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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
May 6, 2022
Apothecary – The Apothecary garden is in full bloom, and we are taking advantage of it. Mark has
harvested foxglove leaves, which will be used this autumn by the pharmacy student who will be working with
us in November. He has also been harvesting the Apothecary Rose. This red rose is a magenta-colored flower
that was used in making troches (a lozenge) and could be used to treat diarrhea. Margaret has made her first
batch of sugar of roses, used to make the troches. The dried rose petals will be used to make vinegar of roses
to treat headaches. Now that Sharon has had some time to settle into her new job responsibilities, she is
getting back to work on the Shop records. There are only forty more folio pages of the Ledger A to finish.
The Apothecary Shop will be open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Armoury:
Blacksmith – We smiths remain busy as ever in our “ferrousious” work. This week, hinges have been
the theme. Alex and Broadus, Apprentices both, nearly finished with their dozen straps each, while Ken has
begun on hinges both great and small, the minor being drop leaf table hinges for the Cabinetmakers, and the
major a large set of 18” HL hinges. Third Apprentice Owen works on toasting forks, as well as a pair of heel
plates for his own shoes (though they look very much like the shoes for a small pony). Aislinn has become a
buckle forger and filer, a job that was split between two separate workmen historically, she also files and fits
slide bolts, and has begun on fireplace tongs. For Mark’s work, he has recently begun to mend and replace
some of our own neglected tools, a nail header, and a couple pairs of tongs. Apart from that, he recently fit
some tires for a pair of cannon carriage wheels, a job likely familiar to our Shop’s armorer ancestors. As
always, all’s well that falls well at the base of the anvil!
The Blacksmith Shop will be open Daily.
Tinsmith – This week in the Tin Shop, we had another successful Workshop with seven participants.
Steve finished two watering cans and is in the process of making a larger one. Joel and Steve have been
putting their heads together to work on creating a better paint that will stick on the tin. Joel has been
experimenting with different formulas and thicknesses of the paint to apply. Joel has also been making cups
for the store, as well as tabulating the Armoury workers from his research. Jenny has been working on a more
difficult style of coffee pot with a domed lid, as well as continuing research on trade goods and merchant
records to uncover tinware costs, for her apprenticeship.
The Tin Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday (11:30am-5:00pm), Friday, and Saturday.
Anthony Hay Shop – The Cabinetmaker and Harpsichord-maker are open Sunday (11:30am-5:00pm)
and Monday through Saturday.
Brickmaker – This week in the Brickyard saw the crew under the tutelage of Journeyman Carpenter
Matthew "Matt" Sanbury for the creation of our new molding table. As always, Apprentice Nick took up a saw
with glee as he learned more of the Carpenter Trade. With all the proper cuts marked, the work could begin
with Journeyman Matt's discerning eye on the task. With the sawing squared away, the task of chiseling out
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 17
�several mortise joints was taken up by
Journeyman Kenneth and Apprentice Madeleine.
This drew Journeyman Bobby Clay’s attention as
he is always keen to help the task at hand.
Bolstered by his advice, the chiseling went rather
smoothly. Hopefully, the table will take its shape
soon to allow us to be closer to making bricks.
Otherwise, this week, we busied ourselves with
leveling out our drying bed with the rather large
delivery of sand from last week. With all the
sides established, it was a large but surmountable
task, with which our Guests were happy to help
us.
The Brickyard will be open Sunday through
Thursday, weather permitting.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 17
�Carpenter – This week, we are focusing on finishing the back wall of the Brickyard drying house. We’ve got
the braces all cut and will be finishing the mortises for the braces this weekend. Next week, we hope to be on
the next stage of the frame. We’ve got some pit sawing in our near future to get the end joists cut.
The Carpenter’s Yard will be open Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Colonial Garden – The planting of the Sankofa Heritage Garden within the bounds of the Historic Garden
has been mostly completed. This bed represents a West African-derived vegetable garden that enslaved
individuals on farms or plantations might have been allowed to keep for their personal use. Our Trade has
done much research to make this second year’s garden even more interesting! Plants include millet
(Pennisetum), sesame (Sesamum), Sorghum, okra (Abelmoschus), squash (Cucurbita), peanuts (Arachis),
cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata), Bamabra groundnuts (Vigna subterranean), and fish peppers (Capsicum).
