OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

149641 "Joe Parker" <joeparker@s...> 2005‑09‑09 Joe Parker - BIO
After lurking for much longer than is fashionable, it is about time I
came clean. I am Joe Parker. The LOML, Kathy, and I have been married
for 32 years and live in Los Gatos, CA (That’s California, not Canada,
Jeff). As a brief history, I grew up in Oklahoma showing no galootish
tendencies. I was one of those kids who didn’t take shop in school in
order to take Orchestra and more Math. This led to my getting a BS in
Math from Stanford and a PhD from Caltech. Galootish tendencies did
begin to emerge slightly during this period in the form of stained glass
classes from a studio in Pasadena. A Math PhD, of course, left me
totally unprepared to do anything useful. As a result, I ended up as a
Professor at a college in NE Penn.

I spent 7 years in Old Tool Heaven, but ended up with very little to
show for it. Oh sure, I did end up with tenure, but for the important
things, I only left with a sewing machine style treadle lathe and a
virtually complete Barnes No. 6 pedal scroll saw
(http://wdynamic.com/galoots/4images/details.php?image_id=2148 ). In
true galoot fashion, I got these in 1976 and should be finishing the
restoration any day now. Yeah, right. With two very bright boys, I left
Old Tool Heaven in 1983 and headed West to the Promised Land (aka San
Francisco Bay area), the land of Options and Traffic (no milk, no honey
and no old tools). Actually, we did have a bee hive in our yard for
several years, so I have plenty of honey and, more importantly, rendered
beeswax. No longer in Academia, I have spent my career in a number of
high tech startups, rising to a level of total uselessness.

Over the years, I have begun to show increasing galootish tendencies and
have even been bitten by the toolmaking bug. While I may never be
qualified to be a full-fledged member of the FOYBIPM, maybe there’s room
for me in the FOYBIASBM (Fraternal Order of Yuppie Bastard Infill
Adjustable Shooting Board Makers)
(http://wdynamic.com/galoots/4images/details.php?image_id=2149 ). Please
note the cocobolo stuffed knobs in the quadrant and the double
dovetailed brass quadrant sides.
(http://wdynamic.com/galoots/4images/details.php?image_id=2150 ) No,
you’re not supposed to see the double dovetails; you have to trust me on
those. The finish is, of course, shellac.

Yes, I do tend to go a bit overboard in my projects. As another example,
I have never made Shaker boxes, nor do I intend to, but I couldn’t
resist getting some copper flashing and making a boiling box
(http://wdynamic.com/galoots/4images/details.php?image_id=2151 ). This
is destined to be used to make bent oak ribs to complete a beamed,
coffered ceiling I am building for our library
(http://wdynamic.com/galoots/4images/details.php?image_id=2152 ). The
finish is, of course, shellac.

Finally, for those of you on the upper level of the Porch, you would be
amazed at the improvements we have made down below. It’s actually quite
comfortable down here now. The only major problem remaining is that
rampaging termite infestation. Just be careful where you step.

Joe Parker Los Gatos, CA

------------------------------------------------------------------------
OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.

To read the FAQ, unsubscribe, or change email options, use the web
interface at: http://www.brendlers.net/oldtools/oldtools.html

OldTools Archive: http://www.frontier.iarc.uaf.edu/~cswingle/archive/


Recent Bios FAQ