Traditional Arts Workshops at Willowbrook for January, February, and March 2014

These make great gifts for everyone.

 All classes are limited in size. Reserve your place now.
http://www.willowbrookmuseum.org , Our blog: http://19thcenturywillowbrookvillage.blogspot.com . 
CALL: 207-793-2784 or EMAIL: director@willowbrookmuseum.org. 

Friday, January 17, 9AM-5PM Metal Casting Class in Brass/Bronze. Furnaces, fuels, molds and metals. Students will complete one or two castings. Non-Members$275 Members $265 Materials included.

Sat., Jan. 18, 2014, 9-1PM. Woodworking, Mortise and Tenon Construction, Make a Buck Saw. Beginners will make a half size buck saw out of maple wood using mortise and tenon joinery. A turnbuckle will be created. $65 Non Members, $55 Members. All materials provided. Adults and teens.

Sat. & Sun., Jan. 25 & 26, 9AM-5PM. Woodworking, Dovetailing, Make a Blanket Chest Class on Learn to make dovetail joints using traditional hand tools. Prepare all the components for a traditional six board chest with a hinged top. Non Members: $275, Members $265

Sat., Feb 1, 9-4PM. Blacksmithing: Make Hardware. Learn basic metal work with a propane forge. The project may consist of makin hinges, latches, a set of handles, a door knocker or coat hook. Tuition: Non Members $125 Members $115.

Sat. & Sun., Feb. 15 &16, 9-3PM. Metal Casting Class: Make Your Own Metal Casting Furnace. Create a cylinder furnace fueled by propane for aluminum, brass, and bronze casting. Tuition: Non-Members $175 Members $165

Sat. & Sun., March 1 &2. Blacksmithing: Make a Draw Knife and/or Slicks. Shape a blade with spring steel on a coal or propane forge. Form tangs to fit wooden handles to. This will be offered as a package deal or singularly with the Create a Shaving Horse Class (20 % discount).  Intermediate students can make a froe involving a forge weld.

  

Sat. & Sun., March 8 &9. Woodworking: Create a Shaving Horse Class. With master woodworker Fred Chellis of Little River Windsor Chairs students will learn riving, an early woodworking technique in which a froe, wedges and a maul may be used to split a big log into workable lumber. The wood will be further shaped and fitted with a shaving knife and other tools. Tuition: Non Members $275, Members $265

Working Telephones at Willowbrook

The Telephone Museum of Ellsworth, Maine has been working on a project with Willowbrook in the last few months. As you might recall there is a phone like this that is on the wall in the kitchen of the Dr. Isaac Trafton House. It has always been a static exhibit of the object. During the summer Marlene Gerry ran telephone wire from this phone to the ice cream parlor where a long term loaned phone of similar design will be mounted on the wall. Both kids and adults will be able to communicate between the two phones. There will be information and interactive play/learning with this device. We may do another set up somewhere else on the campus in the future. Our phone is in the process of being brought to Bucksport where Dave Thompson of the Telephone Museum will work from the comfort of his home to re-wire the phone to make it operable; he has gotten a donation of an intact authentic cloth jacketed wire to go to the ear piece as ours' is badly frayed. Look forward to this new offering in May. In addition, if anyone has a similar phone or a phone of similar vintage, i.e., 1900-1920s, that they would be interested in donating to the museum for other such working collection scenarios please contact: director@willowbrookmuseum. We are also looking for hand crank dynamos aplenty for a student workshop.

Classes in Restoration?

Learn by seeing, learn by doing; this has become the mantra of Willowbrook as we increasingly develop our traditional arts workshops. For a good part of Willowbrook's history there has been an opportunity to see the technology available to those living in rural Maine and New England in the nineteenth and early 20th century, but this alone is not enough. There is so much more to share that will have even greater impact on our visitors.  The museum in recent years has chosen a new path that allows opportunities to both see and use. Hands on experiences with a working collection has gotten some people excited about the museum and looking forward to new offerings of workshops in addition to the baking, penny rugging, blacksmithing, woodworking, and other classes that were offered in the last few seasons for tuition. More recntly, the museum has offered more complex project-based workshops.

