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THE MECHANICK’S ADVISER
September 2, 2022
The Fall Schedule begins on Sunday, September 4th. The days of operation for several of the
Trade Shops will be changing, so please check each site’s listing for their new schedule.
The Workshops are also changing. They will be held on Thursday, Saturdays, and Sundays at
10:00am, and these sites will open to the public at 11:30am. All of the Workshops will be
geared toward Families and will be $20 per person. The Workshops for Fall will be:
Sundays – Wigmaker: “Behind the Scenes Apprentice Tour.” Explore the trades of
Wigmaking and Hairdressing by taking part in several tasks, such as combing, washing, or
weaving hair. Limit of 15 participants. Minimum age is 7.
Thursdays – Wheelwright: “More Labor than Ingenuity.” Families will be able to experience
some of the major elements of the Wheelwright’s trade: mounting an iron tire, turning the
great wheel lathe, and making paint. Participants will be able to experience, through activity,
all of the important concepts. Limit of 5 participants. Minimum age is 7.
Saturdays – Military Programs: “The Musket.” Learn about the military musket. Participants
will learn about the evolution of firearms leading up to the American Revolution and the
ammunition. Make a paper cartridge to take home with you. Minimum age is 7. Limit of 15
participants. THIS WORKSHOP IS HELD AT THE GUARDHOUSE.
************
Anthony Hay Shop:
Harpsichord-maker – From the Harpsichord corner … we have been working on parts for the stand
for the new spinet. It will be a plain, straight leg design. Two frames will be connected by a long stretcher,
both joined and bolted with traditional bed bolts. The setup will allow disassembly of the stand if necessary
for transport or storage when separated from the instrument.
We’ve also had the pleasure of Harpsichordist Kyle Collins visiting us the last couple of Saturdays and
playing on the 2019 spinet. Our Guests have responded with great pleasure to this extra experience, and for
us, it shows off the fundamental purpose of our work. It’s all about the music, right?
Come visit us soon.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 33
�The Cabinetmaker and Harpsichord-maker are open Daily.
Apothecary – This past week, we bade farewell to our Summer
Workshops and relaxed a bit with a few slower-visitation days. Sharon was
interviewed for Next Door Neighbors Magazine - keep an eye out for the
print issues! The Shop celebrated two birthdays: congratulations to Mark
and Hank, who turned [STATIC NOISES] years old!
Mark and Hank also collaborated on this mysterious project
(pictured). Mouse trap or mortar cover? You decide.
No, it's a leather cover for the marble mortar. Apothecaries - wink,
wink, more likely the Apprentices - ground caustics and irritants in the
mortar. To protect themselves from such agents, a leather cover was
placed over the mortar. Mark and Hank decided we needed a cover when
they ground pottery shards into tooth powder (to clean the teeth). Thanks
to our friends in the Public Leather Works for providing the perfect piece of
leather.
Meanwhile, Margaret has been collecting information on
tradespeople connected to the Public Hospital.
The Apothecary Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Armoury:
Blacksmith – This week at the Anderson Blacksmith Shop, the smiths underwent a very late spring
cleaning, removing clutter and waste from the yard. In addition to tidying open spaces, Ken has been working
on large H-L hinges and grinding chisels. Mark has been forging a new hammer for Tinsmith Steve and
working on eating forks. Aislinn has returned from teaching a class at Peter’s Valley School of Craft in New
Jersey. Alex has continued work on axes and ladles, recycling scraps of iron into new bar for the purpose.
Compasses for the Joiners and slide bolts have been Broadus’ interest, and Josh has been making some
pierced kitchen utensils, much more ornate than most English work from the period. Whenever you file, it’s
always in style, if all’s well that falls well at the foot of the anvil.
The Blacksmith Shop will be open Daily.
Tinsmith – The Tin Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 33
�Brickmaker – This week in the Brickyard saw the beginning of a new task in the Yard, the muchanticipated building of the kiln! Since we are making ourselves at home at the new Yard, a new kiln must be
made, as well. Thus, we began and completed the base paving, or benches, for the kiln this week, which will
allow us to begin stacking next week. So, from here on out until the firing of the kiln, you, Dear Reader, can
expect riveting tales from the stacking of the kiln. We will gain back our calluses in multitudes and hope for
shade, but it will be worth it to see our bricks through.
The Brickyard will be open Sunday through Thursday, weather permitting.
