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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
August 19, 2022
Anthony Hay Shop:
Cabinetmaker – This past week, John has gotten his tea table together, and the woodwork is
completed. He only has to add a catch, apply the finish, and the table will be done! Another nice piece for
sale in the Shop. Jeremy and Bill got some time on Wednesday to study a piece in the Collection currently on
display in the Hennage Collection at the Art Museum, a bureau table we will be presenting on for our
conference in January, Working Wood in the 18th Century.
Harpsichord-maker – From the Harpsichord corner … Our finished spinet, which was featured a couple
of Adviser issues back, now displayed in our wareroom, finally has a confirmed buyer. So please note that the
instrument is no longer for sale.
Fun historical fact: One of the spectacular pieces that will feature in the new “Music In Early America”
exhibit (opening on Saturday, August 20th, at the Art Museum) is an “organized piano.” Rediscovered about
ten years ago and conserved by former Conservator John Watson and assistants in our Conservation Labs, it is
a combination of a chamber pipe organ and a piano built into a single structure. The instrument was ordered
from London by St. George Tucker in the 1790s, and the initial unpacking and setup was performed by
Benjamin Bucktrout, our local cabinetmaker who offered, at one point in his career here, the service of making
and repairing harpsichords and spinets. Bucktrout’s bill for his efforts survives in the Tucker-Coleman Papers
at William & Mary Special Collections. (See the photos of the receipt and the instrument itself.) The
instrument has been conserved into playing condition. Recordings are featured on the webpage devoted to it
on the Collections eMuseum website, also with more details and many photos. Short performances on it will
feature as part of the new exhibition. So our man Bucktrout actually
worked on instruments and must have had some familiarity about
that type of work, though how and where he gained that knowledge
and experience, we do not know. Come visit us at the Shop and
especially go see the new exhibition beginning Saturday. So many
instruments; so much beauty. Cheers all.
Organized Piano, CW, doors closed
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 31
�Organized Piano CW, doors open
Bucktrout Tucker Organized Piano Receipt 27 May 1799 (Tucker Coleman Papers Accounts)
The Cabinetmaker and Harpsichord-maker are open Daily.
Apothecary – Last week, we informed you that Mark was engaged in some secretive project. Having
completed that work, Mark is once again compounding Shop medicines. This week, he made Enema
Domesticum, which is intended for unloading the intestines of their contents. It contains milk, olive oil, and
brown sugar. In the Shop, we have an antique pewter enema syringe with which this medicine would be
injected. Mark asks that anyone in need of this service to apply to Margaret during regular business hours. If
the glister doesn’t suit you, he also made Gargarisma Emolliens, a decoction made from marshmallow root,
figs, and water. It treats a dry, parched, rigid mouth by moistening and softening. Come by the Shop to see it
before the cool fall weather arrives.
Margaret would like our colleagues to know that Mark wrote that first part. She's making saffron wine,
a cordial to lift the spirits, and has discovered on her first try that alcohol evaporates. She has since added the
phrase "put in closed container" to the patch notes for Saffron Wine 2.0. Sharon is working hard on crossreferencing our list of antiques with multiple dispensatory sources!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 31
�The Apothecary Shop will be open Tuesday (11:30-5:00), Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Armoury:
Blacksmith – The Blacksmith Shop will be open Daily.
Tinsmith – This week, the Tin Shop has been finishing several orders, including a glazed and planished
tin lantern for a Guest. The punch work in this type of lantern shows a variety of designs, from crescents to
crosses and dots. The punching deforms the tinplate and requires planishing, an operation that flattens the
material but also produces a raised or slightly curved surface. This model also included “repoussé" work. This
would be a high-end lantern due to the amount of work necessary to produce it and the added materials used
in its fabrication, such as glass and paint. The plain struck (punched) ones, by contrast, would be entry level as
they are neither glazed nor painted, and the struck design is not planished.
The lantern on the left was made a few years ago, and the newly finished one on the right is to be painted.
We are wrapping up the order for the First State Historic Park with small personal boxes and spice
boxes, both items to be japanned. We are painting the Gardeners’ hand-lights, which were made in the Shop
a few years ago. We are also making a match case for the Tailors - to be japanned, also. Jenny can finally
work at her bench again having cleared a great number of coffeepots and has finished a struck lantern.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 31
�The Tin Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. On Tuesday, August 23rd,
4:30pm in the Hennage Auditorium, the Tinsmiths will present, “An Assemblage of Wares: Tinware in the
Virginia Home.” What was the cost of tinware in the 18th century? Who used it? These are common
questions about the everyday items made out of tin. This talk will cover those questions as well as compare
tin to other metalware products offered by late-18th-century Virginia merchants and used in the homes of
most Virginians.
