notownkid

Sounds like my cousin's Fiord horse he had for a number of yrs. His daughter as born 85% blind and they drove this mare all the time and did some showing. If my cousin a big guy was driving that mare was right up on the bit giving him a hard time and when Heather took the reins, bam different mare, head would drop never make a miss step and in the show ring it was like she understood the announcer when to walk trot or reverse always in the ribbons. They gave the mare to another disabled girl and she worked many more yrs. for that family. Heather went on to have her PHD in Physical Therapy and works in a major medical facility "Seeing" Patients with her seeing eye dog beside her. To this day she credits the Mare for confidence in being able to do what others thought was beyond her. I'd rather have 2 animal friends than a dozen half baked humans. My wife and I were talking about the horses we have had over the yrs before meeting up again, and most have left lasting memories, some left memories I feel every morning when I wake up I remember their names as well.

I'm not feeling it per say but can see it here on IFI. 2/3 of the newbies on here are going to make Knifes and Swords which I wish them luck doing. The TV Shows make it look so simple and the shops are so well equipped anyone can do it! Right! Wrong. It will all be a bad memory in a 2-3 yrs and they will be on to the next Hot Ticket items. It isn't a Get Rich Quick Scheme it takes years of experience and training not a few hrs watching the Boob Tube or You tube or what ever Tube. The Instant gratification crowd. How many people have we seen here in recent months wanting to become Full Time in Blacksmithing or Blade Smithing? A lot more than the market will support, hope they have some very deep pockets behind them. Every High School Ball player is going to be in the Pro's in 5 yrs. OK! Great! get an education in something that will pay the bills as the % of success is extremely small.

The old saying of "Keep It Simple" applies to names as well, "Red Robin Wrought Iron" makes for a large Letter Head, or a very full Business Card to say nothing of a long e-mail address or Web address, or sign or mouth full when answering the phone which some of us still use! My e-mail address stretches for a block and a half but too far into it now to change. Trying to get it across to someone on the phone is always a pain and half the time they end up with it wrong and you never hear from them!! Customer will be more interested in seeing what you can do than what the name says you can.

Wow, looking great Andy interesting Chimney when viewed from my section of the woods, you have come a long way and like the rest of us every time you get one thing done 10 more pop up needing your attention. Good Luck Dale

I had a Canady Otto #16 in good working order given to me and delivered for free to keep it out of the scrap. Without all the parts I'd think $100 would be more donation than drill press.

Thanks Judson, great Pictures and report extremely sorry to have missed it, hopefully next time. Like the looks of the portable knock down units will be very handy at the next meet. Really like the 1978 unit! All are very impressive. Will be nice to see them mounted.

Any one get pictures and would like to write a report on the Spring Meet for those of us who couldn't make it?

There is a VERY INTERESTING Book (with pictures) on this, esp. interesting to me as I've visited Gotland Island a while back. Also Interesting in the fact so many things look similar to today's tools.

Nah, I've already got those left over from being in business. Buying a one of a kind piece of property and he handles my Vermont business for a few more months, has the nerve to retire. A no nonsense Lawyer, was 22 yr. Navy Helo pilot, 3 tours off Vietnam as Air Sea rescue Pilot and the Helo Pilot of the yr. of the entire Navy. Then became a Lawyer. Takes no crap from anyone, another lawyer or Judge included.

Wow, one minute I'm reading about making items out of hay mowing blades (which I've changed 100s of over the years) and my cell phone rang I talked a few minutes with my lawyer and when I looked back Frosty is talking about sweaty blacksmiths in Spandex. I've seen a lot of blacksmiths in assorted attire and have many pictures of old shops and blacksmiths but never considered Spandex, that's enough to make one lose their lunch.

Frosty you josh! 30,000 something members in 34 or so countries and you want a consensus. We can't agree on important stuff like the time of day, seasons ( we have friends here who celebrate Christmas in the middle of the summer and a day before some of the rest of us). The best Beer, type of hammers, the best steel, best fuel, long aprons or chaps, or even the best form of "Football". The list goes on and on. In my shop it's a FORGE. I don't believe in Rewriting history, good for my great grandfather good enough for me.

First question is just how far off is this one-off anvil? Doesn't sound right.

Great to hear your progress, keep it going. Best of Luck.

I agree with Charles above, relax, wait for the experts to get their own stuff done. I've never seen people not respond BUT the above comment just could make that happen. Free info takes a while. In my case I don't have the foggiest idea what it is other than an anvil of small proportions. Happy Forging.

