Hi, I would like to welcome you to the Northeast Blacksmiths'Association web site. Browse the links on the side or bottom of the page to get to information on educational, upcoming and past events. Our mission is to promote blacksmithing through education and sharing to all those who are interested, be they hobbist, professional or just curious and want to learn more. This is done through demonstrations, workshops and hands on training. Please check out our site, if there are any questions please contact one of our board members through the links or if there are questions or problems with the site please contact me, Larry Brown
NBA SPRING MEET 2013, Frank Turley May 3rd, 4th and 5th
We were very lucky to have had Frank Turley as our demonstrator for the
Spring Meet at Ashokan. Frank has taught blacksmithing for over 40
years and was a key player in the blacksmithing revival that occurred
in the late 1960’s early 1970’s. My first blacksmithing class was
with Frank in 1975 and it has had a lasting influence on my work.
Frank is well known for his clean, careful forge work and his
entertaining character.
Trained as a farrier in California in the early 1960’s, Frank soon
moved to Santa Fe NM, where his work shifted to more general smithing
with commissions for items such as fireplace tools, screens, branding
irons, architectural hardware, ornamental work and tools. In 1970, he
opened Turley Forge Blacksmithing School, which he bills as "The
Granddaddy of Blacksmithing Schools," and was even included in the
"Whole Earth Catalog” (for those of you old enough to know what that
was). Frank worked for a while as a conservator at the Museum of New
Mexico, and was able to study the early Southwestern Hispanic ironwork
in their collection, which led to the book, “Southwestern Colonial
Ironwork” that he co-authored with Marc Simmons.
Franks demo: forge welded hinge barrel, combo
mandrel/drift for hinge, hispano-gothic
ornament on the diamond (claraboya), portions of aldaba construction and bolt tongs
For more info on Frank (also check out the article on Victor Vera):
www.Turleyforge.com
NBA President's Message Spring 2013
Well here we are in 2013 and we are looking forward to our first
opportunity to use the new buildings at the Ashokan Center. We will
finally be in the new bunkhouse and dinning hall. This is the most
dramatic change to the Campus we have witnessed over the 35 years we
have been meeting here. It will be interesting to see how it feels in
the new digs.
On a sadder note we have lost a few members and family in our group.
John Olsen, long a member of the NBA has passed away. He was a
volunteer at Hancock Shaker Village after his retirement from AT&T,
and was always an active participant in our Saturday evening business
meetings.
This past November, the week after Hurricane Sandy, James Stapleford
and his wife Susan of Shokan NY, died as a result of consequences of
the storm. Jim and Susan were always a part of our group, though due
to health reasons they had become less active the past few years. Jim
was the editor of the NBA’s newsletter for many years and both he and
Susan could be found demonstrating at numerous historic sites and
festivals in the region. They called themselves ‘Spinster & Smythe',
Susan would demo spinning and weaving and Jim would be working at his
portable forge set-up, both in period costume. They were also involved
with the Berkshire Smiths.
Our condolences also go out to Fletcher and Debra Coddington, of
Arrowsmith Forge in Millbrook NY, who lost their son Baylin in
December. Baylin was due to be married and sadly drowned a few days
before the wedding.
Changing gears here, I would like to mention a bit about shop safety.
I recently had a minor accident while working in my shop. I usually
observe all the obvious shop safety rules, such as safety glasses,
leather shoes, etc. But one of the things we don’t often mention when
talking shop safety is how we are feeling. I knew I was not 100% “on
my game” that day and had busied myself with other work in the shop to
avoid working at the fire. Ignoring my gut feeling, I pushed myself to
do some work at the forge to “just finish the job”, and that is when
the accident happened. A few stitches and a couple of weeks later and
I am fine, but it could have been avoided if I had paid more attention
to my intuition.
Safety is as much about how sharp you feel as it is about wearing your
safety glasses. If you are not feeling up to the task, I would suggest
you do something else that needs attention and come back to your forge
work when you feel more attuned to the task. As the saying goes,
“Safety is no accident”.
See you at Ashokan,
Jonathan
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Pennsylvania, 30 Mi west of Philadeliphia
Mr. John White of Heritage Metalworks is looking to hire a full time
blacksmith. Advanced skills are not needed but he is looking for
someone with a good understanding of the fundamentals. They are
located in Downingtown, PA. But if anyone is looking for a career change their web site is
www.heritage-metalworks.com and their number is: 610-518-3999
If you find this position filled please let me know so I can remove this announcement, Larry Brown, Webmaster
Ashokan Field Campus has changed hands and is now "The Ashokan Center", click to see information on this historic change!
For information on The Ashokan Center go to,
www.ashokancenter.org
Clean Forging Coal Now Available at Ashokan
Stock up from this new batch
Northeast Blacksmith Association General Facebook Page
This Facebook Page allows you to send an email to all of the members of NBA with a single address: NBA Facebook Page.
A member sent in some old pictures from a meet many years ago. See an old NBA meet and see if you recognize anybody.
If you do contact me and let me know so I can fill in some captions, Larry Brown
Click here for picts
Check out the 2013 Schedule Of
Blacksmithing Classes
At Peters Valley Craft Center
Newsletter posting!
These files may be large
Click here to download part 1 of the newsletter.
Click here to download part 2 of the newsletter.
Click here to download part 3 of the newsletter.
Click here to download the fall 2012 registration information.
Use Adobe Acrobat reader to open files (PDF)
To see pictures of a demonstration Jonathan Nedbor did in the Spring of 2003 for the New Jersey Blacksmiths,
Click Here.
To check out the New Jersey Blacksmiths web site click Here.
For a listing of past meets and the next meet and demonstrator go to the Events page.
To register for the next meet and to join us visit the Join Us! page.
For information on the next forging contest and the winner of the last meets contest, see the Forging Contest page.
For pictures of the last meet and members gallery go the Gallery page.
To see if any members have posted articles for sale see the Sale page.
For information on the "Hands On Workshop", click HERE!
-Home- -Join Us!-|-Events-
-Forging Contest!-|-Gallery-|-Sales-
- Hands On Workshop -
- Contact Site Sitter -
|