Tinkering With the Past

PAN-demonium

2011-09-05T13:26:00.005-05:00

One of the simplest, but most asked about tools that I use in 19 c. demonstrations is the square pan swedge. I've been making baking pans, loaf pans, tart/pie pans, and star pans again recently. The one sheet, no-seam rectangular pans vary in size but are related by their overall dimensions. A full 10 x 14 inch standard sheet was used to make each of the rectangular pans pictured here.
Each of the pans has a turned top to eliminate the sharp edge. Their sizes range from 8 3/4 (w) x 12 1/2 (l) x 1/2 (d) sheet pan to the tapered 4 3/4 (w) x 8 1/2 (l) x 3 (d) loaf pan. Interestingly, the loaf pan is a match to the modern bread pan which makes me think that the size of the tinplate influenced baking in a way I hadn't previously considered.

The tart/pie pans are 8 x 1 1/4 with a base of 6 1/2. They fit well into a standard cast iron bake kettle. The star shaped trivet is included to keep the air space around the pan that helps prevent burning.

I also wanted to see how hexagon and octagon shaped bases would shape up into pudding pans. I was inspired by a Moravian pan that I saw, but unfortunately didn't photograph, at Old Salem. These are the first results of that session. These also seem to be similar to a small pan d'oro baking pan.

Interesting reflector oven

2011-05-24T18:59:00.003-05:00

This reflector oven was a recent find. It appears to be functional, but I have never seen one this shaped before. The tray has been replaced, but the rest of it is complete.

A Good Reminder for My Fall Season

2010-09-23T11:31:00.002-05:00

The author of this article expressed so clearly what I know in my heart but sometimes am tempted to forget to protect. The questions that we get asked are opportunities to interact, not waste with snide remarks or indignation.

From the ALHFAM Bulletin, written by Carrie Fellows, Fall 2006.

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/gHmbTJDPznxKDg5NJXJ8unfyfwH2Jowuhr27cKlDlawiWM2QzWhIdEMPPi0Ao8OBKvbzCQfyV5PMCfojybz2Z_K4bQ/Dumb%20Questions%20article%20-%20ALHFAM%20_Bulletin_.pdf

I hope you agree.

Our WWW -Wonderful Westville Weekend

2010-09-07T19:08:00.005-05:00

Margaret and I spent Friday and Saturday at Historic Westville in Lumpkin, GA. They had a Homeschoolers' Day on Friday and a Family Day on Saturday.

Margaret spent her days in the kitchen of the log cabin homestead. It was really nice to use a full hearth and that gave her the chance to use the reflector oven and small bird roaster. She prepared some nice dishes and found a few ways to get some hands-on experience for the homeschoolers. They ground spices, made "pounded" biscuits, snapped beans, and let them compare raw and roasted coffee beans.

Meanwhile, I was in one of the shops up the road, set up as a tin shop. It was pleasant to have such a great building to use. The director decided that they will continue to use the building as a demonstration site in the future. It had been an office for the last few years.

All in all, it was a Wonderful Westville Weekend

2010-08-24T20:22:00.004-05:00

Willow Chicken Basket

A chicken basket for my hens! Thanks to a friend of mine, my chickens can now attend an event if they are permitted. The 18c. willow chicken basket was acquired in a trade for a small bird roaster. The 2 young dominiques seemed to find it comfortable.

Living History Park, North Augusta

2010-01-07T22:23:00.002-06:00

We had the opportunity to participate in a colonial weekend at LHP. It was a great location and a wonderful experience in spite of the weather that was a bit soggy. This is the first event I've done where period correct running water was provided. (There's a natural spring with potable water in the middle of the park. We met some great new people and enjoyed some Southern hospitality.

Another day, Another vasculum!

2009-03-18T17:25:00.004-05:00

This vasculum has two compartments, just like the original after which it was patterned. It is slightly longer than the first one, but the other details are very similar. The original had a place inside the cover to store the garden shovel for digging up plant specimens.

Vasculum Completed!

2009-03-02T14:47:00.011-06:00

For some time now, I have wanted to construct a vasculum, an oval tin carrying case. There were a variety of uses for such a case, including the toolbox of the intinerant tinsmith, the tinker's pig. They were also frequently used by botanists to carry specimens collected in the field for further study at home. This one has a sliding wire latch, strap loops for a woven hemp shoulder strap, and triple beading on the body and lid for added strength. It is patterned on originals that I have and pictures of originals.

Got Tin?... and yes, the pie is real.

2009-02-26T23:41:00.004-06:00

The trade show in Oshkosh each February provides the inspiration (or is it desperation?) to get some tinware completed for the shelves. Each year I try to introduce at least one new item to my inventory. This year it was a four-sided lantern. I also completed a number of long spouted coffee pots, three-sided lanterns, and 2 and 2 1/4 sheet kettles. My biggest seller, however, was the iron hinges and cinched hinge nails that I have acquired. While at the show, I worked on producing baking pans and the coffee bean roaster previously shown. I also spent some time working with one of the 1861 Enos Dodd oil can tinware patterns that I have. The writing on it is difficult to read, but it either says 1/8 or 1/2 gallon. I'm going to put one together and see what it will become. I did receive an order to make a tin "vasculum," a type of botanist's case, for an artist to use for his supplies. He also wants a turpentine cup, a piece I haven't seen available from any other smiths. He is the cartographer for the 3rd New York, an NWTA unit.

