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BLACKSMITH'S TOOLS Ornamental Ironworkers of 18th-Century France Denis Diderot, 1752 The first blacksmith to arrive in Colonial America was a fellow by the name of James Reed, who promptly forged an iron chisel for each of his greatful Jamestown shipmates. Needless to say Mr. Reed was sorely missed when a fever took him the next summer. Native American Indians also valued the ironworker's craft. So much so, that many chiefs demanded in their treaties with the Great White Father that a well supplied smithy be settled among them. Blacksmiths rarely did any finishing or polishing of the charcoal blackened metal which issued from the forge. Some did however, impress their initials or mark upon tools of which they were particularly proud. Not a few smiths went on to manufacture tools on a larger scale. Many founded factories that existed well into the 20th Century. In addition to a forge, bellows and anvil, a well equipped smithy needed several kinds of tongs and anvil- mounted accessories. Top-surface tools were the set hammer, flatter, fuller, top swage, and chisel. Anvil tools inserted in the hardy hole for working bottom surfaces were, the bottom fuller, bottom swage, hot hardie and cold hardie. Swage blocks and large cone mandrels were floor and stump mounted tools. American blacksmith shops became motorized around the turn-of-the-century. Power driven hammers increased output tremendously and also eliminated much of the tedious drudgery associated with the trade. CURRENT VALUES. With the exception of travelers, brass rules, and some drill braces, blacksmith tools are not highly sought after. Sometimes they may be picked up at scrap iron prices by knowledgeable collectors. Complete blacksmiths' shops have been advertised recently at prices ranging from $900 to $2,500. Common tongs,

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BLACKSMITH'S TOOLS

Ornamental Ironworkers of 18th-Century France Denis Diderot, 1752

The first blacksmith to arrive in Colonial America was a fellow by the name of James Reed, who promptly forged an iron chisel for each of his greatful Jamestown shipmates. Needless to say Mr. Reed was sorely missed when a fever took him the next summer. Native American Indians also valued the ironworker's craft. So much so, that many chiefs demanded in their treaties with the Great White Father that a well supplied smithy be settled among them.

Blacksmiths rarely did any finishing or polishing of the charcoal blackened metal which issued from the forge. Some did however, impress their initials or mark upon tools of which they were particularly proud. Not a few smiths went on to manufacture tools on a larger scale. Many founded factories that existed well into the 20th Century.

In addition to a forge, bellows and anvil, a well equipped smithy needed several kinds of tongs and anvil-mounted accessories. Top-surface tools were the set hammer, flatter, fuller, top swage, and chisel. Anvil tools inserted in the hardy hole for working bottom surfaces were, the bottom fuller, bottom swage, hot hardie and cold hardie. Swage blocks and large cone mandrels were floor and stump mounted tools. American blacksmith shops became motorized around the turn-of-the-century. Power driven hammers increased output tremendously and also eliminated much of the tedious drudgery associated with the trade.

CURRENT VALUES. With the exception of travelers, brass rules, and some drill braces, blacksmith tools are not highly sought after. Sometimes they may be picked up at scrap iron prices by knowledgeable collectors. Complete blacksmiths' shops have been advertised recently at prices ranging from $900 to $2,500. Common tongs,

hardies, and bolt headers sell for $4 to $10 each. Good old hammers often fetch from $10 to $20 at auctions. Anvils still can be picked up for a dollar a pound and vises rarely bring more than $50.

BLACKSMITH'S TOOLS