I can't stand hagglers on price. I have something to sell I figure a fair price and that is it. If someone offers less I go UP the same amount and do not back off. I've thrown stuff in the dumpster in front of these people rather than take less. If they show up again there is no haggle out of them and if they don't show that is fine as well. Life is far too short to haggle over everything. Same with buying if the price is too high I leave no conversation. Old saying in the Auto Business "there is a butt to fit every seat just have to look harder for some than others" same with selling Anvils you can't get them at Wal-Mart, HB, TS or on every street corner so wait and somebody will pony up what it is worth and the others can go on beating on their rock.

We use to bring in 30-35 horses from Iowa & Indiana every spring to sell in Vermont. they had never seen hills/mountains like ours and we soon learned they had to have heals on Frt. & Rear shoes to keep from sliding and falling down going down hill. Learned that the hard way after injuring a couple horses. Always used leather pad with ocum & pine tar under the shoes to keep the small rocks from laming them. A farrier friend always was amazed at the number of riders who come into an establishment near us to do a 100 mile 3 day endurance ride needing shoes some were missing others in two pieces. He would work most of the night getting these horses shod and then the people would complain if they didn't make the ride all the way. And always the same owners or stables would be the ones each yr. Every horse was different in their needs, Oh yah more than one check bounced from these owners as well, they did not get service the next yr.

How did you get my duffle bag? Name is right but serial # wrong.

I have as well spend a lot of money on custom rifles one good enough so I was in the top 40 of 600 shooters at a National Match a while ago but my buddy shooting my rifle was in the top 10! Good Expensive equip. is half the story knowing how to shoot is the other 3/4! Buying a $140. or $250 hammer does not make a great blacksmith but will not hurt either once you wife stops hitting you with it. In my case the rifle was too heavy for my now X-Wife to pick up and I got to keep it in the divorce.

NoName, I agree with DC you did a major jump to conclusions here as to whom the "Dummy" was here. Good anvil to begin with hope you didn't pay the Long Dollar for it but should help you learn. There are repair clinics around the country one was held in Mass. in Jan I just read a report on in the New England Blacksmiths Newsletter and they repaired some of the same problems you have. But Mass is a long drive from OK as I've done it a number of times.

For that much money it is good learning/beginners anvil even if not 100% or even 85% a good buy. You're not marrying it, use till something better comes along can always get your money out of it. Enjoy!

I've been pushing that on a local level for years, breath test to get in and even pushed the police to test them on the way home but he told me he couldn't because they pay him, wrong we pay him. On the training of young folks. My son has hired two college students to work with him on a large gentleman's farms to mow lawns and help with the haying. One quit after the first day because the "paper work was too much for him" he had to punch in and punch out at the end of the day! The other one was watched leaning on the mower for over an hour talking or texting on his not so smart phone, when my son told him to leave the phone on his belt until the end of the day he told my son " He had a constitutional right of freedom of speech and would talk on his phone all he wanted". He may be but it is at a different location as he fired him on the spot. When his father called my son to ask what happened he said "all the kid learned for a whole yr. at college for $30,000 was his rights" His dad said he thought he might fire him and wasn't paying one more penny for college and said too bad the draft isn't still in force. Son has decided only to hire retired people or vets from now on. Charles, Home school the kids if at all possible, friends grand daughter was having trouble in Math in 5th grade teacher said she would never get it, they pulled her out of school home schooled her for 6 months and had her tested at an independent testing location and she has jumped in most subjects including math 1 1/2 grade levels, she will not be going back as planned to public school.

The difference in weight most likely flaked off as rust over the years, what was doesn't always mean what is. That has a direct correlation to my present weight is isn't what it was 50 yrs ago and it hasn't "flaked" any either.

There is still time to sign up for the Hammer In this Sat. at the Lake Champlain Maritime Mus. in Vergennes VT. X out their Web Sight and can sign up on line.

until recent years in Vermont they would post pot Hole signs along the roads now about every mile or so there is Pot HoleS sign, Plus they got sick of posting signs on the road to our place and at the beginning there is a BUMPS sign. This is what life has become, our lives, families lives and national lives, see the news and it's ONE BIG BUMP! Hang in there Charles & Sandy. You're in our prayers and as I recently hurt a knee again I'm praying standing up so makes me closer to he who needs to hear, hope it helps.

they didn't get the answer they wanted, like kids repeatedly asking WHY!