Lost Art Press

Les Instruments de Travail

Posted on by fitz

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My favorite set of late 19th century collector cards was produced by the French chocolate manufacturer Guérin-Boutron. They printed color illustrations using the technique known as chromolithography. These illustrations were inserted under the wrappers of chocolate bars in the same way that early baseball cards were included with cigarettes. Collecting complete sets of these chocolate cards was a popular hobby for children.

Les Instruments de Travail features 84 illustrations of French workers with their tools. I have selected 18 cards from the set to share with Lost Art Press readers.

–Jeff Burks

French Oak Roubo Project: Day 0

Posted on by Lost Art Press

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When I arrived in Barnesville, Ga., on Sunday afternoon I found that all the preliminary heavy lifting had been done.

Jameel Abraham, Bo Childs, Ron Breese, Jon Fiant, Jeff Miller, Raney Nelson and Don Williams had finished ripping up the tops and legs with a sawmill and had everything stacked. The wood is beautiful. Huge. And wet – in the “high teens.” I’ve made many benches with wood at this stage in drying, and the Roubo design is well-suited for wood that is a little wet.

The leg vise hardware was artfully displayed. And Jameel was tweaking an enormous banner hanging in the middle of the shop that showed A.-J. Roubo’s plate 11 in all its detail.

All I had to do was unpack my tools, buy some fried chicken and set up to give a presentation tonight on the history of woodworking benches from Egypt to the 18th century.

I’m sure I’ll get to do my share of sweating during the next five days. My work station is in the corner with all the flies.

— Christopher Schwarz

Vickery vs Taft

Posted on by fitz

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Bennington, Vermont – July, 1814

If A, draw logs to the saw mill of B, to be sawed on shares, and B, saw them and sell the whole of the boards, he is guilty of a tort, and an action of trover will lie in favor of A, against B, for his share of the boards.

THIS was an action of trover for a quantity of boards. On trial at the last term, it appeared that Vickery had drawn a quantity of logs to Taft’s saw mill, which Taft agreed to saw into boards, and either receive pay for sawing them, or to saw them for the customary share—one half of the boards.—That Taft had sawed the logs, and sold the whole of the boards, and received the pay for them.

The defendant’s counsel, insisted that the action of trover would not lie in this case; for that, Vickery and Taft were tenants in common of the boards—that each had a right to sell the whole, and was liable only to account with the other for his share.

The Court overruled the objection, but, at the instance of the defendant’s counsel, reserved the question, and a verdict was taken for the plaintiff. A motion for a non suit was now made on the case reserved.
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A Master Cabinet Maker Sent to Gaol

Posted on by fitz

gaolWilliam Blackwell, a master cabinet-maker, carrying on business in Shoreditch, was charged at Worship-street with the following assault on Robert Everett: The prosecutor is a journeyman, and had worked for the prisoner. That morning in the shop they had some words about work, and the prisoner was said to have threatened to “crack” the prosecutor’s skull. The prosecutor declined to continue the work after the abuse, and proceeded to pack up his tools.

While he was putting them in his basket the prisoner rushed at him and tried to prevent him. A struggle took place, and the prosecutor was thrown down. The prisoner then knelt on his chest, and taking a mallet bound with iron from one of the benches deliberately hit the prosecutor on the head, inflicting a nasty wound near the temple, from which the blood flowed freely.

The prisoner cross-examined, with a view of showing that the blow was given in the struggle, and was the result of accident. The suggestion was, however, negatived in the most positive manner by the prosecutor and a fellow-workman, who corroborated his evidence, and also deposed to having heard the previous threat. The prisoner said that he was sorry, and Mr. Hannay sent him to gaol for twenty-one days, without the option of a fine.

The Cabinet Maker – (London) February 1, 1881

–Jeff Burks

Hooking Up, Old School

Posted on by Lost Art Press

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Artist Wendy Neathery-Wise is now selling her handmade bronze apron hooks in her etsy.com store.

I have been using the one she made for me for a couple weeks and really, really, really like it. Really!

It’s a great little gadget for those of us who aren’t good at tying apron strings behind our backs. I am terrible at this simple task, even though I have been doing it since my days as a fishmonger in high school.

The apron hook works with any string apron. All you do is tie one of the strings to the base of the hook – use a double knot and tie it tight. With the other apron string, tie it into a loop that is knotted at its base. Make this knot at the point where the apron is comfortable.

You are done.

Put the apron on and hook the hook into the loop. Now your apron fits the same way every time and it is easy to put on and take off.

Wendy has two designs – the one shown above that features dividers and the English layout square on the cover of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest.” The other one features a French workbench.

They are very cool old-school, handmade shop accessories. Check them out and buy one here and here.

— Christopher Schwarz