[BCMA] Blacksmith Shop Questions

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

Hello Hazel

 

As Colin Stevens has said, Burnaby Village Museum has had an operating
blacksmith program for many years.

 

Our blacksmiths are interpreters and their skill level does vary greatly.
Having said that we do have several staff members who have embraced hot iron
(not literally).

This includes two blacksmiths of the female persuasion. Like all good crafts
people if you learn to use your head you do not need to use a lot of brawn.

 

The BVM does run courses in basic blacksmithing on occasion.

 

See:
http://www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca/EN/main/programs/by-series/public-program
s/at-the-forge.html

 

We have a spacious shop where most of the demonstration happen. We also have
a small portable forge and a relatively light anvil that we have transported
to other venues to give demonstrations.

 

Colin has given a good run down on many of the issues about demonstrating
blacksmithing.

 

I am wondering what kind of blacksmith shop the tools come from.  There are
many different types of blacksmithing. Farriers are making and applying
horseshoes, many of the large companies such as Dominion Bridge employed
fabricators who actually made machine parts and bridge parts, while most
rural communities had blacksmiths who specialized in repair and maintenance.

 

Part of any program would be the history of the shop the tools came from.
Also knowing the principal tasks that were done would give you an idea of
the most important items to accession. If you have a large selection of
tools you really only need a good representative sample to tell the story.

 

Here are some links to blacksmith groups.

 

 <http://www.abana.org/> Artist Blacksmith Association of North America
(ABANA) 

 <http://www.abana-chapter.com/> Abana-chapter.com 

 <http://www.wcbg.org/> Western Canadian Blacksmith's Association 

The closest people you might want to contact are the folks at the Kwantlen
Farrier program


 <http://www.kwantlen.bc.ca/calendar/programs/farri.html> Kwantlen
University College - Farrier Training Program

 

I have worked in the BVM blacksmith shop and have catalogue a wide variety
of blacksmith and woodworking tools over the years. I would be happy to help
identify what you have.

 

BVM also has a good reference library collection on blacksmithing

 

You are welcome to contact me at 604-297-4559 or tom.gooden at burnaby.ca for
more discussion

 

TomG

 

From: bcma-bounces at lists.vvv.com [mailto:bcma-bounces at lists.vvv.com] On
Behalf Of Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.
Sent: Saturday, December 7, 2013 3:52 PM
To: bcma at lists.vvv.com
Subject: [BCMA] Blacksmith Shop Questions

 

Hello,

 

Does your facility have a blacksmith shop set-up?  We have been offered the
original local blacksmith's shop (all the equipment, no building) and would
like to accept it but we have no idea what this entails.  If your facility
does run one, could you please answer the following questions to help me get
an idea of what I am getting into?

 

1.       What kind of structural requirements are in place in regards to
housing such an object?  Do you have to have a ventilation system or is
having an open structure enough?  Do you find it difficult to control the
environment inside or do you even try?

2.       Who runs your blacksmith shop?  How much is this person paid and
how did you find them?  What qualifications do they have?

3.       What kind of maintenance is required to keep equipment in working
order?  How often is it needed and how expensive is it?

4.       How do you feel this aspect of your facility is received? (ie. How
important is it to your facility that you have a blacksmith shop?  Does it
draw visitors?)

5.       How often is your blacksmith shop in operation?  (During all open
hours or is there a set schedule?)

6.       Is there anything else you can tell me that could help me in this
endeavor?

 

Thank you in advance for all your help!

 

Hazel Godley

Manager

 

Operated by the Mission District Historical Society

604-826-1011

info at missionmuseum.com <mailto:info at missionmuseum.com> 

www.missionmuseum.com <http://www.missionmuseum.com/>  

 

33201 2nd Avenue, Mission BC  V2V 1J9

Thursday-Friday: 10-4

Saturday: 1-4

 

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