misleading, nonexis- that Bangs’s patent, #45,372, “was not known
issued on Tuesdays. I found that in the 1850s to be produced.” That is not the case now! It
Shavings 263, Spring 2022
there were two years with September 7th on Tape measure side view with an edge profile simi- has been left to us, the historians and collec-
a Tuesday, 1852 and 1858. I started with 1858 lar to the Chesterman tape measure. tors of 2017, to correct the information about
checking 76 utility patents, two reissue pat- who was the first person to design a spring
ents, and two design patents, but found noth- return pocket tape measure, have it patented,
ing related to tape measures. Going to the 1852 and produced for sale in the United States. It
patents, I checked sixteen utility patents, and was William H. Bangs Jr. in 1864, not Alvin J.
3 design patents. Again, there were no patents Fellows in 1868.
related to tape measures. There has now been
a Bangs tape measure with the complete date
« ‹ › »The Kilts Farm /Skip Barshied Collection that readers would think it a vain and
self-serving effort. I beg your indulgence
Page 14
Kilts Farm, in the town of Palatine, New if it does appear unseemly or immodest.
York, was the conservation dream of Willis I could find no other way to express the
“Skip” Barshied Jr., who died in January 2020. results of my research. My only goal was
This 18th century farmstead features an early to set a time reference around the devel-
19th century farmhouse and summer kitchen, a opment of this area and construction of
blacksmith shop, shoe makers shop, post-rev- these buildings and their relationship to
olutionary war New World Dutch barn, and a my family.
partly restored and reconstructed pre-revolu- Respectfully, Willis Barshied Jr.
tionary war Palatine German farmhouse. Kilts In 2022, we are proud to announce two
Farm holds Skip’s life-long collection. To Skip, limited-attendance workshops to be held at
objects and tools told stories. These were the Kilts Farm. The first, a coverlet workshop, was
stories of everyman and the accomplishments held by the renowned weaver Rabbit Goody
and challenges of their lives. Skip valued what and was held April 30 and May 1. This work-
it took to thrive in early America. members had the chance to visit his collection shop tells the stories of the Mohawk Valley
Beginning in 2022, we are committed to years ago. In Skip’s own words, we can see the through the coverlet collections of both Rab-
making Kilts Farm a place of learning and ex- thought behind the development of the site bit and Skip, as well as examining the tools of
periencing the tools and skills of the Mohawk and its collection: weaving in this area.
Valley in the 18th and 19th centuries. Kilts This old farmstead is to inextricably in- The second workshop will be held in the
Farm has been set up as a not-for-profit enti- tertwined with my life and family histo- fall and will feature Stephen Mankowski pre-
ty designed to celebrate the people and things ry that I hesitated to develop it for fear senting and teaching blacksmithing. Work will
that made early Americans the stuff depend on the skill levels of participants.
of legends. Dates are still to be announced.
Skip Barshied Jr. was a local his- You can help this new venture at
Shavings 263, Spring 2022
torian who established Kilts Farm. Kilts Farm with support and promotion
Skip’s collecting often focused on the of Skip’s collection and legacy. Those
families of Stone Arabia. He brought interested in getting involved can also
all of the buildings on site, saving learn how to participate in the program
them from near total destruction. through the Kilts Farm web page at
His collections have been an import- https://www.kiltsfarm.org/ or on Face-
ant resource for many researching book at: https://www.facebook.com/
genealogy and the material culture Kilts-Farm-112280374718617
of the Palatine region of the Mo-
hawk Valley. Skip was an early and
active member of the EAIA; many
« ‹ › »Scholarship Program in Traditional Hand Skills
Page 15
by Wm. Francis Brown
S tarting with the 2022 workshop season,
the Maine Coast Workshop is pleased to
announce a Scholarship Program in Tradition-
the Camden area, can be prohibitive for many,
we want to do all we can to provide an oppor-
tunity for interested young people to be a part
Interested parties can contact Wm. Fran-
cis Brown at 434-907-5427 or dei.gratia123@
gmail.com for questions or an application.
