Tinker Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Hi folks, I've posted a few times about my plans for travelling, and the idea of putting a whole new slant on what a 'Journeyman' Smith is.... My gratitude to all the folks who posted replies to my earlier messages. Time for an update methinks My ticket has been bought, and on the 26th of September 2005 yours truly, his (hopefully) faithfull old jalopy and an even older kit bag will board the Ferry from Hull in East Yorkshire (U.K.) and about 12 hours later will land on the mainland of Europe in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. So it begins.........and the clock is ticking :shock: From there my route should be a skip across the top of Germany and into Denmark. I'll head north to the lands of the Vikings before turning tail and heading back into germany and southwards before the winter bites. Things will be pretty flexible so please feel free to offer any advise on where to go and who to see 8) Asia will follow Europe and Australasia will follow that. I've already got a 12 month 'working holiday visa' sorted for Oz, that can be 'activated' from March until August of next year.....I won't even mention the Americas just yet If you think this is all daft enough to be pretty entertaining then stay tuned, you'll be able to follow my progress all the way right here on IforgeIron Wish me luck!Edit: following material added Join us and follow Ian Lowe and his World Tour Reports as he travels the world in search of blacksmithing knowledge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strine Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Good luck Can't wait to hear the Yorkshire accent. Sorry, can't wait to hear Yorkshire accent. An addage you might like to take with you for use under circumstances good or bad..."No worries mate...she'll be right"Edit: duplicate post removed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinker Posted August 27, 2005 Author Share Posted August 27, 2005 :lol: Cheers Strine, no wuckers mate. Strewth she'll be alright I reckon. 8) I'll need to be as cunning as a dunny rat to pull this off without any major mishaps, but I'm looking forward to the challenge! I'll be saying G'day to all the good folks from the land of Oz some time next march. I'll break out the zinc stick, you can break out the beer. Save me a sunny Sheila mate :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strine Posted August 27, 2005 Share Posted August 27, 2005 :lol: cunning as a dunny rat That'd be "Shifty as a particular house rat". (Rude word replaced on account of the family nature of this forum). Dunny would be used thus.. just for your edification and in preparation for your trip Tinker. Take care lest your chooks turn into emus and kick your dunny door down. In other words to quote a bloke from your neck of the woods, "the best laid plans of mice and men oft gang astray. And I hope that any Plan B is not just Plan A with an element of panic. It will be the tour of dreams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 You are invited to join silversmith and frustrated blacksmith Ian 'Tinker' Lowe from Yorkshire in the UK as he begins the biggest (and most insane) metal related project of his life - - to travel the globe on a shoestring budget in search of fellow Blacksmiths willing share their knowledge of the craft. Follow his progress and see if he really can pull it off and bring a whole new meaning to the term 'Journeyman'. Ian Lowe world tour begins here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 Well Tinker has started the tour. He has posted the first 3 installmants and more will follow as he moves on and locates internet access. Stay tuned as this is only seen on IForgeIron.com August 24, 2005 An exercise in persistance August 8, 2005 Railway Steel July 13, 2005 Home storage in the UK Where in the world is Ian ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinker Posted September 20, 2005 Author Share Posted September 20, 2005 Hello folks!, as you can see things are underway and a little bit more of my travels has been put up on line. I just got back from london on Sunday after an excellent weekend with my mate Chris (another Yorky) and his lovely (Canadian no less) wife Krystal. Its been two days solid at the pc, with limited internet access, trying to get my reports up to date. I've been to see the armourer at the Museum in Leeds, had a good crawl around the museum itself too. Now I've just got to slim down the 200 plus photo's I took in London down into a 20 to 30 photo report. Plus which time is getting on. I need to get some camping gear bought and soon! :shock: I've got less than a week till I hit the ferry for Rotterdam, bust busy busy! I'll see you all on the road Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meco3hp Posted September 20, 2005 Share Posted September 20, 2005 Hello, Now this would make a good reality TV show. Ian if you get to come through the Land of Oz here in the U.S. (Kansas), stop by and we'll tour the Barbed Wire museum (over 900 differnt kinds of Barbed Wire) and forge something! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Gold Posted September 21, 2005 Share Posted September 21, 2005 Not to mention the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Fine Art, right Meco? Didn't know you lived in KS... you should go hang out with Jr (Irnsrgn). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinker Posted September 22, 2005 Author Share Posted September 22, 2005 The thing I love about doing this is the reponse I get from the people reading it. Oh and the invites to see interesting places from the folks who live near them is also great. I'll be hitting the Stateside version of Oz after I hit the really big (ie continental) version 'down under' London was a blast, beer and music and excellent company. Now if I can build a raft or a decent dug out canoe I might be knocking on Tylers door (hawai, I mean come on people!) to see if he's finished making a trailer for his bike! Keep watching the site (or is it the skies?) Mungo will soon be on his way. 8) 4 days and counting........