While scanning more than 350 old magazines edited by Charles Hayward, we kept running into articles that were made us pause because they were so interesting, yet we didn’t have a place for them in our forthcoming book.
We clipped them anyway, and I’ll be posting many of them here for you to enjoy.
Today is an article from the fantastic series called “The Old School,” which ran in The Woodworker between the wars. Each “Old School” column was a first-person account of work in a hand-tool shop at a different trade. This particular column was on making coffins.
You can download a pdf of the article using the link below.
Also, reader Jeff Hanes sent me this link to a film by craftsman Jeremy Broun about Hayward’s influence on him as a craftsman and illustrator. It is well worth watching.
Tomorrow I am off to San Diego to teach a two-day seminar at the San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association. I have take the smart extremely stupid step of packing all of my tools and the wood for my project in my checked luggage. Along with my undies and minty floss.
Well, it couldn’t be worse than my performance in Detroit!
— Christopher Schwarz
Thanks for these goodies Chris, they’re fabulous. Have you ever seen the book “Timbers For Wood” anywhere? This is the first time I ever heard of it.
Thanks again.
Michael
If you search at http://www.abe.com you’ll find a hundred or so copies for sale!
Cheers,
Burbidge.
Thanks so much for this. The writing is reminiscent of Walter Rose’s memoir. It’s a shame there is no room in the current book for such interesting fare. I can only hope that Hayward will prove such a popular Lost Press author/editor that he will warrant a second book.
I know you’re real purpose with that image. You’re attempting to stop us from using “saw” as a verb. 🙂
I would, but only the English know what kerfing is.
“Well, it couldn’t be worse than my performance in Detroit!”
And here comes Murphy in three… two… one…
A nice little gem that old school article. I particularly enjoy the irony of ” The Old School” quip about younger generations and such…
Some things never change. Any idea what a “bearing job” refers to? (apologies for stranded prepositions)
Being a coffin bearer. At the burial.
Nice teaser article, I love the pre-war/late victorian publications. Add this to Furniture of Necessity for future buys.