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FALL 2023
NEWSLETTER
VOL. 6, NO. 2
NEW LIBRARY EXHIBIT
The Rockefeller Library is pleased to announce the
opening of its new exhibition, “Wish You Were Here’: Three Centuries of Travel to Williamsburg” on
January 12, 2024. Curated by the exhibition committee, consisting of Donna Cooke, Doug Mayo, Marianne Martin, Sarah Nerney, and Jenna Simpson,
the exhibit traces the evolution of Williamsburg
from a colonial capital into an historic landmark.
Two chapters in Williamsburg’s history have been
pivotal in transforming the town into a destination
for travelers – the period when it served as the colonial capital of Virginia and the commencement of its
restoration in the late 1920s. During the eighteenth
century, many travelers passed through Williamsburg due to its role as the capital of colonial Virginia
and the center of government, education, and business for the colony. They came to attend sessions of
the courts and the General Assembly, to shop for
goods and re-stock supplies at Market Days, and to
enjoy such entertainments as fairs, plays, musical
IN THIS ISSUE
New Library Exhibit:
p. 1-2
Media Collections Attends AMIA Conference: p. 3
Introductory poster for the Rockefeller Library’s latest exhibit.
1
Home Movie Collection Presented :
p. 4
Architects Visit:
p. 5
Virginia Gazette Acquisitions:
p. 6-7
Library Welcomes New Staff:
p. 8-10
Volunteers Transcribe Newspapers:
p. 11-12
�NEW LIBRARY EXHIBIT
(continued)
concerts, and sporting events. After the move of the capital of Virginia to Richmond in 1780, the stream of travelers subsided,
and the town experienced an economic decline and did not have as many of the cultural attractions as its eighteenth-century
counterpart. Nevertheless, Williamsburg did host a few prominent guests, such as the Marquis de Lafayette during his return
visit to the United States in 1824.
The celebrations of America’s centennial in 1876 and of the Yorktown centennial in 1881, along with the construction
of the C&O railroad on the peninsula, helped reignite interest in Williamsburg’s historic heritage. During the late nineteenthcentury, the tourist industry slowly began to grow, and Williamsburg’s business owners sought to promote the town’s historic
associations to get train passengers to consider stopping for a day trip or overnight stay. At the same time, the town’s preservation-minded citizens joined groups such as the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities to save surviving structures, such as the Powder Magazine, and to excavate and commemorate the remains of others, such as the Capitol. The Jamestown Tercentennial Exposition of 1907 offered an opportunity to draw attention to these and other historic sites in Williamsburg to passengers who stopped in town along their way to Norfolk. 1907 also marked the completion of an initial restoration
of Bruton Parish Church overseen by the Rev. W.A.R. Goodwin, who returned to Williamsburg in the early 1920s to take a position at the College of William & Mary. His passion for Williamsburg’s historic past as Virginia’s colonial capital led him to launch
a campaign to raise funds for the acquisition and restoration of additional structures in Williamsburg. He found a dedicated
benefactor in John D. Rockefeller Jr., who initially agreed to work as a silent partner with Goodwin in 1926 and later, in November 1927, agreed to fund a large-scale restoration of the town’s overall historic district. Five years later, in the early 1930s, restored and reconstructed exhibition buildings began opening to the public launching a new era for Williamsburg as a place to
immerse Americans in an authentic, carefully restored recreation of Virginia’s colonial capital.
A variety of objects held by Special Collections, Corporate Archives, Visual Resources, and Media Collections, illustrate
the story of Williamsburg’s rebirth as an important destination for travelers. Four exhibition cases focus upon the themes of
Pre-Restoration Williamsburg, Transportation, Accommodations, and Community Remembrances. A few highlights of items on
exhibit include an original edition of Lafayette’s account of his return visit to America in 1824, late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century souvenir guidebooks and postcards, early photos, postcards, brochures and flyers for Colonial Williamsburg’s
hotels, drawings of concepts for handling transport of tourists in and around Williamsburg, and a series of scrapbooks and
letters chronicling tourists’ experiences at Colonial Williamsburg from the 1930s to the 1980s. Five exhibit panels examine the
topics of Williamsburg’s tourist homes and wartime lodging, the Green Book and the Black tourist’s experience, Williamsburg
restaurants, Colonial Williamsburg taverns and dining rooms, and Colonial Williamsburg recreational activities. A monitor in the
exhibit space allows guests to view segments from several home movies taken by tourists to Colonial Williamsburg that have
been acquired by Media Collections staff for addition to its moving footage archives. They offer a fascinating glimpse into the
experiences of visitors in 1949, 1957, and the 1960s and complement the items on display by bringing to life the exhibition
buildings, streets, and gardens that visitors encountered during these formative decades in Colonial Williamsburg’s development.