The beds formerly occupied by cabbage have been turned, and two varieties of cucumbers (Cucumis) planted
from seed. The Garden Apprentice spent a day constructing the sycamore (Platanus) trellises that the plants
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 17
�will climb as they grow. The existing
border perennials - costmary (Tanacetum)
and sorrel (Rumex) - were thinned, and
transplants of borage (Borago) and
Calendula added.
And it would not be a Historic Garden
update without images of what’s in
bloom!
Siberia iris (Iris sibirica)
Apothecary rose (Rosa gallica)
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 17
�American wisteria (Wisteria frutenscens)
Spiderwort (Tradescantia)
The Colonial Garden will be open Daily, weather permitting.
Cooper – The Cooper Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday (11:30am-5:00pm).
Engraver – The Engraving Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Foodways – The Foodways Staff will be at the Palace Kitchen Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through
Saturday.
Foundry – The Foundry will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 17
�Gunsmith – In the Gunsmith Shop, Darrin has been putting the final details on the pistol locks by designing
the engraving so they will match, since they are a matched set. The two cocks are now in the pitch bowl as a
solid foundation since they are a difficult shape to hold any other way. Brad has been forging and filing butt
plate patterns for casting in sand molds. Research materials have been The Birmingham Gun Trade and “18th
Century English Trade Guns in the South, or, the Carolina Gun: Its Time and Place in History," from a study by
the American society of arms Collectors.
The Gunsmith Shop will be open Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Historic Farming – Much of the tobacco has been pitched (transplanted). This is Ed’s 20th planting of
tobacco at Colonial Williamsburg.
Tobacco at Prentis Field
Prentis Field will be open Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Joinery – The Joinery will be open Tuesday (11:30am-5:00pm), and Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – The Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Thursday (12:00-5:00pm),
and Saturday.
Music – The Musicians have been busy now that spring is
in full swing. We have been playing to capacity at the
Raleigh on Wednesdays this spring and are now offering an
unadvertised, encore performance at 4:00pm for the
overflow. Our April Concerts at the Palace on the theme of
spring were a great success. We have a new program at
the Palace on Tuesdays through mid-June on Spring
Madness and played to a near-capacity audience on May
3rd. Kyle Collins, our new Harpsichordist, has begun
performing on the square piano, as well as on the
harpsichord, for these concerts.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 17
�We have many activities planned at the Museum this spring and summer. We are looking forward to
Brady Lanier’s Trades Hennage presentation on May 13th entitled, “The Last Two Virtuosi of the Viola da
Gamba.” This summer, we will be giving presentations at the Hennage every Friday at 4:30pm with a variety
of subjects. Our 3rd of July concert at the Hennage this year will be “Phillis Wheatley and the Music of
Freedom” put together by Karol Steadman. We are all looking forward to the opening of the new Musical
Instrument Exhibit in the Leckie Gallery at the Museums at the end of July and are working with Evening
Programs to plan a special concert for the occasion.
We will be performing at the Capitol on Saturdays this summer, and we are looking forward to
returning to this venue after two years away from it. We will also be presenting a program on the London
Pleasure Gardens on the Palace Garden Stage on Thursdays this summer.
For the Fall, Amy is working with Sara Andrews to set up some presentations on two Wednesdays in
September during the two weeks for Home Schoolers, to happen at the Raleigh Tavern. Amy is also arranging
for “Governor’s Musick at the Raleigh Tavern” to return after this for the duration of the Fall.
Printer and Bookbinder:
Printing Office – The Printing Office will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Bindery – The Bookbindery will be open Sunday through Tuesday, and Friday.
Public Leather Works – The Public Leather Works will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and
Thursday.
Shoemaker – Our new Apprentice, Victoria Tolson, has completed her hand leather, stirrup strap, and
apron and is now learning how to close uppers. Nicole is working on an older-style pair of prow-toe shoes,
which will go towards her apprenticeship points. Val is continuing mending shoes and hopes to get caught up
soon.
For research, Victoria is reading from the Shop’s library and the documentation for N.A.I.
recertification. Nicole is working on her Hennage talk, which will also further her apprenticeship. Val is
cleaning out the attic of the Shoe Shop on Duke of Gloucester Street. Val would also like to thank Jan Tilley at
the Publick Leather Works for the new stirrup strap that he made him.