This is a radical departure from current formal and informal educational trends that increasingly focus on virtual experiences as a basis for knowledge; we hope to deliver more hands-on experiences that might include something as simple as creating a tool to solve a problem; what ramifications would such an  experience at Willowbrook have for a 13 year old?  or someone of any age? How might such accomplishments serve in developing greater problem solving skills for a new generation of Willowbrook visitors? We seek to be an essential part of local education rather than merely enrichment or a one-time field trip. Check for our upcoming list of workshops for January, February, and March? We are particularly keen on connecting with home-schoolers and public school kids alike; we have recently offered workshops in woodworking and blacksmithing to eighth graders! A class in mortise and tenon wood construction is offered on Saturday, January 18, 9-1PM.

Making a Tool to Disassemble a Golding Jobber Printing Press ( Circa 1902 )  

One of our future offerings will be letterpress printing classes. In order to undertake this it's been necessary to acquire more equipment for the purpose. This press (see below) will be on long term loan to the museum; it is a Golding "Jobber", the big brother of the museum's own Golding "Pearl". It is currently up in Penobscot Co. where it was disassembled ( it weighs 1100 lbs. complete) in the last few days for the purpose of transport to the museum. In taking this machine apart some tools had to be fabricated, as they are not readily available.

Below you will see a flywheel puller designed, created (out of scrap metal), and used successfully for  today's task of dis-assembly; the press will be overhauled for use in the months to come. Learn by seeing ---a few years back, I saw a wonderful homemade gear puller made by a Mainer that inspired this adaptation to the purpose of pulling a 100 pound plus flywheel from a steel shaft. Learn by doing ( of course, a drill press, angle grinder, and a box of wrenches helped )--- results in the type of Yankee ingenuity that characterized our rural heritage. Orchestrating experiences like this would be a wonderful thing to facilitate at the museum.

In moving forward with many new projects, exhibitions, and workshops, there is always the matter of making 100 plus year old machines functional again for the purpose using them and learning from them. This isn't necessarily a burden, if we consider that presenting the science and technology of another age might be better done by involving the public in the process of restoration and operation of machines like a Model T engine or a horse drawn panel wagon; what often isn't learned is how these things worked; this was certainly knowledge held by our forefathers. And certainly this knowledge can have applications to 21st century challenges like we could never imagine.

In discussing workshops for the future, we are currently planning to offer two workshops based on these assumptions. The workshops will involve restoring a Model T engine and re-wooding, with some blacksmithing necessitated as well, a horse drawn grocery wagon. Students will pay a nominal fee to support the cost of materials and the instructor's time. The students will be given mini-lessons to carry out the individual steps of these restorations. The class will last one season with a weekly meeting planned. Students will learn about tools and materials; they will complete the class knowing that they have contributed to the restoration of this museum object, and that its functionality will continue to both impress and educate. The student of these classes will become knowledgeable of this technology. They will be prepared to replicate this process for themselves and for others.

Is anyone interested in being a member of one or both of these workshops (Contact: director@willowbrookmuseum.org or 207-793-2784)?

1. Model T Engine Restoration Class

2. Country Store Panel Wagon Restoration Class

Tuition Costs and schedule to be determined.

Today's Fabrication of a Flywheel Puller for the Disassembly of a Golding Jobber Printing Press ( c.1902)

This was essentially made out of scrap metal. It was plate steel, threaded rod, and nuts. I actually cut and drilled many of my "washers" as I wanted something more chunky than conventional washers; I didn't want to waste time trekking to Lowes. It resulted in less turns of the wrench, as there was less threads to turn the nut on given the threading consumed by the chunky homemade washers ( a homage to the late Donald Bowden of Goodale's Corner, whose work making similar things has been my experience through his  fabrications that survive ).

This view best shows the concept. A plate in the back that wraps around the shaft and grabs at the very center of the back of the flywheel. The plate in the front is on top of the shaft. By turning the nuts on the four threaded rods the flywheel is pulled forward on the shaft; something that couldn't be done by hand as there is a key that was driven in to wedge the flywheel tightly into the shaft. This key remains in its bedding when the flywheel is pulled.