Carpenter – This week in the Carpenters Yard, we have continued to shingle the front roof. We only have a
few more courses of shingles to go. We should be on the back of the roof very soon. Owen is happy to be
working on the roof and his carpenter’s tan.
The Carpenter’s Yard will be open Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Colonial Garden – The Colonial Garden will be open Daily, weather permitting.
Cooper – The tobacco hogshead is finished!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 33
�The Cooper Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Engraver – The last two weeks in the Engraving Shop have been very productive and bittersweet. We had
a great opportunity to visit Collections and look at several original books, prints, watercolors, and
copperplates.
This past week, we said goodbye to Interns Danni and Erica. They will be missed. I think we had a very
interesting summer, and we wish them well in the real world. After a couple of days off, William returned to
deliver his Hennage program on sundials, with the Founders. He is now beginning to set up his latest
copperplate of two ships. He will also be working through his inscription exercises. I finally finished two
copperplates. One is a brickyard design, of which we will be providing the prints to the Brickmakers and the
Wheelwrights to use. I also finished up a smaller one of a woman washing. Here are a few photos for you all
to see.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 33
�Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 33
�The Engraving Shop will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums has just welcomed its newest staff member, Christian Allen, as a
part-time Drum Instructor. He comes highly respected by many folks in our local music community, and we
anticipate he will be a huge help as we surge forward, building to a larger Corps while we head into the
exciting anniversary years to come. As part of that, we are set to welcome an unprecedented second recruit
class this year, something key to helping us build back the Corps after pandemic losses in membership and
allowing us to build toward more and more programming as we've had in the past. These new recruits will be
diligently studying and practicing this year, but will hopefully make their first appearance on CW's streets next
year as many begin to join the Junior Corps.
Foodways – The Foodways Staff will be at the Palace Kitchen Sunday through Thursday.
Foundry – Here at the Foundry, we have had
some exciting progress! The sundial construction
(except for assembly, which will take place after the
engraving) is complete. Journeyman Mike finished
the dial plate just in time for us to show it off at the
Hennage talk on
Tuesday.
Speaking of the
Hennage talk, it
went really well
and was some
great practice for
Apprentice Drew
for future large
presentations!
Back in the Shop, Drew and Apprentice Leanne have continued to work on
finishing their candlesticks. They are finally learning just how tricky this
particular mold is as gas bubbles have started popping up in a couple of
castings (just before they’re finished, of course). Good thing both
Apprentices have a few extra castings to work on! For other Shop’s work,
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 33
�it’s been a quiet week, but we did manage to re-cast some lead cakes for the Tinsmiths. Lucky for us, they
were also able to give us a coffee pot, so we can stay sufficiently caffeinated, even when we open up our back
room again.
The Foundry will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmith Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. On
Wednesday, September 7th, 4:30 p.m. in the Hennage Auditorium, the Gunsmiths will present, “Visit with
the Gunsmith.” Discover three Virginia rifles made along the Great Wagon Road during this photographic
study. The earliest was made at the headwaters of the James River in the 1750s. The second is the earliest
rifle with a brass box, dated 1771, and the third rifle is the earliest with a signature.
Historic Farming – Prentis Field will be open Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Joinery – Scott is currently
reproducing a copy of an Eastern Shore
corner cupboard from the collection as
his Journeyman project for his
apprenticeship. It is a form commonly
seen in both architecture and furniture
on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, where
Scott is from. The cupboard is painted
with a twelve-light door above and a
raised panel door below. It has a
complex cavetto cornice at the top,
two fluted pilasters, and shaped
bracket feet. The interior has three
serpentine shelves in the upper section
and one crescent shelf in the lower section. Scott has completed one of the serpentine shelf profiles, and
once the shelves are complete, he will begin work on the back boards of the cupboard. A lumber run was
made to Transit Lumber in Richmond this week, to obtain material for the cupboard. It has been a family
owned and operated business since 1976, and among the staff are two German shepherds known
affectionately as Buck and Sadie.
The Joinery will be open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 33
�Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily, Sunday to Friday is
9:00-5:00, and Saturday is 11:30-5:00. Although specific Military programming will no longer be advertised,
the following will still occur: “Military Activities” at 10am Daily will consist of either a public drill or our new
recruiting program. At 2pm 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 11am
and 4pm. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, we will be doing an infantry demonstration at 4:20pm
for our “Necessity of Order in Battle” program. We are not doing cannon demonstration at the present
time.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – We thoroughly enjoyed having Mistress Jeanne back with us for
embroidery last weekend. The Guests always enjoy watching her work and listening to her talk about
tambour work and its unique tools and techniques. Did you know that she's been volunteering for Colonial
Williamsburg for over thirty years and was the first volunteer to work in costume? She has so many stories to
share that need to be documented and preserved. With our camera crew already scheduled to be with us on
Monday to film additional footage for our upcoming Livestream, we seized the opportunity to record a few of
Jeanne's memories, as well, so that her invaluable part in our organization's story won't go untold.
