| From Eric Sloane's "A Museum of Early American Tools" |
by Eric Sloane
Softcover, 1975 edition, used, 110 pages
If you don't know who the author is...you are in for a treat. And if you do know him, you know that this is an important book, an inventory of tools rendered in realistic pen-and-ink drawings. You'll refer to this book again and again. $5 plus post.
Philip Simmons, Blacksmith
by Mary E. Lyons
Hardcover, all color photos.
It looks like a children's book but it's a blacksmithing book. It's the story of Charleston, South Carolina smith Philip Simmons and his 70 years crafting gates and scrolls and intricate architectural details in that iron-decorated city. Lots of great photos of Mr. Simmons and other old-timer smiths at work. A section on his tools and on the evolution of blacksmithing. He was declared a "national treasure" among many other awards. Includes a bibliography. Special. All color photos, a new copy. $10 plus post.
A Bobbie Kalman book
Softcover, 32 pages, color illustrations and photo, Crabtree
I suppose that this was designed to be a children's book, but it is one of the best books to explain blacksmithing to anyone not familiar with the tools, the forge, and the role of different people. It shows blacksmiths and farriers at work at different museums or doing demonstrations. Include apprentices, shoeing horses, and lots of good history. Brand new, last copy, half price $4 plus post
Early Tools and Equipment
by Elmer Smith, 7th printing, 1983, 32 pages plus soft cover
Inventory of Early American tools of all trades, with great photos assembled in big double-page spreads. The tools are not individually identified. 13 different top anvil tools are shown plus different designs of buttresses, firing irons, etc. from someone's very nice collection of farrier tools. Tools from all crafts and farm life. Interesting stuff. $3 plus post.
by David X. Manners
Hardcover, 1985, 398 pages, dust jacket, lightly used (by me)
The roots of tools...and their evolution. You'll love this book. Who knew that vice grip pliers were invented in Dewitt, Nebraska by a Danish-American blacksmith named Bill Petersen? What's the origin of the farrier's beloved angle grinder or drill press? Why do you get more pressure on hoof nippers (or any pincer-type tool) if they are designed with a short distance from bite to hinge--instead of longer? And (look out, Mustad!) who knew that Leonardo da Vinci invented a rasp-making machine in 1490? Is there anything he didn't invent? This book is not too technical on the engineering side, but it is rich on the history side and vastly detailed with an unbelievable variety of specialized tools under each of 61 tool categories. Giant fun. $10 plus post.
Keen Kutter Antique and Collectible Hand Tools 1989 Price Guide compiled by John Walter, published by The Tool Merchant, 64 pages
Pocket-sized soft-cover guide to antique tools is a handy guide but also contains nice old cuts of each tool, great for reference if you need to tell a shingling hatchet from a tobacco hatchet, for instance. Includes some blacksmithing tools. $2 plus post.
Manual of Foundry and Pattern Shop Practice
by Otis Benedict Jr. of The Pratt Institute
Hardcover, first edition, 1947, 361 pages
So you want to make your own tools. Do you understand the principles of how a foundry works? This was the textbook at The Pratt Institute and other engineering schools. It is a language and a world unto itself--and fascinating. $5 plus post.
The New Scroll Saw Handbook
by Patrick Spielman
Softcover, 352 pages
If there is anything about scroll saws that was left out of this encyclopedic guidebook, I'd be very surprised. Once you meet the parts and uses of a scroll saw, you learn their history. Then a guide to all the ones currently on the market. The accessories. How to buy one. "Blades, speeds and feeds". Safety, Patterns and layouts. And THEN there are about 10 chapters on how you get the effect you want. I'm so impressed with this book. It's new, too. $10 plus post.
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