I will be making a trip towards Williamsburg and am planning to visit
the museum.

I hope that I be pleased with the woodworking content (please provide
guidance--the folk arts museum?) Any related "attractions" in the vicinity?

Thank you!
Bill

On 03/18/2015 10:38 PM, Bill wrote:
I will be making a trip towards Williamsburg and am planning to visit
the museum.

I hope that I be pleased with the woodworking content (please provide
guidance--the folk arts museum?) Any related "attractions" in the vicinity?

The cabinet shop itself, of course...it's been 30 yr since been there so
suppose it's still a working shop...

--

dpb wrote:
On 03/18/2015 10:38 PM, Bill wrote:
I will be making a trip towards Williamsburg and am planning to visit
the museum.

I hope that I be pleased with the woodworking content (please provide
guidance--the folk arts museum?) Any related "attractions" in the
vicinity?

The cabinet shop itself, of course...it's been 30 yr since been there
so suppose it's still a working shop...

Okay, thank you! That's the sort of guidance I was looking for. It
wasn't mentioned on their web site.


--

"Bill" wrote:

I will be making a trip towards Williamsburg and am planning to visit
the museum.

I hope that I be pleased with the woodworking content (please
provide guidance--the folk arts museum?) Any related "attractions"
in the vicinity?

Thank you!
Bill

-----------------------------------------------
Was last there in '73. Spent 3-4 days and didn't see it all.

I'm sure there is more to see these days.

As far as the woodshop is concerned, DUCKDUCKGO.COM
and punch in: "colonial williamsburg woodworking shop".

Knock your self out.

Have fun

Lew

On 3/18/2015 11:38 PM, Bill wrote:
I will be making a trip towards Williamsburg and am planning to visit
the museum.

I hope that I be pleased with the woodworking content (please provide
guidance--the folk arts museum?) Any related "attractions" in the
vicinity?

Thank you!
Bill

There is plenty to do in the area. I see others mentioned the cabinet
shop, but, don't miss seeing what is right in front of you. Few people
stop to look closely at the furniture, the wood trim and joinery in the
houses.

They also used a lot of cordless tools back then too.

"Bill" wrote in message ...

I will be making a trip towards Williamsburg and am planning to visit the
museum.

I hope that I be pleased with the woodworking content (please provide
guidance--the folk arts museum?) Any related "attractions" in the
vicinity?

Thank you!
Bill

Certainly you need to visit the cabinet shop... they also make musical
instruments in that shop.

https://anthonyhaycabinetmaker.wordpress.com/

There is also now a joiners shop in the building where I worked, the
Ayscough house on Francis St near the Capital... The gunsmith moved over to
the Geddy house foundry building on Duke of Glouster St (near the governor's
palace).

All the trades can be seen he

http://www.history.org/Almanack/life...s/tradehdr.cfm

There is also a lot of original furniture on display in the Dewitt Wallace
museum.

I'm not sure what the carpenters are working on these days as I believe the
Anderson Forge project has been completed.

There are related attractions in the area but they are not open to the
public... they are the shops and homes of my friends!

I really like the evening programs and simply walking around the restored
area after dark. It's magical!

John

John Grossbohlin wrote:
"Bill" wrote in message ...

I will be making a trip towards Williamsburg and am planning to visit
the museum.

I hope that I be pleased with the woodworking content (please provide
guidance--the folk arts museum?) Any related "attractions" in the
vicinity?

Thank you!
Bill

Certainly you need to visit the cabinet shop... they also make musical
instruments in that shop.

https://anthonyhaycabinetmaker.wordpress.com/

There is also now a joiners shop in the building where I worked, the
Ayscough house on Francis St near the Capital... The gunsmith moved
over to the Geddy house foundry building on Duke of Glouster St (near
the governor's palace).

All the trades can be seen he

http://www.history.org/Almanack/life...s/tradehdr.cfm

There is also a lot of original furniture on display in the Dewitt
Wallace museum.

I'm not sure what the carpenters are working on these days as I
believe the Anderson Forge project has been completed.

There are related attractions in the area but they are not open to the
public... they are the shops and homes of my friends!

I really like the evening programs and simply walking around the
restored area after dark. It's magical!

John

John, Thank you for the links and information you provided! Hey, if no
one's attending the cabinet shop, maybe I'll try to build something! ;
) (that's a joke).