Monday's filming with Justin and Bill went smoothly. Because the day of the original program in June
was so busy and the shop crowded throughout, we were unable to capture many of the salient moments of
the mantua-making process. Janea and Rebecca did a bit of disassembly of the 1784 and 1810 gowns last
week, so that we could recreate parts of the fitting and assembly; this also allowed us to capture some of the
details of stitches and construction. Planning has now commenced for the second part of the video, which will
address our research methodology by taking the viewer into Collections as we study the original 1810 gown on
which our program was based.
In other news, Kate celebrated her first “apprentiversary” this week by ceremoniously draping herself
in yards and yards of pink silk trim from a petticoat that she's deconstructing for a re-make. She also
completed the seams of her wool underpetticoat and pleated the top to prepare it for the waistband and
ties. Rebecca continues detail work on the re-assembly of the 1810 gown, and Janea is nearly finished with
the ruffled apron for her checked muslin suit of millinery.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 33
�The Milliner and Mantua-maker will be open Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Musket Range – The Musket Range has had ups and downs lately. We regretfully wish the best to Seth
Herbert, who has departed to pursue a career in the defense contracting industry. However, the Range
continues to reach new heights in Guest attraction, having just completed our best July and August ever, with
two less staff on two fewer days per week than when we started!
Printer and Bookbinder:
Printing Office – After a few years’ hiatus, the Printing Office was visited by the most recent class of
editorial apprentices from the Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture.
Photo credit: Kaylan Stevenson
The Printing Office will be open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.
Bindery – The Bookbindery will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Public Leather Works – The Public Leather Works has been ears deep in a variety of tasks, from cutting
and dying leather for the Cabinetmakers and Apothecaries, to making a slew of aprons for the Printers. We
have also been looking to our future and have been mending and cleaning leather breeches like there’s no
tomorrow. Sadly, as summer winds down, we must bid adieu to our Intern, Italia Gorski. We know she's going
places, and we hope someday she’ll be back.
The Public Leather Works will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Shoemaker – The Shoemakers will be at the Armoury on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Silversmith – Work continues in the Silversmith Shop as we work our way through projects. Tam is
working on rings and trade silver for the shop. Her diligent work has filled the Golden Ball with the full
alphabet of letter charms. Megan is continuing to raise her silver bowls, scribing the fish trowel, filing rings,
and has learned how to solder seamed cups. Chris is chasing her silver tray, and it’s getting closer and closer
to the soldering stage. Bobbie’s tray is level, and she and Tam have been taking turns stoning it. Preston has
repaired and polished a large silver communion cup and paten for the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. The
cup was made by Bill Drury, and George made the paten roughly three decades past. George has been forging
out teaspoons and teaching Megan how to solder seamed cups. Bobbie and Megan are nearly ready for their
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 33
�September research trip and are planning to visit the Goldsmiths Archives in London. Chris is gathering notes
for her trip to the Winterthur Museum in Delaware.
Tam has made so many letter charms that we have the
entire alphabet back in stock at the Golden Ball.
Megan has a mountain of silver rings, soldered and ready for filing.
A seamed cup bound in iron wire and being
prepped for soldering
Bobbie’s tray is polishing up nicely.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 33
�Preston with the silver communion cup and paten
The Silversmith Shop will be open Monday, then closed September 6-16 for annual maintenance.
Tailor – This past weekend, the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, Virginia, held a large interpretive
event entitled “Captive Beyond the Mountains”. It focused on the experiences of prisoners-of-war held by the
American Army in the Shenandoah Valley during the Revolutionary War, including those captives who were
used as tradespeople and laborers. Our Apprentice Tailor, Mr. Logue, represented CW and our Tailor Shop,
spending some of the weekend making and interpreting clothing. Mr. Logue was also invited by the FCM staff
to share his broadly recognized research and interpretation of German-speaking soldiers who fought for the
British, who made up nearly half of the captive soldiers in the Shenandoah Valley.
It is very gratifying when other institutions recognize and call on the expertise that we cultivate in our
Historic Trades and Skills Programs at CW. We develop some of the finest handworkers, scholars, and
interpreters in our field; likewise, we attract some of the best talent and knowledge to come and work here.