The Shoemakers will be at the Armoury on Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Silversmith – Work continues in the Silversmith Shop on a variety of projects. Megan continues to work on
her ingot, a large amount of trade silver items for the store, and polishing her mote spoon. Chris’ teapot is
nearing its completion. She is working diligently on the ebony handle and has been polishing the body.
Bobbie’s tray is coming along nicely, and she is conducting research on the origins of James Craig through the
parish records. Preston continues work on his small bowls and on polishing jewelry for the retail store.
George continues his work on forging out the long ingot for spoon blanks.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 17
�Preston’s bowls. He is working on cutting and filing a decorative rim on the left bowl.
A selection of trade silver ready to be polished
Chris’ teapot
The Silversmith Shop will be open Tuesday through Saturday.
Tailor – The Tailor Shop will be open Sunday through Tuesday, and Friday (11:30-5:00).
Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing – In what feels like an instant, the projects on both of our looms are
changing. Annie finished the elastic cord that was put on at the very end of February, the first apprenticeship
project they set up almost entirely themselves. (They're very proud of this.) Within an hour, Joe had taken
the back beam (the heavy cylinder that holds the yarns not yet woven) from that loom into the room where
the beautiful warp (the threads for a woven piece that stretch out in front of the weaver) for his tartan had
been built over the previous two days, loaded it from the warping mill (a device used to measure and organize
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 17
�the warp) onto that beam, and taken the beam back into the front room, and begun threading (again, all of
this in about an hour!) As this has been happening, Pamela has been spending time downstairs winding the
tubes to load into the creel (a rack that holds the yarn so it can load onto the mill) to build her very first
project, a log cabin fabric in blue and white with the blue yarn dyed in our most recent dye day, which goes
onto the loom in the back room after the Dutch blankets are done. If you've been reading our updates and
hoping you could pick up a piece of the action, we also ran a large order to Prentis Store on Wednesday, so the
fruits of our labor (or our looms) are there for your perusal!
The Weaving Shop will be open on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Wheelwright – The Wheelwright Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Wigmaker – This past week, we have worked on maintenance quite a bit, trying to make sure everyone
looks their very best as the temperatures start to rise. Benton has continued to work on updating the display
pieces within the Shop, so they also look their best. Edith has been working her fingers as fast as she can to
produce a hand knotted base for display, in between the wigs she has restyled for many of our colleagues.
Debbie has returned from Historic Deerfield, where she presented a mini-lecture and demonstration on
wigmaking, from shaven head to completed style. If nothing else, she has confirmed that it is more difficult to
interpret to a room full of fellow museum professionals than it is to a room full of school students. At least for
her, anyway. For those colleagues wearing our wigs and pieces, please be mindful as the temperatures rise
that your items may need to come in a little more often. Rusted pins and especially aromatic bases are never
fun. Research continues into the hair trade and techniques utilized for the time. And as always, please feel
free to reach out with any tonsorial needs.
The Wig Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 17
�Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Apothecary – Sharon Cotner, Armoury – Broadus Thompson (Blacksmith) and Jenny Lynn
(Tinsmith), Brickmaker – Madeleine Bolton, Carpenter – Matt Sanbury, Colonial Garden – Marc Nucup,
Gunsmith – Darrin McDonal, Music – Karol Steadmam, Shoemaker – Val Povinelli, Silversmith – Megan
Cantwell, Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing – Annie Buss, Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 17
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The Mechanick's Adviser
Description
An account of the resource
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a weekly newsletter produced by the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades and Skills beginning in September 2015 and continuing to the present. The word “mechanick” is an alternative spelling of “mechanic” and is used here in the more archaic sense meaning a skilled tradesperson or artisan. Some weeks the newsletter was not produced and there is a significant months-long gap in the 2020 newsletters reflecting the pandemic-related limitations and closures of the department. The newsletter relates employee news and the current work projects and research of the various trades’ shops belonging to the department as well as other groups described as “skills” including military, music, and dance programs.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The Mechanick's Adviser. Volume 8, number 17, May 6, 2022
Creator
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Publisher
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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2022-05-06