Brickmaker – This week in the Yard, Brickmaking continues with some minor changes, namely the arrival
of our tool shed from the old Yard! Also, we had to say goodbye to another mold as the stress of brickmaking
has affected its functionality. We hope to get it back soon, but in the meantime, we switched to a smaller
mold to keep ourselves busy. As for the state of our production, we have nearly thirteen-thousand bricks
stacked neatly under our shelters! While our bounty is robust, there are still a few weeks left in our season to
either keep with the same size or stock up on others.
In other Brickyard news, Apprentice Madeleine had a curious
mishap involving the integrity of her stays versus the strain of wielding a
pickaxe. Needless to say, the pickaxe won that round.
The Brickyard will be open Sunday through Thursday, weather permitting.
Carpenter – This week at the Carpenters Yard, we have installed more
flooring and should finish the floor by August 20th. After the floor is
finished, we should shift our efforts to shingling the roof. That work will
begin August 23rd-24th.
The Carpenter’s Yard will be open Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 31
�Colonial Garden – Rain and cooler temperatures have graced the Historic Garden and Colonial
Williamsburg. Not only has this brought an increase in weed growth, it has moved the Gardeners’ thoughts
towards the fall planting. Really! Fall vegetables have been sown in pots for later transplant, and it took a
mere two days before visible germination.
Sprouting Red Russian Kale (Brassica oleracea)
This is not to say that the Garden is without summer vegetables. Indeed, a basket containing turnips (Brassica
rapa), tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), onions (Allium cepa), carrots (Daucus carota sativus), okra
(Abelmoschus esculentus), squash (Cucurbita pepo), and potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) was provided to
Historic Foodways as they cooked in the James Anderson Armoury Kitchen. A variety of melons (Cucumis
melo) are also being collected from the Garden.
The makings of a fine stew, perhaps?
Sliced Ananas melon (green flesh) and Zatta cantaloupe
(orange flesh)
Intern Andrew and Apprentice Marc completed the construction of two straw mats. The mats are primarily
used for covering the glass panes of the hot beds during the winter as well as providing shade for more sunsensitive greenery during the summer.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
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�The mats are made from rye straw (Secale cereale).
And finally, Volunteer Chip’s decade of service was honored by CW and the Garden this week. The Gardeners
beg that you give Chip a hearty Huzzah when next you see him in the Garden or perambulating about town.
His twice weekly contribution makes our work easier.
Volunteer Chip and Master Eve upon presentation of his ten year pin.
The Colonial Garden will be open Daily, weather permitting.
Cooper – In addition to carrying on with our usual work, the Coopers delivered six piggins, six buckets, and
three cannikins to the Prentis Store this week.
The Cooper Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Engraver – In the Engraving Shop this week, we have been wrapping up several projects by Erica and
Danni, our Interns. We will be seeing them leave the Engraving Nest in the next week and a half. William and
I will miss them greatly. There has been great conversation about art, 18th-century art, styles, and
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 31
�technique. There also has been great strides made in learning the basics of intaglio engraving and
interpretation. They should be very pleased in the hard work they have put in. Danni is finishing up a special
project for some of our Actor/Interpreters. There is some good stuff here. Virginia’s seal and a rethinking of
other options.
Here are two of the nine versions the guests might see.
Erica is becoming quite a copperplate printer. She has been printing as much as possible before she exits and
drawing up some well-crafted monograms. I will say she has done a marvelous job while she has been here.
William has been putting the finishing touches on his program on sundials (Hennage, August 30th). He
has been working on his script inscription. He has also finished a bundle of trade silver and letter charms from
our Silversmiths.
I have been trying to grasp goal writing … and when I can, I have been working on the second Brickyard
plate and finishing a small rural image, both for printing. The Bodleian Plate project is getting started this
week. The copper has been measured out and will be cut to size soon. I am hopeful to have it laid out by end
of September.
One last thing, we are in talks with the Apothecary! We will be starting a new copper plate of surgical
instruments! Good Stuff! Have a great week.
