Wayne

I use a pair of single action bellows when I am doing my medieval demonstrations, what I have found so far roughly runs as follows - two single action bellows worked by hand from the rear are good for Roman and Dark age. Two single action bellows operated by the crank mechanism are good for medieval and upto about 1550 period when you start to get illustrations of double action bellows from german illustrations. For VERY late medieval - early Tudor the book De Re Metallica by Agricola has very good instructions and sketches of the construction of single action bellows. On my own set up the bellows are weighted with stones with the bellows furthest away from me being just slightly heavier to help on the up stroke of the lever. The main pivot bar of the crank has to be angled - higher at the back than the front, I will have to measure mine as I cannot remember if the angle of the bar matches the angle of the top board of the bellows when they are half inflated or fully inflated, this angle is needed because of the twisting effect you get as the crank pivots. I original thought this angle was only shown by the artist in an attempt to show as much detail as possible, but I found out the hard way it really is needed. If I can figure out or someone can point out how to post pictures I will send some of my set up.

One of my 'rules' for art - besides whether I like it or not is the note at the side of the picture/sculpture. If it is a post card sized lable with the artists name on it and the title of the piece and you can read the title then look at the work and say yes that is what the artist is trying to show, then to me that is art. On the other hand if at side of the work is several A4 sized sheets of 'Bull' then that to me is not art, just the artist trying to justify a load of rubbish - a pictoral image of a politicians speach !!!!!!!

Nick, If you get a chance, try writing a polite letter to the medieval department of the museum of London asking to see their reserve collection of arrowheads. I did that several years ago and they invited me down,put me in a room of my own and wheeled in a large trolley filled with draw after draw of arrow and crossbow heads. Their rules were simple, gloves to be worn when handling and any photos taken were for private use - apart from that I could draw and easure till my heart was content, I spent a full day there and still did not see all the heads. I cannot tell you who is in charge of the department now as the lass i dealt with moved to Hereford and Worcester museum, but if you ring someone will be able to tell you. Where are you based?

Nick, If you want to see arrowheads check out the work of Hector cole at Information about Hector Cole Arrowsmiths

Hi Nick, When I make Broad heads I make them in two parts and fire weld - although I know some folks who mig weld them then dress in the fire. I posted some of my arrowheads over on the forgemagic site in the knives section.