I plan to enjoy the trades, and the woodwork in the houses, and the
furniture!
Are camera's welcome?

I will provide a brief review of my experience upon return in case
anyone is interested.

Cheers,
Bill

"Bill" wrote in message ...

Are camera's welcome?

Yes... in some areas flash is not allowed though. If you do video try to
avoid asking interpreters to start over... that annoys everybody! ;~)

Ed Pawlowski wrote:

There is plenty to do in the area. I see others mentioned the cabinet
shop, but, don't miss seeing what is right in front of you. Few
people stop to look closely at the furniture, the wood trim and
joinery in the houses.


When I look at the pictures of the curves on some of that furniture, I
am just overtaken by the "art". It speaks volumes to me. I can
recognize a great curve when I see one too! I sort of think I can see
in the maker's soul...well, at least well enough to be able to tell that
he knew the difference between a good curve from a mediocre one too!
Great curves don't happen by accident.

"Bill" wrote in message ...

When I look at the pictures of the curves on some of that furniture, I am
just overtaken by the "art". It speaks volumes to me. I can recognize a
great curve when I see one too! I sort of think I can see in the maker's
soul...well, at least well enough to be able to tell that he knew the
difference between a good curve from a mediocre one too! Great curves
don't happen by accident.


Pick up a copy of The Gentleman & Cabinet-Maker's Director by Thomas
Chippendale. Dover Press has done reprints of it...

There are drawings of how the various curves and built-ups are created. It
requires studying the drawings as there is little text!

John

On Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 8:54:43 AM UTC-5, John Grossbohlin wrote:


Certainly you need to visit the cabinet shop... they also make musical
instruments in that shop.

https://anthonyhaycabinetmaker.wordpress.com/


Paging down, on this site, a 5" blank, for making 4.5" bun feet, was partially air dried. He had planed the blank and placed the remainder of the blank in a box of the planer shavings, to further slowly air dry. The purpose of the slow drying, that way, was to assure the blank didn't dry too fast and crack or check.

The blank was a select piece of walnut. I assume, for a high end piece of furniture, only the best blank samples are used, so great care was taken for the best feet results.

I do quite a bit of air drying. I never thought store a special piece in a box of shavings, to slow the drying to prevent checking. I suppose this practice may be more along the line of mandatory, with lumber for musical instruments, as well.

Nice links. Thanks John.

Sonny

On Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 10:11:48 AM UTC-5, Bill wrote:

When I look at the pictures of the curves on some of that furniture, I
am just overtaken by the "art". It speaks volumes to me.

I can recognize a great curve when I see one too!

Like a good fetching woman, the mo curves, the mo betta!

Sonny

On 03/18/2015 11:59 PM, Bill wrote:
dpb wrote:
On 03/18/2015 10:38 PM, Bill wrote:
I will be making a trip towards Williamsburg and am planning to visit
the museum.

I hope that I be pleased with the woodworking content (please provide
guidance--the folk arts museum?) Any related "attractions" in the
vicinity?

The cabinet shop itself, of course...it's been 30 yr since been there
so suppose it's still a working shop...

Okay, thank you! That's the sort of guidance I was looking for. It
wasn't mentioned on their web site.

I presume it still operates as it did--it's essentially self-supporting
for the artisans-in-resident as a commissioned shop building period
reproductions for clients.

At the time I was there he was about 2 years into a 3-yr+ cherry
highboy, in the midst of carving the drawer fronts (of which there were
roughly several thousand it appeared )...

The time for finishing a piece was lengthened by quite a bit from what
would have been as a commercial shop of the day, of course, by the need
to interact with the tourists and the time out for the two or three
daily demonstrations, etc., etc., etc., ...

--

"dpb" wrote in message ...

I presume it still operates as it did--it's essentially self-supporting for
the artisans-in-resident as a commissioned shop building period
reproductions for clients.

Not so much... Some items made are sold off but many are retained by the
Foundation and used in exhibits. Like any other business there are
departments with budgets and the skilled tradesmen employment levels go up
and down... seasonal and apprentice positions come and go also. Currently
I'd say they are at a low point in terms of the number of skilled crafts
people--we had 6 in the gunsmith shop (Master, 3 journeymen, 2 summer) when
I was there but only 2 now. Many positions disappeared as the cohort of
craftsman that joined in the 60s and 70s retired. They are at the highest
point I've ever seen in terms of actors, first person interpreters, and
shows and demonstrations--which seems to be what the overall public demands
these days. The craft sales revenue is but a small portion of the monies
needed to support the crafts program and the behind the scenes shops that
keep the restored area functioning. Ticket sales, endowment funds, and
grants make up the bulk of the monies used to support the crafts
department...