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meco3hp Posted September 22, 2005 Share Posted September 22, 2005 sure thing on the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Fine Art. I think I toured it way back when I was in vo-tech, I didn't have an eye for it back then though. Yes Jr and I have talked about getting together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinker Posted September 23, 2005 Author Share Posted September 23, 2005 Hi all, racing against time and a temperamental internet connection, but to let you know all the camping gear was aquired ( at a frightening expense ) Spent last night under canvas to christen the gear, and check that it all works. So far so good. Just got to go shopping for dry food and other sundries and we're ready to roll. Some cool reports coming up on the tour to keep you amused until I hit the shores of Holland. If there's anyone who lives in the Netherlands that hammers Iron then give me a shout here and I'll see about paying you a visit. Otherwise its some unsuspecting Dutchman who's in for the Mungo treatment be cool, see you on the road 8) Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinker Posted September 26, 2005 Author Share Posted September 26, 2005 Well this is is folks, less than 12 hours to go and final prep is running close to the wire Thanks to everyone for their support and advice, keep it up! Xxxx if you can think of anyone you know out here let me know and I'll try and say hello as I go, if there a blacksmith too I'll try even harder, lol Next post will be from Rotterdam be cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strine Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 Bon Voyage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinker Posted September 28, 2005 Author Share Posted September 28, 2005 Hello all, just posted off the first report from rotterdam, I'm sat writing this in their massive six storey library 8) The Ferry crossing wasn't too bad even with a force 5 gale and apart from one 'where do I go'moment I'm driving on the wrong side (to me) without killing anyone yet. The local press are looking for smiths to visit as I type all being well. But I'll keep you posted as to what the nice chap I spoke to turns up. Nearly everyone here speaks English but the term Blacksmith was met with blank stares at the tourist information centre. Luckily local paper wasn't so we'll see what happens. I recommend the "Hoegaarden wit" to destress you after a long day of research a pint goes down lovely Everything is good so far, even kipping in the car wasn't as bad as I thought it might be, if this chap comes good I'll be doing some more driving tomorrow. Delft and Amsterdam are on the list for my next landing zones, but keep watching as things might change. Be Cool 8) Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinker Posted October 1, 2005 Author Share Posted October 1, 2005 Hi folks, well six days in and two fellow smiths in the bag! I have another lesson with one of them (Hananja Boelen) at his shop on Sunday. There are some great photo's to work up into a report tonite. This cafe is mad at the minute so i'll come back later. I'm having a blast out here so far, looking forward to my lesson tomorrow. Maybe I'll get another go on his power hammer 8) If anyones found anymore guys in DENMARK drop me a line, I'll start heading North on Monday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meco3hp Posted October 1, 2005 Share Posted October 1, 2005 Tinker, Can you tell us which smiths you vist are on board with Iforgeiron? If they aren't make them repent and join us! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinker Posted October 2, 2005 Author Share Posted October 2, 2005 Both of the guys I've been to see, Paulus van der Jagt and Hananja Boelen asked me for the sites adress. Paulus has a wbsite which will be included in my report. Hananja works at the maritime museum in Rotterdam, he's been on local tv and in the local press a few times because of his work. I've just got here from my lesson with Hananja, and posted the report to glenn on Paulus. Both were very cool and laid back dutchmen. Both were very good smiths, but Hananja was able to let me play in the musem workshop with him so he get two thumbs up! lol I was very lucky to meet both lads and Hananja and I might meet up again as I come back through germany. He's a top bloke. Keep watching the site to see where my next touchdown is. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leah Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Ian, The pictures of the Royal Armouries are great. Keep up the good work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Gold Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Ian, The tool you couldn't figure out in the armorer's shop is a rolling mill, used for rolling down wire or strip stock. My dad's got one that's very similar but a smaller model. Also, I think those funny curved swords are shamshirs. I could be wrong. Following along with your trip is awesome, keep up the good work!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinker Posted October 6, 2005 Author Share Posted October 6, 2005 Hello everyone, well after the fantastic time I had working with Hananja Boelen on Sunday I went for a bit of a drive out to a place called Zeven Huizen where I met two fantastic old smiths with around 120 years at an anvil between them. Abraham and Cornelis Gebr are from a long line of smiths and both are over 70. I had a great afternoon getting a tour of their shop and after yet more delicious dutch coffee Abraham showed me his pride and joy. Model steam engines! He makes the 1 to 10 scale steam engines you can ride as well as a lot of other tiny steam driven engines. He has even made a fully working model of the workshop he and his brother run. Oh and he's 82! and has this seriously roguish grin. He was sent to germany during the war because of his skills, but when the germans lost he just came straight back and carried on working. An amazing man. After that I rode on up to Amsterdam, where I've been walking my feet into mincemeat trying to find some Smiths to interview. I found a guy called Paul van Gerwen in Amsterdam who's a modern smith, without a solid feul forge yet, but with ideas for a gas one. He's a design genius, no matter how outlandish your idea he can make it work in a nuts and bolts, practical way. He also gave me the name of two other places to try. One is called Aethetica and sells forged work the other I've just come from. Result! Its the only solid feul smithy left in the centre of Amsterdam because of the emmission laws here and has been in operation since 1861. A father and son team run it although mainly the son. Arno Kouwenhoven is just 26 years old, and is very good at what he does. I got a fantastic look around his and his Dads place so expect a report on that soon. Oh and by the way, whoever told me to look for the Smithy underneath the 'Knocking Shop', that ones it! lmao I had a rather attractive if irate hooker come storming downstairs to tell me off for taking photo's of the girls (which isn't allowed) when I was actually taking a shot of the front of the shop! Amsterdam is a VERY different place to the rest of Holland from what I've seen so far :shock: I'll be heading out from here tomorrow over to a place called Apeldorn, apparently theres a very skilled smith out there. Again my thanks to all who've posted, especially Oakwoodforge. I'll check up on that link asap mate, and thanks for the other offer. I'll take it up when I get to the states. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 I received an email that ask where the cartooms and the world tour information was located. There are in only one place, IForgeIron.com If you want the direct link to The Ian Lowe World Tour click here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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