This is the second thread for the tool collection series. If you haven't seen the first, look at the thread titled "Tool Collection", then come back to this thread.

Okay... in my last post I walked you thru the tools/machines on the front porch of the blacksmith shop and we took a stroll thru the little auxillary room attached to the cabin.

I started a new thread to keep the total photos in any single thread to a minimum. This will help reduce how long it takes for those with slower network connections to see everything.

Let's take a look inside the main blacksmith shop!

Cheers!

Mark

Mark_Gough wrote:ok so were is it at sir i would dearly love to see the main shop if it is better then the front porch and shed

Okay... you walk in the front door and this is the first thing you see.

It's a large stake anvil mounted in a stump. The sloping horn on the right makes it a bit rare and was intentionally cast that way.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0060.jpg?t=1225768532

Behind the stake anvil is this very rare plow anvil. Notice the cut-away on the anvil step. This one was made by Fisher and I believe that Bob said it weighs in at 400 pounds.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0058.jpg?t=1225768703

Of course, you can't have a good anvil without a collection of swage blocks, right?

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0057.jpg?t=1225768754

bumfoot SHOER wrote:
Patience... I'm posting as fast as I can!

Mark_Gough wrote:sorry mark but that is by far the best home collection i have ever see thank you.

Of course, we don't want to assume that all the swage tools we need are at the anvil, so here's a few more, just in case we need them!

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0030.jpg?t=1225768952

Hammers anyone! Notice how many catseye hammers he has. These things sell for anywhere between $100-$200 on ebay, and he has more in the main barn!

Course, you have to have a good collection of crosspien hammers, a few more swages and a dozen or so old fashioned nippers on hand. Yes, there were a few hellers and champions in the bunch.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0029.jpg?t=1225769012

Oh... and what about swage hammers? And how about some flatters? And some really BIG punches?

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0028.jpg?t=1225769150

bumfoot SHOER wrote:
Not even getting started! You can't believe what Mr. Armstrong has. I have yet to get to the best stuff. Hang in there.. it takes time to upload these photos to photobucket, then create these forum entries.

Mark

Folks... you just can't have a blacksmith shop without a forge, can you?!

Mr. Armstrong built this side-draft forge from cobblestone. It goes from the floor to the ceiling and is about 10 feet high. That's a large collection of various forging tongs hung on the front of the forge.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0062.jpg?t=1225769568


Now here's the really interesting part. While I was standing there admiring the forge, Bob reaches over and gives this wood handle a quick pump. An old blower, hiding under the staircase to the left of the forge starts pumping air into the forge. The whole thing works just like it did over a hundred years ago with the blower was made.

If you look close, you can see where the handle is worn, showing the finger marks left by the original blacksmith. Decades of pumping on that handle had worn his imprint into the wood!

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0063.jpg?t=1225769712


So... what happens if the blower isn't working? Not to fear... there's a backup system!

Check out this gigantic bellows mounted above and to the right of the forge!

The bellows are about 5-6 feet long and made of leather and wood. Although there were some tears in the leather, the bellows still created a draft in the forge. They are operating by pulling an iron ring down, which hangs from a rope in front of the forge. Look at the first picture above. You can see the ring/rope just to the left of the big horseshoe hung at the top of the forge.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0068.jpg?t=1225769785

Close-up of the working area at the forge.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0032.jpg?t=1225769977

Did I mention that the gentleman has a collection of tongs?

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0033-1.jpg?t=1225770138

If you're gonna shoe some horses, you'll need some nails!

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0034.jpg?t=1225770260


And maybe some calks...

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0035.jpg?t=1225770422

And maybe some more calks...

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0036.jpg?t=1225770339

Yeah.. those boxes are all full.

Yep, we all use hoof knives.... but how many still use these?

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0037.jpg?t=1225770570

Okay... look real close at the buttress at the bottom center.

Follow the blade rod to the rear and notice the very end of the blade rod. It's a horses hoof!! Is that cool or what!?

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0038.jpg?t=1225770541

Very cool!! I got an old box like that labled 'Brighton' in big letter. 'Standard Horse Nails' under it. Thank you for sharing!

I think the whole building and collection should be uprooted and planted in the Smithsonian Museum, intact, just as it sits. This is simply and amazing collection!

There is a local museum, (High Desert Museum) that has a live working sawmill that is used in demonstrations daily during summer months at the museum. It is from the same era as the Blacksmith shop. It would be great to see this shop dusted off, fired up and horses shod 'old school'. I'd even come back to D.C. to dress the part and hold the horse...I'll even bring my horse.

Trevor

I looked at these and guessed they were some kind of half shoes for side weighting. I was wrong. They're oxen shoes.

Any of you guys have some ox on your books?

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0039.jpg?t=1225770821


Bob shared that he was told these shoes were made to deal with stifle problems. Basically, the horse won't put full weight on the leg that has this shoe on. Can also be used to make a horse put weight on the opposite foot.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/IMG_0040.jpg?t=1225770967

Thanks Mark, GREAT post!


Ronald Aalders