The Crispin Colloquy

Jessie,

Do you own the only copy,or are there a few more of those books around today that you know of.Just wondering.....

Ed

Ed

It's just an old journal. Like started out as a blank book by an apprentice that he wrote in unto Mastery. This was common practice in the 19th century. It has drawings, techniques, methods of leather preparation (mostly on doing the waxed finish). it has some stories and enteries on boots made and fixed for people, a few well knowns at that. Everything is quite precise and detailed. Until recently it was just an old journal to me with old Mysteries that I study and use. I am seeing that it may be more worthy than I had seen it to be.
Some folks have asked if I would publish it. I feel if there is some interest I would. It would have to be copied as is for the reader to fully appreciate it, and then a section at the back, typeset for hard to read parts and explanations. Thanks for the interest.

JesseLee

Jesse,

That sounds great. I'll PM you soon, and we can work out details and dates. Even without seeing the book, I bet you could sell them like hotcakes if you decided to publish it.

DA

I would like to show you the book this summer. Never been to Colonial Williamsburg and this is my summer of travel. I may decide to publish if I get enough interest. I have gotten some here. Looking forward to hearing from you and would like to send you a pair of boots for you to look at.
Jesse

I think I'll have to start saving up now, so's I can be in the que when it's printed.

Sounds GOOD

Cheers Duncan

Hyer Boot Catalog

Olathe Cowboy Boots & Shoes: C. H. Hyer and Sons Manufacturers of: Catalog No 40 1921 Olathe Kansas

is available on www.abebooks.com presently (Feb 2007)

Rob,

It's almost like walking in a no fly zone over here in the Open Forum. Anyway I believe that you had ask that I let you know when I get my catalogue and pricelist from Minke. I did receive them and I am more than willing to get you the information however is most convenient.

Email, call, throw a rock. I will scan, fax, mail or even read the prices over the phone.

That goes for anyone else as well.

Let me know.

Thanks,

Mark

Because of the change in job here, I find myself hip deep in book dealers, all of whom want to sell me stuff (weird that). If things come of that are of a shoe or shoemaking nature, I know that the HCC Library can't afford the high dollar things, but there may be members that might still be interested. Is it appropriate to post those here in this forum?

Of course, you are welcome to post these items. The only caveat is that no prices may be mentioned. You may describe the item, its condition, provenance, state its "for sale" status, and post your address so that interested parties may contact you to enquire about prices.

Here or in "Boughton Faire Memorial Bazaar."

Yr. Hmb. Svt.

Ok, I will probably want to post any to the Board, first (in fact one just came in the mail this morning).

I guess this counts a kind of publication..

Finally I finished my video essay about shoemaking. I hope you will find it useful:

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=MarcellHUN

Marcell,

I just got a look at your video, and once again I am impressed. I really enjoyed it. Thank you.

I've done shoe repair for many years and I wish I had watched your video many years ago.

Thank you for demonstrating the use of the burninshing iron. I think that is what really tops it off.

I'd love to get a burner such as you have. I'm on the look out.

PK

"burninshing iron" means, what you use to the sole edge? I think you can buy them very cheap.. The only thing is: you need the whole serie, if you want to make a nice work.

Marcell,

I just looked up the correct reference for that tool, and I remembered too late. It's a glazing iron. I knew that. I have several of the series.

I always had burnishing irons mounted on the end of my line finishers. So I've not really used a glazing iron much. I did for the first time at DW's last year. I guess now I need to find a spirt lamp or burner. I don't know what the correct term for a shoe makers version of that is called. The one DW owns has a little shelf as your does, to rest the tool while it heats.

The last one I saw on ebay was in France.

PK

Sorry, I just didn't know the real name - you know my poor English.. In my country you can buy these stuff for almost nothing (for buttons - does it exist in English?). Last time I saw a complete set of tools for 60 USD.

Marcell,



I understand almost for nothing, for buttons. That says it very well.



I too see many on ebay, so I guess they are plentiful.

The burners, not so much.

Marcell,

Thanks for the fine demonstrations and showing your use of the burnishing irons.

Ed

Paul,

You used to be able to buy shoemakers spirit lamp from Barnsley, I can't remember the official name. George Koleff made me one from a little glass jar with a metal screw top. He punched a hole in the top, and made a wick of twisted cotton material, you could use twisted hemp thread, and put some metholated spirit in the jar, and screw the top on with a little bit of wick above the lid. Once the wick has absorbed the meths you are away.

You heat the irons up until a drop of water sizzles as Marcell shows in his video.

Tim

I used to be a bookbinder in a former life. Talas has a electrical stove for heating the finishing and gilding irons used on leather bindings that could work for shoe irons. This one is pricey but has a nice ring for keeping the wood handles away from the heat:

http://apps.webcreate.com/ecom/catalog/product_specific.cfm?ClientID=15&ProductI D=21212

If the link doesn't work, use Google to find Talas Bookbinding Supplies

Regards, Georgene

Tim and Georgene,

Thanks for the tips and leads.

Georgene, that is pricey, indeed. Especially when compared to Tim's report that George made him one out of a glass jar with a hole cut in the lid. But, of course, I'd still have to build a little stand for the tools.

That, after all, is what I'm after.

Tim, What are metholated spirits? Is it like a methane of some sort?

So, I'll just not be too hasty.

PK

Paul,

It seems that Meths (Oz) is called Denatured Alcohol in the States. As far as I know, my spirit lamp is still going. You need to twist the wick fairly tight and it has to be long enough to reach the liquid. Meths burns fairly cool but don't knock it over. You only need a bit of wood to rest the iron on.

tim

Tim,

That's great! I'm going to start perusing the grocery aisles looking for attractive glass jars that might work. Oh, and a block of wood. And a wick!. And some denatured alcohol, which I will heretofore refer to as metholated spirits.

And I'll be especially careful.

Thanks for this bit of guidance.

PK

Paul

I don't know that "attractive" is a prerequisite, from memory, mine was an ugly little jar with the label still on it.

the advice was based on past experience.

Tim

To be more precise, we are talking about denatured ethanol, available at most hardware stores. see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denatured_alcohol

All,

Goetz carries a brass and tin collice stove (jpg below) that is pretty traditional in form and function. I think it might be about $30.00 US if you order it from someone like McPhersons in Seattle.

This is what I use (and have used for three decades) and the most attractive feature is that it gives you a place to rest your tools while they are heating.

I think it is both attractive (in a rough, authentic way) and very usable. But a bunsen burner would also work (as would Tim's device) even if it might need some sort of scaffolding to support a tool.



Tight Stitches
DWFII--HCC Member