Greetings,
I've been lurking on the Oldtools list for several (shameful!)
months now, and I thought it was about time for me to go public. I'm
presently a graduate student at the University of Nebraska/Lincoln, from
which I hope to earn my Ph.D. in Ecology in about three more years.
Janie (my wife) and I both went to Earlham College (the encompassing body
of Connor Prairie, for you living history fans) after which we moved to
Boston and then Lincoln.
My interest in woodworking began with reading Eric? Sloan's
books, "A Reverence for Wood" and "A Reverence for Tools" (did I botch
that title?) as a child, and I was an incurable tinkerer thereafter. My
enthusiasm for woodworking was great enough to get me a job with a
cabinetmaker in Boston, where I spent a year of my life making cabinetry,
architectural millwork, doors (including some really spectacular archtops
and the like) and occasional furniture for the wealthy folk of eastern
Massachusetts. The last project I worked on was a 30"x96"x7" endgrain
maple butcher block table- leveled with hand tools... Nothing like 20
square feet of maple endgrain to get that technique into shape! Anyway,
my employment was very difficult in some respects, but I left with a
solid knowledge of machine and hand tool techniques (much of the finish
fitting and trimming was done with hand tools).
Since then I have been spending much of my spare time (and some
not-so-spare time) reading, thinking, and doing woodworking. When I
found Oldtools, it was like discovering my spiritual home... I have been
gathering (different from collecting) tools for a few years now, and my
favorites by far are those priceless (in personal, not cash, value)
antiques that I occasionally find or inherit. My favorite tool is an old
Ohio tools 05 1/2- I think their laminated blades are fantastic. My most
unusual is an old Stanley #171 (affectionately referred to as a "piece of
mechanical crap" in SB&G) that I inherited from my great grandfather...
I can't disagree with Mr. Leach's assessment, and I doubt my great
grandfather would have either, but its sentimental value and peculiarity
are enough for me.
Anyway, I've been rambling for long enough. I was very excited
to find that there are some fellow Nebraskans on the list, one of whom
inhabits an office less than 200m from mine! I'm glad to be a part of
this list- old tools possess a grace and substance that is one of my
favorite parts of woodworking.
Thanks for reading!
Best Regards,
Christopher Nordstrom Griffiths
10 Manter Hall 0118
University of Nebraska/Lincoln
Lincoln, NE 68588-0118
cmng@u...
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