February certainly felt like the shortest month at Plumier. | |
| |  | Clockmaker Nathan Bower spent four days at the shop early in the month to work on a mid 18th century tall clock movement and brass dial. Nathan has been in the clock trade for over 20 years, yet he is always eager to learn new approaches and tricks. With an interest in getting into the more historic restoration work, Nathan came to learn from David’s extensive experience working on antique clocks and his philosophy towards sympathetic restoration. By nature, a running clock is wearing itself out. Restoring an antique clock is not just about addressing these wear points enough to get it running, but making it run as efficiently as possible to reduce further wear. Any new parts or repairs also have to match the patina of the rest of the clock. This is of course particularly important on the dial, which in this case required significant work. Once restored, Nathan’s stray movement will be given new life in a reproduction of a tall clock by historic makers Goddard and Townsend of Newport, RI, currently being made by a cabinet maker.
| | Along with repairs, Nathan also builds new clocks under the brand Bower Clock Company. One of his main products is a wall-hanging skeleton clock inspired by historic tower clock movements. The front plate of the movement can be customized with a name or brand. Nathan generously donated a beautiful, custom Plumier model of the clock as a house-warming gift when we moved into the McIlwain Warehouse last year. The clock hangs on the wall between the horological studio and our community room where all can see the Plumier name, and students can get close to see the movement. It is a very cool piece and we are grateful to have it. Check out move of Nathan’s work on his website or Instagram. | | | His time working in the Plumier shop and the days spent in Saltsburg inspired Nathan to compose a poem to capture the magic he felt here in verse. It is a fitting tribute to this special place that this community built and distills the wonder we see it bring to those who cross the bridge into Saltsburg and the threshold into Plumier for the first time. | | |
Plumier Intern Spencer Hamann gave a virtual presentation on his craft as a luthier and complex turner during the first Tool Talk webinar presented by Craft in America. Spencer shared his journey in craft so far from his career in violin making and repair, to his time spent at Plumier last summer where he made the tool handles that were featured in the Craft in America’s “Tools of the Trade” exhibition. Plumier Member Bill Robertson also presented on his incredible career as a miniature maker, as well as his lifelong love for tools. As a collector and historian, Bill has tracked down countless rare and unique historic hand tools, many of which he has replicated in miniature. The two were joined by book binder Brien Beidler, who also makes many of his own tools of the trade. | |
| | | | Plumier member Seth Gould presented on the second Tool Talk webinar two weeks later along with fellow toolmakers James Austin and Thomas Latané. Seth’s hand forged tools are works of art, and his career in craft so far has been nothing short of impressive. He will be presenting on his journey in the metal arts and toolmaking at our next Open Shop Saturday on May 9th. | | | The “Tools of the Trade “ exhibit in LA has now closed, but you can still see the virtual exhibit at the Craft in America website. Follow Craft in America on Instagram for updates on future exhibits and programing like these webinars. |
| | |
Furniture maker Doug Mooberry and the team at Kinloch Woodworking made this stunning tramp art style tall clock case that houses a movement recently finished by David. The carvings are done in hundreds of segments of tulipwood which were stained and finished with a crackled patina. It is a beautiful tribute to late 19th century American vernacular craft beautifully executed with skill and care. It was a privilege for David and the Plumier Foundation to collaborate with Kinloch Woodworking on a piece of this quality that displays a love and respect for craft history. | |
| | |
| The clock was beautifully photographed by James Graham. See more stunning work from Kinloch Woodworking at their website and Instagram. Their furniture covers a wide range of historic styles, all custom-made at their workshop in Unionville, PA. | | | |
A very exciting package arrived this month after a long journey to Saltsburg.
Chinese tool maker Michael Chung sent Plumier one of his Chung CZ50 watchmaker’s lathes. David first saw Michael’s work on Instagram back in 2022 and was immediately impressed by its apparent quality. We displayed one of the lathe’s at our Fall Gathering that year, and all who got a close look and feel were likewise impressed.
| |
The fit and finish of the precision ground parts are on par or better than any of the big names in micro machine tools in the US or Switzerland. Michael, who has a lifelong fascination with mechanics and a degree in mechanical design, manufacturing, and automation from the Wuhan University of Technology, designed the CZ50 to be a versatile and user-friendly lathe that boasts a thorough range of accessories. The major parts are made in house to precise tolerances, while the other component parts like linear rails and motors are carefully sourced and tested for quality. The final product is assembled with a care and quality control that is evident at unboxing and the first turns of the hand wheels.
| | Centering microscope with micrometer adjustments that can sight down the center of the lathe with crosshairs to a display as seen in the picture of Michael | | Our CZ50 came equipped with a linear rail cross slide, a dovetail cross slide, a collet holding tailstock, a center finding microscope, automatic indexing attachment, automatic threading attachment, milling attachment, a full set of collets, and just about everything else one could need to get started making tiny parts. Thank you, Michael! | | The early adopters of the Chung Lathe in the watchmaking community swear by it, and it has steadily been growing in popularity. This early success has already earned the Chung brand a page on the venerable and invaluable lathe.co.uk database, where you can read more about Michael and his work. Follow him on Instagram for updates and a behind-the-scenes look into precision tool manufacturing. | | | | One of the boxes made by Plumier Intern Daniel Ravizza during his time at Plumier was featured as part of the “Made by Hand” exhibit at the Gallery at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA. The box, which was featured in our Update from last November, combines what Daniel has learned from complex turning with his skills in metalsmithing, including a koi fish on the lid using a traditional Japanese alloy and patination technique. Daniel teaches machining at the college and he will be lending this expertise at our Basic Machine Shop Practices class this summer, July 13-17. | | | Plumier will be demonstrating complex turning at the second annual Hand Tool Haven convention in Butler, PA, May 16-17. The event is a fundraiser hosted by Plane Wellness, a nonprofit that offers free woodworking courses for adults with mental health challenges or physical disability. The first Hand Tool Haven held last year was a huge success, and this year’s lineup of guest speakers and vendors promises to deliver another great event for anyone interested in woodworking. | | | |
Check out the Hand Tool Haven website for more details about the event, and read the incredible testimonials on the Plane Wellness website to see exactly what the event is supporting. Since Saltsburg is just an hour from Butler, Plumier will also be hosting an open shop for anyone in town for the weekend’s event that Friday, May 15.