The Tailors look forward to future opportunities to collaborate with other institutions and support them in our
shared missions of research, education, and outreach.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 33
�Mr. Logue works on coarse utility trousers, which represent the clothing of enslaved miners. These enslaved
men and women were purchased, rented, or confiscated by the revolutionary government of Virginia to work
in the salt mines and lead mines in the Shenandoah Valley during the Revolutionary War.
Mr. Logue wears a uniform representative of how a dragoon of a regiment of Brunswick cavalry may have
appeared while held in captivity in Virginia during the Revolutionary War. A description of these soldiers’
appearance is found in the Virginia Gazette in August 1779, which reads:
“WHEREAS the Board [of War] have received information from Col. Bland , commanding…near Charlottesville
in Virginia , that considerable desertions have taken place among the troops of the Convention, many of whom
leave the post with an intent to rejoin the enemy; all officers in the service of the United States are therefore
directed to be vigilant in detecting and apprehending deserters from those troops…They are generally clad in
short coarse linen coats or coatees, and linen overalls; and carry their regimental coats in knapsacks. The
troops under the Convention of Saratoga consist of…British; and of the Brunswick dragoons, regiments of
Reidesel, Barner, Rhetz, Specht, Hesse Hanau, Hessian artillery and battalion of grenadiers, German.”
The Tailor Shop will be open Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing – One of the most frequent questions we get is, "what happens if
you make a mistake? What if something goes wrong?" The most frequent answer is "here's how we fix each
issue." Sometimes, however, it takes more investigation.
This past Dye Day, we found ourselves with several oddities. The indigo was so strong that we couldn't
put anything else on top of it successfully, while we normally can get a good variety of shades by putting one
color on top of another. (It was also strong enough that we got one skein nearly black, which was amazing!)
On the other hand, our madder and weld didn't seem to give us the depth or long-lasting dye pots that we
expected; the first skein in the weld was extremely vivid, but the last few were more of a faint cream color.
What do we do? We research, try to figure out what happened, and try again. Sure, it can be a little
frustrating sometimes, but at the end of the day, it's all a part of the learning process, and we'll embrace the
puzzles along with the prizes.
The Weaving Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 33
�Wheelwright – Those Deane Shop Wheelwrights have been busy on Prince George Street this week. The
Apprentice handcart wheels have both been spidered and attached to the wheel stool for spoke shaping,
inching ever closer to getting the wheels rung out with their fellies. Master Wheelwright Paul has finished his
cannon wheel project for private sale, as well as delivering the handcart repair back to the Powder Magazine
staff following a final coat of paint. He is currently shaping material for the Brickyard wheelbarrow. Research
continues with plow design and 18th-century paint.
The Wheelwright Shop will be open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday (11:30-5:00).
Wigmaker – Our thread order finally came this past week, and Edith immediately set to work on the last of
the rows for Mr. Jefferson's wig. She also continues work on her circular netting. Benton works on weaving
his horse and human hair blended rows for the Brigadier wig. Lexie has completed her second hairpiece and
continues to hem toweling for us. The entire Shop works on maintenance as items come in for service.
Research continues into the hair fashions of the time.
Reminder: we will not be in the office the first two weeks of October, so please ensure you bring in
items before September 18th, so we may get them back out to you before we close down for annual
maintenance. As always, please reach out to us for any tonsorial needs or desires.
The Wig Shop will be open Sunday (11:30-5:00), Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
The Mechanick’s Adviser is a publication of the Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills.
Editor: Shari Monaco
Contributors: Anthony Hay Shop – Edward Wright (Harpsichord-maker); Apothecary – Margaret Perry;
Armoury – Alex Hinman (Blacksmith); Brickmaker – Madeleine Bolton; Carpenter – Matt Sanbury; Cooper –
Jon Hallman; Engraver – Lynn Zelesnikar; Fifes & Drums – Justin Chapman; Foundry – Leanne Bellouny; Joiner
– Scott Krogh; Milliner and Mantua-maker – Rebecca Godzik; Musket Range – Justin Chapman; Printer and
Bookbinder – Peter Stinely (Printing Office); Public Leather Works – Jay Howlett; Silversmith – Megan
Cantwell; Tailor – Tim Logue; Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing – Annie Buss; Wheelwright – Joel Morris;
Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 8, Issue 33
�
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 33, September 2, 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
2022-09-02