This is a view of the puller from the back of the flywheel.

Here you can see how the front plate is pressed down onto the shaft causing the forward motion of the flywheel.

The press shed of considerable weight for transport.

The removed flywheel; it weights nearly a hundred pounds.

The flywheel puller.

What's Happening at Willowbrook in December and January?

There have been many developments at 19^th Century Willowbrook Village in recent months. The museum received the long term loan of a theatrical/ musical set from art directors Mary and Mike Kenny of South Burlington, VT. This 1912 re-creation of the Titanic radio room will be set up for interactive play/learning for both school groups and visitors. An additional workshop in making a crystal set will be offered to children 8-11 years old, and older, in conjunction with this offering.

Another recent development was the completion of a steel-reinforced concrete slab for the Tom Flagg smithy (1935).  The smithy will be re-assembled on this slab. Two brick chimneys will also be built to vent two forges that were donated for this project. This addition to Willowbrook is for the purpose of providing ongoing blacksmithing classes for a maximum of eight students inside.

We are now taking reservations for the following traditional arts classes (these make great holiday gifts): Saturday and Sunday, December 14 & 15, 9AM-4PM, Woodworking 102: A Class in Dovetail Joint Construction. Make an Heirloom Blanket Chest. Two days, fourteen hours, you will create a pine wood chest roughly measuring 36 inches wide, 24 inches tall, and 18 inches deep.  All tools and materials supplied. Tuition: Non-members $300; Members $270.

The museum also offers a Blacksmithing/ Blade-Smithing Class. Saturday and Sunday, December 21 & 22, 9AM-4PM. This blacksmithing studio class for beginners offers the choice of creating hardware, tomahawk and/or hunting knife. Students have the opportunity to make and fit a wooden handle to their projects using a shaving horse. Tuition: Non-members $300; Members $270

On Friday, January 19, 9AM-5PM, a Metal Casting Class in Brass is offered. Students will learn the basics of sand casting. A variety of molds to choose from for your project(s). Students who took the woodworking class may make hardware for their blanket chest, Door knockers and strike plates possible as well as other objects. Tuition: Non-members $225 Members

Stay tuned for other classes!   

See details for these classes on our website: willowbrookmuseum.org, our Facebook, or our blog: 19thcenturywillowbrookvillage.blogspot.com. Call or email us; 207-793-2784 or director@willowbrookmuseum.org.

Saturday and Sunday, December 21 & 22: Blacksmithing/Bladesmithing: Make a Hunting Knife, Tomahawk or Hardware

Saturday and Sunday, December 21 & 22, 9AM - 4PM. Under the instruction of blacksmith/bladesmith master Adriaan Gerber, students will have a choice of one of three project offerings: create hardware for your recently created wood blanket chest; make stipe hinges, a set of handles, and a latch ($25 reduction in cost for returning woodworking students); others may make a knife and/or a tomahawk. This will include fitting wooden handles to these projects using a shaving horse and draw knife. Students can fit a handle to their knives. This class is a beginner's course with instruction about safety, tool use, fire-making, and metal work. Students will use both a coal forge and propane burning forge in addition hand tools and anvils indoors. All tools and materials provided. Students are required to wear cotton clothing and safety glasses. Tuition: Non-Members $300; Members $270

Woodworking 102/ Heirloom Blanket Chest Making: Details About Our Last Class and What You Might Expect From Our Next Class!

One of the blanket chests that originally inspired this class in dovetailing (Peter Stickney Collection).

In our first heirloom blanket chest making class, we used first growth pine boards. These were from a 200 year old barn in New York State. These required a lot of processing. Many of these boards were 15 inches wide or wider. 

This another pine blanket chest that served as a model for our first class ( Peter Stickney Collection).

Detail of dovetail joinery; this is a class in dovetailing not blanket chest making. Nearly all the students in our first class finished their front, back, sides and bottom, which required dovetail joints or a dado (bottom).