The Engraving Shop will be open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Foodways – We have had a busy couple of weeks in the Kitchen! Barbara has been down at the Anderson
Armoury several times with her Junior Interpreter, Anne, as well as with our friends from Military Programs
and the Colonial Garden, as we share knowledge with each other and bring Trades together. She has also
partnered with fellow CW staff on a butter churning project that took place last week. Frank has been busy
with Ales Through the Ages, continuing his work with our fellow English food historian on his book for the
London Art of Cookery, and getting plans in line for some upcoming 2023 projects. Abbey has officially moved
into the second level of her apprenticeship, and both she and Dom are continuing to plug along diligently on
recipes. For National Oyster Day, we had the privilege of joining our friends in the Native American Initiative
for an oyster roast down at their Encampment, where we brought along some Johnny Cakes and enjoyed an
afternoon of good spirits together with Guests.
The Foodways Staff will be at the Palace Kitchen Sunday through Thursday.
Foundry – As they have all summer, our Saturday morning Workshops are continuing to go very well!
We’ve been keeping busy with a bunch of finishing work and getting projects completed. Journeyman Mike
has been cleaning up some extra harpsicord hinge castings (which will eventually come in handy) along with a
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 31
�couple of pipe tampers and a Masonic pin. Apprentice Leanne has finished up a wax seal, and Apprentice
Drew is well on his way through his own. Speaking of apprenticeships, Leanne and Drew made a little
headway this week by casting stems for pewter taper candlesticks. Once the stems are cleaned up a little,
they’ll be doing plenty of soldering practice before assembling the stems with the awaiting bases. Master
Engraver Lynn stopped by with her preliminary drawing of the sundial engraving, so we were able to get the
basic shape scribed out onto the bronze sheet which Mike will be cutting out over the next while. The hope is
to have it at the Hennage talk on August 30th. Speaking of the Hennage Talk, Leanne and Drew have been
busy continuing research of sundial construction and made some exciting progress this week (it turns out that
people write far more about the timekeeping aspect than the construction of the object itself). And, as ever,
we are churning out plenty of musket balls for the Range.
The Foundry will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday (11:30-5:00).
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 31
�Historic Farming – Prentis Field will be open Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Joinery – The Joinery will be open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily. Our “Military Activities”
at 10 a.m. will consist of either a public drill or our new recruiting program. At 2 p.m. each day, we will
have our “Discussion of Military Topics”, where one of our staff members will be discussing a subject of
military history and answer questions from the Guests. Musket demonstrations are generally dependent on
staff numbers of that day, but typically between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and
Thursdays, we will be doing an infantry demonstration at 4:20 p.m. for our “Necessity of Order in Battle”
program. We are not doing cannon demonstration at the present time.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – This week, the Milliner's Shop has been a flurry of behind-the-scenes
activity on a number of different ongoing projects. We're working with Justin Chapman to put together a
social media segment on our summer "Gown in a Day" program. This stand-alone video will not only provide
an overview of the program itself but will also offer a glimpse into the extensive preparatory research and
study that goes into its planning and presentation. Although Justin captured the interpretation on the day of
the program, we'll be creating some supplementary footage that will provide close-ups of the gown-fitting
process and some construction details. We're spending the week prepping all of the pieces to ensure we'll
have a clear "narrative" for the day of filming.
We've also been deep in an ongoing conversation about the most effective and efficient way to
organize our Shop space to facilitate the Guest experience while still ensuring space and opportunity to stitch
and work. Several different Shop layouts have been tested with mixed results, so the trials continue. Rebecca
has also been finalizing training materials on the importance of costume to CW's visual interpretation. This is
part of a larger, long-term collaborative project with CDC, the Costume Review Committee, and the Training
Department, that we hope to see implemented soon.
In sewing news, Janea has been working on a new suit of millinery out of a summery white checked
linen. Rebecca is making a new apron (brought on by a tragic encounter with a drawer pull on Tuesday...) and
has started work on a new bedgown for Barbara at the Bindery. Last but certainly not least, Kate continues
work on her stays, with just a couple more channels to go!
The Milliner and Mantua-maker will be open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Printer and Bookbinder:
Printing Office – The Printing Office will be open Tuesday (10:00-5:00), Wednesday, Friday (11:305:00), and Saturday.
Bindery – The Bookbindery will be open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.
Public Leather Works – Well, it's been a quiet week at The Public Leather Works. Leather breeches
have been the order of the week. Mr. Howlett repaired a pair for Master Paul of Wheelwright fame as well as
for "Marquis" Mark (Lafayette). Ms. Cross has cut out and begun the assembly of a pair for Apprentice Joel
over in Wheelie World. Intern Italia has been assisting Ms. Cross with various parts. Mr. Tilley has also been
working on a pair, along with conducting several research projects on the history of the leather breeches
industry. Other than that, we've all been enjoying the cooler weather and each other's invigorating company.
