gaswizard Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 In our local town of Nevada City, CA we have a radio station KVMR that has a once a week live radio flea market. I called in and asked the question "Hello, I am looking for blacksmith stuff along with old rusty machines for my shop". I received 6 calls from local people that have blacksmith stuff for sale. Went on a few trips and met up with 6 wonderful people. On one of the stops a guy who has lived on this farm for most of his entire life and told me a story of how he found a swage black. On a rainy day he was driving his tractor through the apple orchard and the "tractor hit a bump" He got off the tractor and behind him was this large block of mud that stood straight up. He loaded this into the bucket and washed it off. He had this block of steel for over 40 years and thought it was something for the barn that once stood on the land before it burned down. He did some research and found out what it was. He gave me a call and said come on over and pick it up for free, WHAT A FREE SWAGE BLOCK!?" As I was driving down his road I saw the foundation of the old Pike City Hotel where I once lived as a kid. The fella who had the swage block lived across the dirt road from me where I used to play and ride my bicycle when I was 9 years old. He did remember me as a kid that lived in the old hotel and asked how the rest of the clan was. After a few hours of chatting we rolled down the road in his tractor to the barn and said it is yours, just please stop on by every once in awhile for a cup of coffee. Cheers and "happy metal working" PS, this is a heavy one at 156 lbs, 16" x 16" x 4". Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 Great find and the price can't be beat. I would be tempted to see if he would let me take my metal detector and go over that area the swage block was found. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranchmanben Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 YES YES YES! Awesome find, awesome story! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Sawicki Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 Wow that’s a great story! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou L Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 I love every part of that story. Did he have that swage block there’s when you lived there as a kid? Also, I’m highly curious about your patent project....I hope we will get to see more when it becomes possible. Completely jealous about the swage block..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 Thats one of the best stories I've heard in a while. Awesome find, awesome score and a good friend for chats over coffee. Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 I also loved the story and there is no telling how much history is just under the surface at that site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 I do agree, having a metal detector, to ask prrmission to check out the area! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaswizard Posted August 15, 2018 Author Share Posted August 15, 2018 The town of Pike City (which is now known as Pike) was an old gold mining town that had a population of nearly 1200 people in the early 1900's. I asked the fella who owns the old apple orchard about old relics lying around the town ( current population 100) and he said about 20 years ago this area was pretty much picked clean down to the bone. The ranch he lives on was built in 1857 and still has one old standing barn that is solid as the day it was built. I will ask him the next time I get together if he had ever walked the land with a metal detector. And yes, the swage block was there on the land when I was a kid but cannot pinpoint the exact date it was found and when I was there. 13 hours ago, Lou L said: I love every part of that story. Did he have that swage block there’s when you lived there as a kid? Also, I’m highly curious about your patent project....I hope we will get to see more when it becomes possible. Completely jealous about the swage block..... The patent is almost finished, waiting for a few details that need polishing over. So far we have made over 600 prototypes of this spring (yes it took that many springs to get the performance from we needed for this project). All heat treating was done in house along with all casting and machine parts. This project was made from scratch by hands in the shop. Take a guess what it is for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 "Picked clean" can mean different things to different people. Someone who's looking for salable antiques might well overlook old wrought iron scrap that's worthless to them, but gold to us. "One man's trash...." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaswizard Posted August 15, 2018 Author Share Posted August 15, 2018 (edited) is another mans treasure...." Edited August 15, 2018 by Mod34 Excessive quoting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 Gotta love small towns. Great story what a win win for everybody concerned. Forge him up something nice and don't forget to stop by for coffee and visiting. I'ts been a while since I had a good "fence" neighbor. You know the kind you both can lean on the fence and shoot the breeze with. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 Skateboard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaswizard Posted August 15, 2018 Author Share Posted August 15, 2018 5 minutes ago, BIGGUNDOCTOR said: Quote removed Correct. Suspension trucks for skateboards. We also make suspension trucks for longboard and precision suspension trucks down hill speed racers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 I grew up in Fairfield, and did a bit of backpacking around the Tahoe area - Desolation Wilderness, and worked summer camps in the Sierra Nevada as a Boy Scout. How are you doing with the fires? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzzyguy Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 I loved the story. That block looks almost exactly like the one I got in Carlotta, Ca ( Humboldt county) before I moved to Trinidad,Colorado. I am just starting to put together a small smithy to learn blacksmithing. I have a Champion rivet forge with a gear that has two missing teeth. Cannot find a replacement so will try brazing up and filing to get it to work. I just found this site and am happy to have a source of information. P.S. am a retired welder, machinist and mechanic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 14 hours ago, Fuzzyguy said: I just found this site Welcome to IFI... Have you read this yet? It will help you get the best out of the forum.-read-this-first/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rmartin2 Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 On 8/15/2018 at 10:57 AM, gaswizard said: The patent is almost finished, waiting for a few details that need polishing over. So far we have made over 600 prototypes of this spring (yes it took that many springs to get the performance from we needed for this project). Avenue Trucks????? A guy at the skatepark had some and he let me take them for a spin. They have a cooI feel to them. These with a set 78a wheels would probably feel Cadillac on the street. I'm going to have to get a pair one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaswizard Posted December 20, 2018 Author Share Posted December 20, 2018 On 12/19/2018 at 1:13 AM, Rmartin2 said: Avenue Trucks????? A guy at the skatepark had some and he let me take them for a spin. They have a cooI feel to them. These with a set 78a wheels would probably feel Cadillac on the street. I'm going to have to get a pair one day. Yes that is me AV Trucks. Took my metal/blacksmith skills and started a company. Send me you address and I will send you a pair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rmartin2 Posted December 20, 2018 Share Posted December 20, 2018 Awesome! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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