Farmall

Since it's from the Citadel, I believe it should be "knob head"

Well, actually, being from the Commonwealth of Virginia, this is the 400th Anniversary of Thanksgiving in America - you see, it occurred first in 1619 at the Berkeley Plantation in Virginia.  It wasn't a day of feasting, but a day of thanksgiving prayers - Here's some information you are free to Google for (that's how I got the info below):

It was believed to have been around December 4, 1619 when, "As instructed by the London Company, Captain Woodlief prayed: “We ordaine that this day of our ships arrival, at the place assigned for plantacon, in the land of Virginia, shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God.”

You see, the Berkeley Company had given a very specific list of ten instructions to the settlers when they departed England. The very first instruction was upon landing that they give a prayer of Thanksgiving for their safe voyage and to do so annually and perpetually thereafter."

further historical proof is in the November 24, 1969 Congressional Record (Volume 115, Number 194), which tells the story of The Virginia First Thanksgiving. The Congressional Record gives a glowing review of the Virginia Thanksgiving Festival itself. In it, Senator Harry F. Byrd Jr. recognizes the officers of the festival and asks to have a Thanksgiving Prayer read into the Record. There being no objection, this was done.

Lastly, In an article written in October, 1986 by Nancy G. Houser, titled “Whose Thanksgiving Is It?,” she refers to other observances of thanks being given, both before and after what we consider to be the “official” first Thanksgiving in Virginia and the New World. All of those observances were spontaneous and were not repeated on a regular basis, as was the Berkeley ritual. The annual Berkeley religious ceremony was performed as a result of specific instructions given by the London Company to do so, it was almost two years before the Massachusetts celebration, which was a one time event based upon the recommendation of Plymouth Colony Governor William Bradford and was not held because of any official proclamation from England. They held several Thanksgiving’s after that, but not on a regular basis. Massachusetts didn’t even publish a proclamation ordaining such a Thanksgiving observance until 1633, 12 years after their first celebration. The Massachusetts event was a harvest feast with their Native American friends, whereas the Berkeley event was strictly religious.

Speaking of shapers, I have two great metalworking shapers.  I have both an Adept No. 1 and No. 2 Shaper made in the 1930's in England for modelmakers.  They are hand operated and really good for small keyways and the like.  The No. 1 has a 4-inch stroke and the No. 2 has a 6-1/4 inch stroke.  Here's a picture (not mine) of a No. 1.  The bolt head spacing on the feet is 4 inches to give a size reference.  The hand lever is about two feet long.  They are a lot of fun.  There's a great website that has good info about these and other tools.=> http://www.lathes.co.uk/adeptshaper/index.html 

Brought them both back in my carry on luggage back in the 1990's.  My carry -on bag weighed 83 pounds - I had to hold it like it was light as British Airways had a 10-pound limit at the time.  Oh, I put it under the seat in front of me.  Was scared I would end up with it on top of my head if I put it overhead!

Knee mail sent for the family 

Put me on the list for your upcoming book - looking forward to giving it a read!

I saw one where the fellow removed the rear mount entirely, and basically bolted an angle iron section to it and used that to bolt it to a table. 

Looks like bus bars.  Used to connect circuits. Google bus bars.  Could be wrong, but they are electrical in nature.  

Seems like an interesting fellow.  Would have like to share a wee dram of aqua vitae with him and listen to his stories.

He and his family are on the list.

Beannachd Dia dhuit

Prayers for speedy and complete recovery 

I also used one of those bars working on the road wheels and tracks of M48A5’s. 

No problem.  I've been to the place of little or no equipment more than I want to think about, so don't mind sharing when I do have the ability.  I got lucky with a Craigslist ad for free horseshoes and got four sacks full, about 200 and 24 rasps were inside with the shoes.  The "seller" was a farrier that was retiring and just cleaning up around the shop - I did buy his supper and left him a Split Cross I had made..  Like everyone says, just keep your eyes and ears open and the occasional good deal will come along.  

Well, I assume you are talking about Bloom iron and not steel.   If you google “ How to make bloom iron “ you’ll find plenty of info and videos. There’s a neat DVD called “From Ore to Axe” by Lee Sauder, Steve Mankowski, and Shel Browder.  Steve and Shel are both now retired blacksmiths from Colonial Williamsburg and Lee is known worldwide for his research and production of bloom iron. In the DVD, they make an axe starting with iron ore, transitioning to bloom iron, forging the axe, inserting a steel cutting edge and Shel finally chops a tree.  

One other thing - Lee Sauder has a website that includes pages of information including how to make a bloomery.   I watched the smiths at colonial Williamsburg make bloom iron a few years ago.  Interesting process.  

Ive seen both broken sickle and scythe blades converted 

Just saw it - Thought there might be interest here - its not mine (dont have one) but if i am violating something feel free to delete this and i apologize in advance  

I’m just going to go hang out in the wabe with the borogoves 

I’ve just cut thick leather rings, put a slit inside and slid them over the handle.  Any of these ideas above do good to prevent nips 

Nothing-no marks, letters, or numbers-clean as a whistle.  Works. Pull the trigger rapidly, the flint sparks and the spring resets it to go again. The wire on top is Spring  wire and presses down on the flint. 

Found it at an antique store-works good.  Going to try and copy it.  Anyone have an idea who (as in the company) may have made it or when it was made?

thanks. 

Prayers sent.  

Any markings on the Holthaus?  I have a smaller German single horn.  The only markings are “HHS” and “1886

Seeing that reference to dust control on roads reminded me of the old DOT sign i have

Knot from what I saw......

Your just driving a wedge into this topic and splintering it. I’ll Froe you a softball to get this back on topic with plane truths 

Now you are just pining for more from Old Hickory

I always liked how Jerry Clower used to describe one of th Ledbetter kids - he’d rather climb a tree to tell a lie than stand in front of you to tell the truth.