Stop by and say howdy and, as always, if there's anything you need from us, let us know.
The Public Leather Works will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 31
�Shoemaker – Shop work continues much as the previous week. Victoria continues to prepare for her
Hennage talk on September 14th, research on baby booties, and her Safety Training. Val is preparing for the
shop’s next Family Workshop, doing some ordering, organizing the office, and continuing the embroidery on
his baby bootie project.
The Shoemakers will be at the Armoury on Sunday, Monday (11:30-5:00), Thursday, and Saturday.
Silversmith – Work continues in the Silversmith Shop as we work our way through projects. Megan is
continuing to raise her silver bowls, and George is teaching her how to make teaspoons. She is also starting to
scribe the design for a fish trowel. Chris is working on chasing in the silver tray body, filing the cast feet from
the Foundry, and making mourning rings. Bobbie has soldered the feet onto her tray and is working on
making the tray itself flat and level. Preston is instructing Megan on how to raise her bowls as well as working
on his chased bowls and polishing a mountain of jewelry for the shop. George is making tumblers and has
created a mountain of silver spoon blanks from the wire he drew. Layne stopped by to film some footage for a
future program. We were happy to see him, and we look forward to working with him again! Preparation for
the research trip in September continues as does
research into the people enslaved at the Craig
property.
Preston’s polished jewelry and bottle tickets
George’s spoon blanks
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 31
�Bobbie’s tray with soldered feet
The fish trowel Megan is scribing in preparation for
piercing.
Layne filming George scraping an ingot
The Silversmith Shop will be open Sunday through Wednesday, Thursday (11:30-5:00), and Saturday.
Tailor – The Tailor Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing – The Weaving Shop will be open Tuesday through Saturday.
Wheelwright – Another productive week for the Wheelwrights: Master Wheelwright Paul has finished
repairing the Powder Magazine’s handcart body! Over the next week, he will be painting the vehicle.
Fortunately, the Shop has quite the surplus of Spanish brown paint, so bid farewell to the Prussian blue body.
The Magazine handcart has also been removed for some adjustment and shall be reinstalled in the coming
weeks before painting. Headway is being made on the Apprentice handcart wheels, too! Its mortices
complete, the second hub has been sent to the Blacksmiths for its metal bands. A round of huzzahs for
Blacksmith Intern Josh for the banding on the first hub! With the banding installed, the end of the spokes will
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 31
�be shaped with drawknife and spokeshave before being driven into the hub with a sledgehammer. Research
continues regarding 18th-century paint and plough designs.
The Wheelwright Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
Wigmaker – This past week, Edith has been practicing her hand knotting while we wait for our shipment of
thread. Benton has now attached the first few rows of his horse- and human-hair blend to the nape of the
Brigadier wig. Debbie has been working on styling a wig that will be re-homed to a museum in the Hudson
Valley, while Lexie continues work on her second hair piece. The beautiful weather as of late has helped slow
the influx of wigs needing some TLC, but maintenance continues. We would like to take this opportunity to let
our colleagues know we will be out of the office for the first two weeks of October. If you have wigs in need of
service, or new requests, we ask that they come in by the 18th of September. We will strive to get wigs done
and back out in time, but we cannot guarantee the return of your wig if it's brought in after the 18th. Service
will return after the 16th of October. Research continues into Marie Antoinette's hair and men's hair styles.
Benton working on his Brigadier wig
The Wig Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 31
�The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Anthony Hay Shop – John Peeler (Cabinetmaker) and Edward Wright (Harpsichord-maker),
Apothecary – Margaret Perry, Armoury – Steve Delisle (Tinsmith), Brickmaker – Madeleine Bolton, Carpenter –
Matt Sanbury, Colonial Garden – Marc Nucup, Cooper – Jon Hallman, Engraver – Lynn Zelesnikar, Foundry –
Leanne Bellouny, Historic Foodways – Abbey Shoaf, Milliner and Mantua-maker – Rebecca Godzik, Public
Leather Works – Jan Tilley, Shoemaker – Val Povinelli, Silversmith – Megan Cantwell, Wheelwright – Joel
Morris, Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 31
�
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 31, August 19, 2022
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2022-08-19