On 03/19/2015 12:24 PM, John Grossbohlin wrote:
"dpb" wrote in message ...

I presume it still operates as it did--it's essentially
self-supporting for the artisans-in-resident as a commissioned shop
building period reproductions for clients.

Not so much... Some items made are sold off but many are retained by the
Foundation and used in exhibits. Like any other business there are
departments with budgets and the skilled tradesmen employment levels go
up and down... seasonal and apprentice positions come and go also.
Currently I'd say they are at a low point in terms of the number of
skilled crafts people--we had 6 in the gunsmith shop (Master, 3
journeymen, 2 summer) when I was there but only 2 now. Many positions
disappeared as the cohort of craftsman that joined in the 60s and 70s
retired. They are at the highest point I've ever seen in terms of
actors, first person interpreters, and shows and demonstrations--which
seems to be what the overall public demands these days. The craft sales
revenue is but a small portion of the monies needed to support the
crafts program and the behind the scenes shops that keep the restored
area functioning. Ticket sales, endowment funds, and grants make up the
bulk of the monies used to support the crafts department...

That's discouraging to hear...

I think you misinterpreted slightly what I said/intended...as I
understood it from what he told me, he was essentially self-employed and
produced revenue sufficient to cover his salary plus some level of
support that went to back to the shop...not intending to imply he
produced all the income required to maintain the entire facility.

IIRC, the highboy was a $20K commission piece in '69/'70 time frame
$$...not exactly an inexpensive piece. I don't know how much of that he
got to keep; didn't try to get _that_ nosy!

--

"dpb" wrote in message ...

I think you misinterpreted slightly what I said/intended...as I understood
it from what he told me, he was essentially self-employed and produced
revenue sufficient to cover his salary plus some level of support that went
to back to the shop...not intending to imply he produced all the income
required to maintain the entire facility.

IIRC, the highboy was a $20K commission piece in '69/'70 time frame
$$...not exactly an inexpensive piece. I don't know how much of that he
got to keep; didn't try to get _that_ nosy!

The craftsman are paid a wage and all revenues flow to the foundation... The
productivity of the shops is relatively low compared to what an 18th century
shop could turn out. This as there are a lot of demands on their time to
perform their educational roles. If the income from the sales were the
primary source of income nobody could afford to work there... As it is, many
of the folks have outside businesses and/or consulting roles. That said, I
thought it was a wonderful place to work... academic in nature and I met
people from all over the world. I keep thinking it would be fun to work
there again!

John Grossbohlin wrote:
"Bill" wrote in message ...

When I look at the pictures of the curves on some of that furniture,
I am just overtaken by the "art". It speaks volumes to me. I can
recognize a great curve when I see one too! I sort of think I can
see in the maker's soul...well, at least well enough to be able to
tell that he knew the difference between a good curve from a mediocre
one too! Great curves don't happen by accident.


Pick up a copy of The Gentleman & Cabinet-Maker's Director by Thomas
Chippendale. Dover Press has done reprints of it...

There are drawings of how the various curves and built-ups are
created. It requires studying the drawings as there is little text!

I have the following book, which is 3 books in one and which weighs
about 15 pounds. I've barely scratched the surface of it:

http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Thomson-...homson+and+son

I think I got my copy for $20 including shipping. There is enough in the
book above to entertain anyone for a long time. I can easily recommend
it to anyone who can appreciate the details. It even has some nice
compass work. I think my favorite style is "Elizabethan". Chippendale
is a little over the top for me.

Bill




John

Bill wrote:
I will be making a trip towards Williamsburg and am planning to visit
the museum.


I screwed around for multiple hours trying to post some pictures for you
all. But they were just "too big". Then today I thought of trying to
print my message as a pdf (Aha! And 53MB was reduced to under 5 MB).