al Hand Skills. of the exciting workshops that are offered at
The program goals are to introduce or MCW. We bring in the top artisans and master
further the skills of high school and college teachers worldwide to conduct classes which
age young folk in the are typically 5 or 6 days Silent Auction Donation in Memory of
traditional ways of carv- in length. Most of the Judy McMillen
ing and working wood. classes are open to be-
With time we hope to
introduce more tradi-
tional hand skills into
ginners or those with
limited experience, but
advanced students can
T his table was created by Tom Densmore
for the 2010 EAIA meeting at Mystic,
Connecticut, where it was purchased by
the curriculum. benefit equally. Please Judy McMillen, who was then the President
We seek applicants refer to the website for of the EAIA. After her passing away in 2021
who have demonstrat- details: https://www. I have decided to donate it back in Judy’s
ed a keen interest in mainecoastworkshop. memory for the EAIA silent auction at this
folk ways, working with com/about-3-1 coming meeting in Maine.
their hands, and who In addition, we are —Bill McMillen
show the potential to actively seeking spon-
maximally benefit from sors who wish to help
full and partial tuition provide for the surviv-
Shavings 263, Spring 2022
scholarships at the al and the pride of our
Maine Coast Workshop wonderful heritage of
in Camden, Maine. traditional Maine fine workmanship. These
In addition, we offer an option for tuition are rapidly becoming lost arts. Sponsors will
coverage for both a young person of roughly provide opportunities for younger genera-
high school age (we are flexible) plus a parent tions to catch the joy and expertise of hand
or grandparent who will attend the workshop skills, gain confidence and self-mastery, and
with the student. Both can share bench space carry on our wonderful Maine heritage.
and each can take the class as two students, or The vision for the Maine Coast Workshop
they can both work together as one. We feel was discussed in an interview with Popular
that there is value in fostering a generational Woodworking Magazine, which can be read
father or mother-son or daughter experience. here: https://www.popularwoodworking.com/
Knowing that the cost to attend a work- interviews/new-woodworking-school-open-
shop, as well as the cost of a potential stay in ing-in-maine/
« ‹ › »Advertise in Shavings
Page 16
ADVERTISING: Contact Editor Dan Miller, 315-
777-7007; E-mail: dan@dragonflycanoe.com (Sub-
ject Line: Shavings Ad); or mail to EAIA, P.O. Box 524,
Hebron, MD 21830.
Display Ads
Full Page (9.875"h x 7.5"w): $175
Half Page (4.75"h x 7.5"w: $110
Quarter Page (2.375"h x 7.5"w or 3.625"h x 5"w): $60
Business Card (2"h x 3.5"w): $35
20% discount on three or more display ads for
members. Ads do not need to run consecutively to re-
ceive the discount. Display ads are published in full color
in the electronic version of Shavings. Advertisers may also
add links from the ad to Web pages or e-mail addresses.
Please take note!
Classified Ads
The deadline for the Fall
Show your support issue of Shavings is 25 words or less—$4.00; 15¢ per word thereafter. Box
around the ad—35¢ (A word is anything with a space on
for the EAIA by October 2! both sides of it.) Please make checks payable to EAIA.
Please submit articles, events, classified ads (Non-Members add 20% per ad for either display or clas-
wearing our logo!
and display ads to: sified ad.)
Dan Miller (dan@dragonflycanoe.
Shop for shirts, com) or 2019-2020 DEADLINES: Deadline for the Winter is-
hats and more at sue is June 26, 2020. Deadline for the Fall issue is October
John Verrill (executivedirector@ 2, 2020.
earlyamericanindustries.org)
eaiainfo.org/store/ by this date!
Shavings 263, Spring 2022
Always Buying Always Selling
Pete Niederberger
Used and Antique Tools and
Parts for Same
Mail Order Call Me and Come To The Shop
415-924-8403 pniederber@aol.com
« ‹ › »Plan Now to Join us...
July 28, 29, & 30, 2022
aTool Trading
aPig Roast
aOpen House
aAuction
Annual Open House & Antique Tool Auction
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
July 28, 29, & 30, 2022
Martin J. Donnelly Auctions l 5223 County Route 8 l Avoca, New York
www.mjdauctions.com mjd@mjdauctions.com l (800) 869-0695
P
l
lease plan to make a long weekend of it and bring the family for a great time in the
country. It will be high Summer in the beautiful Finger Lakes Area.
PLEASE COME PREPARED TO FILL YOUR VEHICLE WITH TOOLS
MARTIN J. DONNELLY AUCTIONS - A Division of Martin J. Donnelly Antique Tools - (800) 869-0695
Let's talk about Marketing Your Antique Tool Collection......You can also read
