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171020 "jjb-aia@j..." <jjb-aia@juno.com> 2007‑06‑25 Overdue Bio
Oh great Galoots: I realized that I have forgotten my manners and
failed to post a bio. My name is John (Jack) Butkus and I am the
product of three generations of carpenters. (There were a couple of
farmers, toolmakers and blacksmiths dangling from the family tree too.)
Unfortunately, despite having sawdust in my veins, I became an
architect rather than being wise enough to apprentice under my father
first. Thus, I struggle to achieve the end results that my eyes were
trained to look for, but my hands were not. My favorite old tool is a
Sweetheart vintage Stanley
#1 plane given to me by grandpa when I was about 6 or 8 years old. By
the time I was 10 I had dropped it onto the basement floor and done it
in.  Ah, we grow too soon old and too late smart! It is now brazed back
     together and still usable, but now I'll never part with it as the
     sentimental value FAR EXCEEDS the intrinsic!

Through habit or necessity, grandpa was a professor of the philosophy of
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." Thus, many of his
old tools have remained in the family, some given to me. I can't stand
buying a new doohickey (especially when Made in China appears on
io) when something authentic and American can be put into use. Although
    I appreciate the elegance of moulding planes, (grandpa gave me a
    mint Stanley #45 in the box and a handfull of woodies too) I
    confess to throwing some cash in the direction of Mr. Porter and
    Mr. Cable. I am not likely to give up my *able saw either. I am,
    however, assembling a rather respectable user set of chisels,
    planes, handsaws and the like, and just re-trimmed much of my
    home's interior with a 1940's vintage Stanley mitre box at the
    ready, despite my friend's insistence that his chop saw was the
    only way to fly.

Way too long and rambling a way to say I like woodworking and love old
tools! Let the therapy begin!

John J. Butkus, AIA (aka Jack) Trumbull, Connecticut

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