I put the pdf file on my website. Most of the photos are from a
temporary furniture collection at the Art Museum at Colonial
Williamsburg, that will be there for 3 more years in case you want to go
see for yourself. The others are of some other items at the museum.
There are a few old homemade banjos as the beginning and a real
one-of-a-kind item appearing last. I hope that you enjoy them. I'm
sorry a couple of them are sideways and that they are not sorted as well
as they might be. I strongly suspect you should be able to find at
least one photo you like--whether it is worth the trouble of searching
for it I will leave up to you! Greg G., maybe you can pick up
some design ideas for your table?

http://web.newsguy.com/MySite/Furn.pdf

Bill

On Sunday, April 12, 2015 at 3:22:09 AM UTC-5, Bill wrote:

I strongly suspect you should be able to find at
least one photo you like--

Thanks, Bill.
Pic 11 - I really like that slatback chair, too, to the left of the settee. I'm gonna build one, just for show. To me, it's a stand-alone impressive piece. These kinds of pieces are more impressive, to me, than a more refined side-type chair (as pic 12 below).

Pics 12-15 - About 4 months ago, I picked up a set of 12 very similar antique dining chairs (New Orleans residence), severely damaged from Katrina. They should go well with the walnut trestle table, once repaired, refinished and reupholstered. I think the dark blue upholstery, in your pic, is a good choice/idea for my chairs.

Pic 31 - I like the simpleness of that inlay on the door panel.... not complicated. Very elegant.

Pic 56 - I like the whole general curvy profile of the bottom of the clock on the left. That general profile can be applied to other large "furniture" items.
I can visualize this bold design on the columns of a mantle-fireplace surround.

Sonny

On 4/12/2015 4:21 AM, Bill wrote:
Bill wrote:
I will be making a trip towards Williamsburg and am planning to visit
the museum.


I screwed around for multiple hours trying to post some pictures for you
all. But they were just "too big". Then today I thought of trying to
print my message as a pdf (Aha! And 53MB was reduced to under 5 MB).

I put the pdf file on my website.


http://web.newsguy.com/MySite/Furn.pdf

Bill


Thanks for doing that. The .pdf worked well. If you want to reduce the
photo size, use Irfanview (free) as it does the job well.

Anyhow, it is quite the collection of craftsmanship in those pieces.
Far from touring a furniture store today.

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 4/12/2015 4:21 AM, Bill wrote:
Bill wrote:
I will be making a trip towards Williamsburg and am planning to visit
the museum.


I screwed around for multiple hours trying to post some pictures for you
all. But they were just "too big". Then today I thought of trying to
print my message as a pdf (Aha! And 53MB was reduced to under 5 MB).

I put the pdf file on my website.


http://web.newsguy.com/MySite/Furn.pdf

Bill


Thanks for doing that. The .pdf worked well. If you want to reduce
the photo size, use Irfanview (free) as it does the job well.

Anyhow, it is quite the collection of craftsmanship in those pieces.
Far from touring a furniture store today.

I will look up "Irfanview" for next time. The pdf print had the
positive untended consequence of putting one picture on each page--which
makes it easy to refer to them by number like Sonny did.
Unfortunately, all of the non-vertical ones got "chopped-off in the
print" (which is apparent because they came out square). If someone
might like a 5MB photo, I will try to accommodate.


Sonny wrote:
Pic 31 - I like the simpleness of that inlay on the door panel.... not complicated. Very elegant.

Sonny, It may surprise you that Pic 31 is from the grandfather clock having the pineapple motif--Pic 50 and 51! I was only able to tell by going back to the original order from the camera. I left that as a "challenge problem" on purpose! Ha! (not really) In this case, it might be true that the "simplicity" you refer to adds balance, so as to not overwhelm with what is already an "ominous presence".

I learned there was a fair amount of "trying to out-do" your neighbor in this affluent colonial town. At the very least, "making impressions" mattered to them. I learned alot of other things too, and recommend the trip (further details below). It was demonstrated for me more than once how a "good question" (like one illustrating you already knew a molding plane when you saw one) significantly raised the whole quality of the conversation. Erwin Wright, and his studies in the cabinet makers shop, were generous with their time and taught me quite a few things I found interesting. To give you an example, I found it interesting how the whole "framed molding top" of a "large item like a scrolled desk" slid right off (with nice unglued joinery of course) so that the large unit, which looked like it surely must be 2 pieces, was really 3 pieces. I don't know if that was the norm, or not. If I had thought of it I would have asked.

