Appreciation post: The old forge at the museum in Fredericksburg

I took my kid to the Pioneer Museum in Fredericksburg last weekend and they have a full farrier shop set up from the 1880s. Seeing that old coal forge and the hand tools laid out just right made me think about how quiet and slow the work must have been. What's the oldest piece of gear you still use in your own shop?

2 comments

2 Comments

christopher_hunt1mo ago

You mentioned that old coal forge, and it reminds me of a book I read about how blacksmiths would sometimes work for days on one piece.

stellablack1mo ago

Imagine spending days on one thing only to have it turn out a little crooked. The old blacksmiths had patience I could never manage. I get annoyed if my microwave takes more than two minutes. Their whole job was basically waiting for metal to get hot.