| | | We ended the month with another successful Introduction to Complex Turning class. Students came to Saltsburg from neighboring counties, and from far corners of the country including Florida, Oregon, and even Alaska, each bringing with them little to no experience, but a contagious excitement and eagerness to learn. | | As typical for this class, the project was six different ornamental bottle stopper designs, each teaching different foundational skills of complex turning. After introductions and important safety reminders, we wasted no time Friday morning throwing the students into the deep end. Each station that was set up on the 7 complex turning and rose engine lathes in our turning room came with step-by-step instructions. These projects taught the basic functions of the rose engine, use of the different cutting frames, the eccentric chuck, the curvilinear slide, the reciprocator, the spiral apparatus, and dozens of little details required to use these tools to turn a blank into a finished piece. | | This class needed little coaxing to get going as students jumped right into work. It did not take long for the first signs to appear that we had a good class of students. The instructions were followed, good questions were asked of the instructors, and before long, the students were teaching each other what they had just learned and helping to guide the next student through a station. This is what we love to see. It not only demonstrates and solidifies comprehension of the material, but it quickly builds a community feeling to the class that makes the Plumier experience special for students and instructors. | | By the time we sat down for lunch on the first day, which was a hearty chili and a delicious broccoli and cheese soup from Vienna Beef, a cohesive group had formed from the strangers that had met at the same table just a few hours before. The craft experience at that table ranged from knife making to jewelry, and plain wood turning to watch repair. Professional careers outside of craft included two different fields of scientific research, software development, and a boat captain. As much was learned in conversations over meals as in the the turning studio. Since most of the students were staying at the Plumier Guest House or the Earhart Retreat, more meals were shared than the lunches provided. Many hung out late, throwing in for pizza Friday night and going across the street to the Point Street Tavern for dinner Saturday. The community of Saltsburg helps to fosters the close community feeling at Plumier. | | David provided historical context to the class with his homily on complex turning from Charles Plumier and Renaissance kings, to the Plumier Foundation today. | | On Saturday, Harold Shetter from the board of Townspeople, Inc. came to give our students a tour of Altman Mill across the canal walk from the shop. | | Original steel blade mills | | Wooden chutes and hopers were the veins and arteries of the mill | | The original lineshaft that powered most of the machinery | |
| | | The 1912 flour and feed mill is the last of its kind in the country and is a wonder to walk through for anyone interested in industrial history, building engineering, architecture, and a bygone era of life in Western, PA. The mill was largely prefabricated by the Allis-Chalmers Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, then shipped by rail to Saltsburg and constructed along the rail line and just up from the point on the Conemaugh River where an earlier water mill had stood. The lineshaft of this steel-cut mill was originally powered by an exterior steam engine, then converted to a massive electric motor that sits in the basement. The nonprofit Townspeople, Inc. took control of the mill just in time to save it, adding a new roof before water damage could condemn the wooden structure. The sale of the McIlwain Warehouse to Plumier helped to pay for the new siding which is now up on two of the three sides of the towering four-story structure. Plumier’s restoration of the McIlwain Warehouse and the ongoing work to save the Altman Mill have transformed Point Street and are helping to breath fresh life into downtown Saltsburg.
| | | | | Harold describing what work was like in the mill | | The tour was a treat for our students who naturally had a strong interest in the craft and history on display. Harold joined for lunch after the tour, which was, by tradition, Vienna Beef hotdogs. Thank you to Harold for sharing the history of the Mill and Saltsburg with our class and for the continued work of the Townspeople for preserving it. | | A third of our students were locals who had come for Open Shops before and will certainly be back before long. The rest of the students were on their first trip to Plumier and Saltsburg from out of state, but we think each one will be back—it is hard not to fall in love with the place. Every class and event grows our community and adds to our base of members. Thank you to the students for making this a great class, and to volunteer Geoff Saver who came to help supervise students and instructors alike. It was a great weekend and the perfect way to close the month as the weather in Saltsburg begins to tease of Spring, bringing with it more events at Plumier. | | |
Before You Make the Cut: Foundations of Accurate Setups - March 23-27
Our intermediate complex turning class. (Only one spot left!)
Open Shop Saturday - May 9
With special guest Seth Gould giving a presentation on his journey in metal arts
Press Tool Operations class - June 8-12
An introductory course on the various uses of hydraulic press tools in jewelry and metalsmithing work taught by Phil Poirier and Peter Gilroy
Open Shop Saturday - June 13
With special guest Laurie Vaher giving a presentation on Swedish ripple machines
Basic Machine Shop Practices - July 13-17
A detailed introduction to machine operation, drafting, and metrology for craftspeople of any discipline taught by David Lindow, Christian Lindow, and Daniel Ravizza
Plumier Fall Gathering - October 23-25
You won’t want to miss our biggest event of the year—save the date!
| | We look forward to seeing you in Saltsburg. | | |
Support craft, support Plumier.
The best way to support is by joining us as a member today.
One-time contributions can also be made through our website or GoFundMe. Also, consider making a targeted contribution to our Scholarship Fund.
A check sent to the address below is also a welcomed form of donation.
| |
| | | |