Coffee Roaster

2009-02-26T18:19:00.003-06:00

There are two great original coffee bean roasters in the Great Kitchen at Grand Portage National Monument. They provided the basis for a roaster that I just completed. After trying a few different materials for the construction, I finally settled on an unplated steel that should simulate the original sheet iron after it seasons. All of the connections are mechanical, flat seams or rivets, since it will be exposed to heat. The canister is 7 1/2 inches tall and 5 inches in diameter. The turning rod has a turned oak handle and is 4 feet in length. It will become part of the kit for the good Widow Black, who keeps the Slightly Obsessed blogspot.

Thanksgiving Feast Pictures

2008-11-22T10:28:00.003-06:00

One of the members of our FYLHS posted pictures of our feast this week. They included my "apprentice" making his candle holder. I thought I'd post a couple of them here, as well as some others from the weekend. It was a very good feast!

Another Day, More Time to Play

2008-11-19T19:12:00.004-06:00

I am back in the north lands for a couple of weeks, hoping to get a few things done around the house here. I've got some tinplate to get cut so that I can take it back for a Christmas workshop for our Fort Yargo Living History Society. We are in the planning stages for a workshop that I will be able to use for demonstrations and classes in the future! I spent a Saturday out there a couple of weeks ago, by myself, demonstrating for whatever public wandered by and just enjoying the beauty of the area and the fort. The next weekend was our Thanksgiving feast, and it was a wonderful success. Many of the members got to see my work for the first time, and I am grateful for their kind words of encouragement, It was noted that I not only prepared dishes for the meal, but also the dishes used to cook those items. My food preparation was for "timbales of macaroni and Shenandoah cheddar," aka mac-n-cheese. It was baked in the clay bake oven and turned out well.

I had a young man, a second grade student, show enough interest in tinsmithing that he and I made a candle holder that he could take home with him. He was looking forward to the show and tell that he would be able to share when he returned to school. Seeing a face like that one light up is one of my purest joys.

One of the benefits of being a member of the FYLHS is having access to the 1792 block house and other facilities we have. The outdoor hearth and bake oven are both functional, and the siding should be on the smokehouse by the end of December. There a four or five rope beds in the block house, and they recently gave us a porta potty that we are working to disguise. I am hoping to find a time to invite some friends down for a weekend at the fort. This place is helping to make my move to Georgia a very rewarding one. The state park where the fort is located has also asked me to be their man in the red suit from the North Pole this year. I am looking forward to that as well.

I've also been busy working at our new online book shop, Big River Books. It's an Amazon company, and we are listing books and media materials that have too much value to simply recycle. It is rewarding to know that the landfills get less each time we sell or recycle these items. In my spare time I have stripped down the main bathroom in our GA house and have begun to remodel it. My goal is to get it back into operation before Margaret and Jeremy come down for Christmas. The house if progressing nicely and the interior should be completed by Spring. It has been a challenge to get a handle on landscaping, given the fact that the seasons are somewhat different and the current drought situation has reduced the interest in outdoor landscaping. Maybe tin roses and daisies would catch on.... lol

A Touch of History

2008-11-09T18:07:00.005-06:00

I had the privilege of visiting The Southern Museum, home of the famous General, at the invitation of their curator. While there, we examined a few of their tin and sheet iron pieces, looking at construction details and techniques. The first piece was a simple "mucket" with a nicely detailed support bead in the handle and a cullender bead on the side. Its general dimensions tell me that it was made from standard 10 x 14 sheet stock, and it presented very well. I also examined a drum style canteen with a fiddle-shaped support at the neck. I am hoping to get a discussion going on a couple of the pieces I looked at. One was made by the GEM MFG CO PGH PA. It appears to be a railroad related piece. Another similar piece showed quite a it of additional structural reinforcement on the bottom. Most curious pieces, indeed!

PLEASE NOTE that the pictures posted here are not to be copied or disseminated in any manner. They remain the copyrighted property of The Southern Museum. Permission was granted for me to post them here only for the sake of education and discussion with the Tintinkers.org chat group. Thank you.

2008-10-27T21:16:00.007-05:00

Ahhh, the life of a tinker. As I wandered this month, I found so many interesting places to be and people to meet. Early in the month I was at the Half Point Gathering in Union Grove. Our small camp there had the luster of tinplate gleaming from every angle.

From there is was off to Powder Springs, Georgia, for the Seven Springs Arts Festival. My day camp there gave me the chance to demonstrate for the local citizens and meet a few new people, including the blacksmith from Bare Foot Forge. For this event, I dressed out in my new early 19c. kit and found it to be very comfortable. I guess I am becoming a slave to modern fashions, slowly but surely.