The pine boards, whether new or old, had to be run through a jointer, and glued using pole clamps. Although its a matter of aesthetic, we filled nail holes with glue and sawdust or wood filler. Some prefer to have the look of old barn wood, and this is a choice offered in mass-produced furniture of late (see the recent Sundance catalog). These blanket chests were traditionally painted either red ochre or blue, as these colors were often the only ones available in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Before starting with one of the six boards for the blanket chest ( The chest traditionally consists of 6 boards: top, bottom, front and back, and two sides ) we have an introductory project. As we are making chests roughing 36 inches wide, 18 inches deep, and 24 inches high, we limit this first practice to joining two boards with two dovetail joints.

The work can be done sitting or standing. We provide clamps for you to hold your project fast while you cut with saws and chisels. Her a student is using a coping saw, which is not necessarily used for dovetailing. If it accomplishes the task, why not? A variety of dovetailing saws and wood chisels were also provided. Some students even used a keyhole saw.

The line has been scored with a marking gauge. Here a student refines the cuts he made with a dovetailing saw with a 1/4 inch wood chisel.

Some of the tools we use for our dovetailing: a jam saw/ shallow blade dove tail saw, a small cross cut saw, a dove tail saw and a marking gauge.

Two sides of the chest completed.

Sharpening your own chisels is an important part of doing dovetailing, as you are often faced with dulled chisels. Here a couple of soapy water serves with a whetstone to fine tune chisels in our recent class.

Walter White creates a dado for his blanket chest bottom.

Dwayne Chretien cutting his dovetails in our recent woodworking class. 

Assembly of the finished product. 

Instructor Adriaan Gerber assists Walter White with the assembly of his completed chest. 

With the top added. The narrow piece on top will be cut and fitted tp the top to create a lip that hangs over the front of the top.

Dis-assembly for transport.

Walter white leaves with his completed blanket chest under arm.

Tom Flagg Smithy Re-Construction Underway: Concrete Slab Finished.

This is the concrete slab we recently prepared for the re-construction of the Tom Flagg Smithy recently moved from Lincolnville, ME. we will be constructing two chimneys on this slab. Looking for some volunteers.

Traditional Arts Classes: December, 2013

Traditional Arts Classes: Give a class as a holiday gift or make these projects as gifts.

December 14 & 15, 9AM-4PM, Woodworking 102: Heirloom Blanket Chest: in this two day, fourteen hour class, you will create a pine wood chest 36 inches wide, 24 inches tall, and 18 inches deep. There will be a top with a choice to fit simple steel hinges. Students will first practice dovetail joinery on some pieces of wood. Students will then apply this knowledge to dovetail joints for the two sides and front and back. The bottom will be fitted without nails. This can be heirloom given as a gift.
Tuition: $300 Non-Members; $270 Members.

December 21 & 22, 9AM-4PM, Blacksmithing Studio (hardware, tomahawk or knife): Under the instruction of blacksmith/ bladesmith master Adriaan Gerber ( see: adriaangerberknives.com ), students will have the choice of one of three project offerings: create hardware for your recently created wood blanket chest; make stipe hinges, a set of handles, and a latch ($25 reduction in cost for returning woodworking students). Others may make a tomahawk. This will also include an opportunity to fit a wooden handle to this project using a shaving horse and draw knife. Students also have the choice of a knife. Students can also fit a wooden handle to their knives. This class is a beginner's course with instruction about safety, tool use, fire-making, and metal work. Students will use both a coal forge and propane burning forge in addition hand tools and anvils indoors. All tools and materials provided. Students are required to wear cotton clothing and safety glasses.
Tuition: $300 Non-Members; $270 Members.

For more information, including photos of recent classes: Facebook, 19thcenturywillowbrookvillage.blogspot.com,  and/or willowbrookmuseum.org

   19th Century Willowbrook Village
   70 Elm Street, Newfield, Maine 04056
     207-793-2784
     Email: rpschmick1@aol.com

Woodworking 101: Hacksaw in the Style of an Old fashioned Bucksaw with Instructor Daniel Blekkenk

This beginner's class focuses on mortise and tenon joints. You will cut and fit two of these joints for this 4 hour and very satisfying class project. you will create a turnbuckle yo fit to this saw to obtain the required saw blade tension. $45 Tuition. This class or the finished product makes a wonderful gift for the holidays!

Deanna and Nicholas Thompson created these.