Al Stephens

I've been working on this for several days. Got the idea during my research on the Yellin films from the MMOA website. About 13&1/2" (almost) square.

As of yesterday, the Smithsonian Institute, has agreed to start the process to get the films digitized. Not sure of the cost, or timeline, but it looks like progress is being made to preserve these films. If anybody is within driving distance of DC you can contact SI and make an appoint to view the films. I can provide contact info. Later Al

The Athens Forge, a member of the Alabama Forge Council will meet Sat. April 28 at 10AM. Mark Haddix, the President of the AFC will be the demonstrator. Mark will be forging steel magnolia flowers. There will be an Iron in the Hat drawing, that will include several tools that Clay Spencer did not finish the day of his demo. and the hatchet head that Clavin Garland forged last month. Visitors are always welcome, for more information, and directions to Athens Forge, visit the website at athensforge.com or Athens Forge on FB.

I've lived and worked in 3 different areas of the states during my smithing journey. When I started I was about 60 miles north of the population center of the U.S. Moved to the N.E. Moved to the south.( It would seem I get run out of places on a regular basis!) I have always found a community of those interested in metalwork. I've always found tools, equipment, material, that I've needed to work with. I've always found individuals I could learn from and inspired me to do better work. Find and get involved with the closest group to you. Ask question and listen to the answers. Make the best of everything near you. Practice, practice, practice. Al

Hi SFC Snuffy, Very nice. Years ago I made some of these for my daughter and her friends, they did not like the weight of steel, so I switched to aluminum. Al

I have managed to find a little more information. The Smithsonian Institute in their Yellin Collection has 2 films listed. (1) "The Making of Wrought Iron" produced by the Metropolitan Museum of Art (250 ft.), shows an artist sketching a grille and Yellin shaping a grille for a chair. (2) "The Florida Film" (175 ft., ca. 1928), shows examples of Yellin's first work as used in the Singing Tower, Mountain Lake, Florida. I believe the 1st one is what we're looking for. It is a 16mm, black and white, silent, film. The SI site also refers to them being at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. A search of the SIUC site produced no results. It is my understanding that ABANA does not have a copy of the films. Others are checking with Metal Museum in Memphis, TN. Later Al

Thanks for the suggestions everybody. I will look into further. The Yellin site was set up in 2008, and parts of it are still under construction, doesn't look hopeful. I'll post or PM any new info I get. Al I have not been abel to locate any catalog numbers yet. However, the film is mentioned , and the piece pictured in, Samuel Yellin Metalworker, written by Jack Andrews, on page 75. Al

In 1929 Samuel Yellin was filmed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, NY. This film shows the making of the piece that Fred Crist demonstrates and calls "The Yellin Challenge" The MMOA in recent emails has acknowledged the existence of the film, but "it is not currently available for viewing" and has no interest in digitizing it for distribution, or viewing. If anyone has a copy of this film, myself and several others would like to see it, and are interested in it being made available for public viewing. Any ideas, or contacts that could make this happen would be appreciated. Feel free to PM me if necessary. Thanks Al

Welcome. Your work is very clean and exact. I like it. If you can find a local forge group near you, you will be surprised at the amount, and range of knowledge that can be accessed. Al

The 30th Annual Batson Bladesmithing Symposium will be held April 6-8, 2018 at the Tannehill Ironworks near Bessemer, AL. I will try and attach flyer below, if that fails check www.alaforge.org Or PM me with email address, and I will forward. Al 2018 Batson Blade-flyer, schedule, form.pdf

The first shop I built in my back yard was 10'x10', I had a 8" step up into it and the back was about 56" off the ground. I set it on 6, 12" dia. concrete piers. If I remember I used 2x10 for floor frame. I'm sure it sounded like a drum to the neighbors, but it served my purposes well, and didn't make our usable back yard any smaller for the kids. The main thing I remember was I only put one light fixture in it and it was in the center of the "building". Seemed like I was always working in a shadow. Good Luck. Al

The Athens Forge, a member of the Alabama Forge Council will meet Sat. March 24th at 10 AM. Calvin Garland from TN. will be the demonstrator, and will be forging a hand axe with a split and welded cutting edge. Calvin will doing everything by hand with the help of a striker. Open forge time will follow for AFC members. Visitors are always welcome, for more information, and directions to Athens Forge, visit the website at athensforge.com or Athens Forge on FB.

I have always been thankful for the high school counselor that "suggested" I finish high school at a trade school. I learned a trade that supported my family, and working with metal has allowed me to lead a comfortable life. Al

JLP, We used the same off side butcher, and the anvil edge for everything. The lines looked clean, but by the time we were done some cold shuts showed up at the base of the c scrolls. So there were some miss hits somewhere. I think between the 2 of us we had every hot cut we had laying around. Mostly used a straight, handled one I made years ago from a jackhammer bit, and yes it was dressed a time or two during the afternoon. Al

Hi JLP Thanks, the piece was butchered, fullered, drawn, hot cut, from 1 piece, the "collar" is the only original sized portion left, and goes completely around the piece. We did it from the video link below, some pictures I had taken at a Fred Crist demo in 2003, and a photo of the Yellin piece in a book. Other than the centerline and first butcher lines, nothing else was measured,all done by eye. On the video he called it "The Yellin Challenge". Al https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUh6BrtAsK4

Thank's Das.

Spent the afternoon working with a friend. Started out .750" x 1.5" x 12.5", finished 18.5" x 6.250" Al

Here are some anvils a friend of mine recently made. Al

Well, It's about time! Mean ole Al.

The Athens Forge, a member of the Alabama Forge Council will meet Sat. Feb. 24th at 10AM. Clay Spencer will be the demonstrator, and will make a rail road spike door knocker, a rope twist tool, a V block, and a S-7 hot cut. Clay has been smithing a LONG time. He's served on the ABANA board, is a life time AFC member, and been editor of the "Bits" newsletter. He teaches anywhere/everywhere including the Campbell Folk School. He is also well know for both treadle hammer, and tire hammer workshops. He is a wealth of information, and knowledge. Open forge time for AFC members will follow. There will be an Iron in the Hat drawing. Visitors are always welcome, for more information, and directions to Athens Forge, visit the website at athensforge.com, or Athens Forge on FB

A pictures worth a thousand words. A good afternoon spent with a friend. Al

So Mike, any pics of an original piece, front and back, with all the paint, rust cleaned off? That way we can all get some sleep and not lay awake all night thinking about it. If you've priced to do 123 of them, at least of pic of your sample, trial pieces. Thanks for the interesting post, it's generated some good conversation on FB also. Al

Since there is clearly some cast work behind the grill, is it possible its a piece supplied as a complete unit, by the alarm bell company? There used to be a lot of very intricate cast work done. Al

Everybody of any skill level are welcome at the meetings. We have newly interested people at every meeting. We all learn from each other. The Feb. demonstrator Clay Spencer would be real good for you to see, he's been at it a long time. Al

Taylorblake, You might also check with any local fab., welding, machine shop, body/auto repair shop, near you. Be nice, tell them what your doing, ask if you can look thru their scrap containers, offer to pay a reasonable price, get permission before you load anything in your vehicle. A local blacksmith group is also a good source of material, and information. You may not be to far from the Athens Forge, www.athensforge.com. Al