Then it was off to the real destination of my fall trek, Winder, Georgia, and the Fort Yargo Living History Society which I joined recently. I had a wonderful Saturday with the members there (was supposed to be Friday and Saturday but the weather was not cooperative enough). I fell under the spell of the original 18c. trading post blockhouse (1792) and the recently added clay bake oven, open hearth, and a smokehouse (in progress). Saturday evening brought many tourists from the state park's festival, and I had the privilege to share the tale of Jack O' the Lantern with them a few times after listening to Omer tell it. Looks like I am going back this weekend to do a bit of tin knocking there. I can't think of a much nicer way to celebrate my birthday!

Beaver Dam Weekend

2008-09-24T17:45:00.002-05:00

Speaking of fractures, this weekend should be interesting. It will be the first attempt at tinning since I cracked my wrist last month. (A construction accident or being a klutz... jury's still out.) I know that a lot of the tin work I usually do will be sidelined, but it will be interesting to see how many ways I can find to compensate for the use of my right hand.

2008-09-23T12:37:00.002-05:00

Sometimes tinkering includes "make do" repairs, often called fractures. The piece I am working on here is a mug that lost its handle. Finding ways to get the metal married to the pottery without direct anchors is sometimes a challenge! This one was a complete success, and the owner of the mug was pleased with the outcome.

In the background there are examples of some of the items I craft, as well as some brass kettles that we offer for sale.

A Grand Time to Tinker

2008-09-22T08:23:00.003-05:00

This year's event at Grand Portage National Park was especially satisfying. Good weather, good friends, and a setting that always inspires me made the days go by all too quickly. Perhaps the best part was that Jeremy was along with us after having spent most of the summer working down in Georgia. Our workshops and demonstrations are conducted in the post, the very site where tinsmiths were active during the fur trade era. Jim and I had 8 or 9 young people in our chamber candle holder workshop on Friday and an equal number of adults in our wall sconce class on Sunday. We offered an extra workshop just for other presenters on Thursday, and that was very well received. The park had set aside a coffee roaster for me to repair, and I found the time to complete a pierced tin panel for a 3-sided lantern for the door prizes at the on Saturday evening. It was an interpretation of the Northwest Company (NWC) logo. I was lucky enough to win a folding knife in the drawing!

New Kettles

2008-07-20T14:05:00.004-05:00

Filling an order for a pair of nesting kettles has prompted me to begin offering a couple of more kettle sizes. The smaller is 7.5 inches wide by 6 inches tall (3+ qts.), and the larger is 8.5 inches wide by 7.5 inches tall (5 qts.). Both are made with hand forged 3/16 inch steel rod bails and are constructed of hot-dipped tinplate. They will be available with lids for $45.00 each piece or $85.00 for the pair. They will be made upon receipt of order.

Bird Roasters

2008-05-04T17:51:00.003-05:00

Two of my bird roasters found new homes out east this past month. I hope their owners are enjoying them. Here is a picture of one on the hearth at Eastfield Village from a couple of years ago.

I will wonder as I wander

2008-04-13T07:20:00.002-05:00

A new beginning is in store! After 33 years of teaching middle schoolers, I'm changing both my location and my work path. I know where I'm going, Douglasville, GA, but I'm going to have to see what work I can find. Maybe the "tinker" in me has finally taken over. It's going to be interesting.

Let it Snow!

2006-12-01T12:49:00.000-06:00

Today is the day that teachers dream about, a Friday snow day! Officially 16.5 inches between Midnight and 10 AM. Snowblower is working, and the indentured servant (son) actually likes using it. Who am I to take away his pleasure? LOL The rest of my day will be spent in the company of tin, working on some Christmas related projects and putting up stock for the Oshkosh show in February. I'm glad that Jim posted another "call-to-arms" for our group. I know that none of us left tinning, but we did lose our chance to regularly talk about it with each other. I also have to offer an apology to our group. The demise of our previous site did derail my intentions to get our new publication going. I truly regret not being able to complete that task as planned. We will now look to the future and hope for better opportunities.

Max

Visiting with Friends

2006-10-23T13:44:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I was at the "Trail of History" in McHenry County, Illinois. While there I got to visit with Jeff Goris and Tedd Cash, both of whom were also set up there. On Sunday, Paul Barnhard came in to visit. A most enjoyable weekend, even if the weather forced an early close to the event!

Convergence photos

2006-10-05T17:40:00.000-05:00

A nose for tin??? Oh, I thought you said a tin nose.

Right to Left on right side of table: Bill McMillen, Jim Kimpell, Max Schram

2006-10-05T17:31:00.000-05:00

Items from the Convergence included the following:
Robert Stone's 4-sided lantern
Bill Brown's tin horn (dice game)
Keith Johnson's triple baking pan

Tinkering With the Past

2006-10-05T09:07:00.000-05:00

In an attempt to re-open our lines of communication (due to the recent hacking of the e-tinsnips site), I thought I'd try this forum. I hope that the tinners and coppersmiths that were registered previously will find this and join in. The only request that I have is that you identify yourself in the comments section if posting under the "anonymous" title. That way you don't have to sign up just to add your comments.

I'm still looking forward to getting our first edition of the new publication out this month!
Max