Admission to the grounds is about $40/day and about $50.99 for an all-year pass. Motel prices were very fair I thought (about $65/night with coupons I picked up at a state welcome center). Arriving early in the morning, it was very pleasant to walk the grounds in relative silence (my wife fed an apple apiece to the horses--who I expect would still remember her if she returned with more apples!). The school buses seemed to arrive at 1:00 or 2:00. We were there 3 days, the 3rd requiring an umbrella. The first two days were great, the 3rd was okay but soggy--suggest you plan accordingly. Each day has different "events" scheduled.

Bill

On 4/12/2015 9:14 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 4/12/2015 4:21 AM, Bill wrote:
Bill wrote:
I will be making a trip towards Williamsburg and am planning to visit
the museum.


I screwed around for multiple hours trying to post some pictures for you
all. But they were just "too big". Then today I thought of trying to
print my message as a pdf (Aha! And 53MB was reduced to under 5 MB).

I put the pdf file on my website.


http://web.newsguy.com/MySite/Furn.pdf

Bill


Thanks for doing that. The .pdf worked well. If you want to reduce the
photo size, use Irfanview (free) as it does the job well.

Yep, Irfanview is a great tool. I use the batch functionality a lot.


Anyhow, it is quite the collection of craftsmanship in those pieces. Far
from touring a furniture store today.



--
Jeff

On Sun, 12 Apr 2015 21:42:51 -0400, woodchucker
wrote:

On 4/12/2015 9:14 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 4/12/2015 4:21 AM, Bill wrote:
Bill wrote:
I will be making a trip towards Williamsburg and am planning to visit
the museum.


I screwed around for multiple hours trying to post some pictures for you
all. But they were just "too big". Then today I thought of trying to
print my message as a pdf (Aha! And 53MB was reduced to under 5 MB).

I put the pdf file on my website.


http://web.newsguy.com/MySite/Furn.pdf

Bill


Thanks for doing that. The .pdf worked well. If you want to reduce the
photo size, use Irfanview (free) as it does the job well.

Yep, Irfanview is a great tool. I use the batch functionality a lot.


Anyhow, it is quite the collection of craftsmanship in those pieces. Far
from touring a furniture store today.

No better and more efficiently coded photo viewer/converter/editor
available at any price - and it's FREE.

On Sunday, April 12, 2015 at 8:29:50 PM UTC-5, Bill wrote:
Erwin Wright, and his studies in the cabinet makers shop, were generous with their time and taught me quite a few things I found interesting. To give you an example, I found it interesting how the whole "framed molding top" of a "large item like a scrolled desk" slid right off (with nice unglued joinery of course) so that the large unit, which looked like it surely must be 2 pieces, was really 3 pieces. I don't know if that was the norm, or not. If I had thought of it I would have asked.

Piece-mealing or the mating of parts, that way, is often done today, as in the past. I built the entertainment center with the crown assembly removeable, that way, as with my latest project, the rustic gun cabinet-China hutch. It's easier to move, when the whole (total weight and bulk) is reduced to pieces. With gravity holding things in place, no need to securly attach/glue things together.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/438361...in/photostream

Similarly, pegging or keying things together, allowing for quick assembly/disassembly, was common with the arts & craft/art nouveau movement, as well..... Roycroft and Stickley are noted names in that (later than "Williamsburg") era, the keys being elements of design. http://www.bookcasedealers.com/Item/-87673576/89-080
My trestle table (project still not completed) has the legs and trestle board keyed together.

Sonny, It may surprise you that Pic 31 is from the grandfather clock having the pineapple motif--Pic 50 and 51!

I did notice the legs on that clock.... pretty amazing. I wondered, during construction, how many legs broke, before "good ones" stood the test of weight bearing.

Sonny

Sonny wrote:
Sonny, It may surprise you that Pic 31 is from the grandfather clock having the pineapple motif--Pic 50 and 51!
I did notice the legs on that clock.... pretty amazing. I wondered, during construction, how many legs broke, before "good ones" stood the test of weight bearing.

Sonny

Thank you for your reply, Sonny. Let the legs on that clock are "pretty
amazing" (folks seem to place a lot of confidence in them!) : ) It's
interesting to think about the number of different craftsmen who have
work in that clock. IIRC, The museum does not even know who originally
owned any of those grandfather clocks.

Bill