“Wish You Were Here’: Three Centuries of Travel to Williamsburg” is free and open to the public during library hours
from Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm, through December 2024. Within the next few months, an online version will be launched
that will include additional content beyond what could be fit into the exhibition space.
2
�MEDIA COLLECTIONS ATTENDS AMIA CONFERENCE
In November, Media Collections’ Jenna
Simpson represented the Rockefeller
Library at the annual conference of the
Association of Moving Image Archivists
(AMIA) in Tulsa. The trip was made possible by a grant facilitated by GBH
(Boston Public Media) and PB Core and
was centered around attendance at a 2day workshop on the PB Core metadata
standard.
PB Core – the “PB” stands for
“public broadcasting” – is a system for
cataloging audiovisual materials, taking
into account the special characteristics
of time-based media. Therefore, it involves fields not used in other library or
visual archiving catalogues: things such
as frame rate, data rate, media format,
and broadcast information. While
attending the workshop, Jenna learned
about this system and got hands-on
experience using the PB Core cataloging
tool. Jenna and the rest of the Media
Collections team look forward to putting
this new knowledge to use as they work
to digitize and catalogue the many audio and video files in our collections
here at Colonial Williamsburg.
Jenna Simpson at the AMIA conference in Tulsa.
While at the conference, Jenna was also able to attend talks on many other subjects of interest, including the development of the American Archive of Public Broadcasting, the work of the Audiovisual Media Preservation Initiative at the Smithsonian, legal questions around online library “virtual reading rooms,” and the challenges faced by other institutions as they work to
preserve and catalogue their audiovisual collections. In addition, she appreciated the opportunity to visit the Greenwood Rising
museum in Tulsa, as well as to make personal connections with other archivists stewarding home movie collections – a type of
audiovisual resource which the Rockefeller Library is just beginning to collect.
3
�HOME MOVIE COLLECTION PRESENTED
Tracey Gulden gives a presentation at the Williamsburg Regional Library.
On October 11, Tracey Gulden and Jenna Simpson of the Rockefeller Library’s Media Collections department gave a talk at the
Williamsburg Regional Library about a new initiative to collect home movies. The Library is particularly interested in collecting
films that show what the visitor experience was like in the mid-20th century. This is a period from which we have many photographs and some educational films, but very little “informal” motion picture footage. Home movies provide valuable information
because they are personal expressions of what an individual tourist found interesting and noteworthy, and they often capture
the small daily moments which would otherwise be lost to time. Our early collecting has already revealed footage of several
such noteworthy (in hindsight) scenes, such as cars and carriage rides sharing the road.
In their presentation, clips from several films dating from the 1940s through the 1960s were shown, and tips were
offered for those interested in cataloging and preserving their own home movie collections. The talk will be presented again at
the Hennage Auditorium (in the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg) on March 25 at 1pm.
If you have home movies that you think would be of interest to the Rockefeller Library, please reach out to Tracey Gulden at tgulden@cwf.org.
4
�MCWB ARCHITECTS EXAMINE ARCHITECTURAL HANDBOOKS
Former Colonial Williamsburg architectural historians Jeffrey Klee, center, and Mark R. Wenger, far left, brought their
team from the Williamsburg office of MCWB Architects to Special Collections to examine a variety of rare books relating
to architecture on October 26, 2023.
The Rockefeller Library was pleased to welcome former Colonial Williamsburg architectural historians Mark R. Wenger and
Jeffrey Klee, and staff members of the Williamsburg office of MCWB Architects, to Special Collections on October 26, 2023.
The group examined and discussed a selection of rare books to learn about the role architectural handbooks played in the
design of exterior and interior features of eighteenth-century buildings. The Rockefeller Library is fortunate to hold a collection of architectural handbooks assembled by A. Lawrence Kocher, a distinguished architect who contributed his expertise to
Colonial Williamsburg in two separate decades and helped to guide both the initial restoration effort and the post-World War
II expansion.
Architectural handbooks became common after 1700 and combined text concerning contemporary design practices
of the period with many illustrated plates offering ideas for exterior facades, floor plans, and exterior and interior details.
Some of these handbooks served as practical “how-to” manuals, such as William Pain’s The Practical House Carpenter, or,
Youth’s Instructor, 1796. Others served the purpose of providing potential clients with design prototypes to choose from,
such as Batty Langley’s The City and Country Builder’s and Workman’s Treasury of Designs, 1740. Others focused upon the
design and construction of specific architectural details, such as John Crunden’s Chimney-piece Makers Daily Assistant, 1766.
Evidence that builders and designers in Virginia owned and consulted such handbooks can be found in the Virginia Gazette,
where advertisements list specific architectural books available for sale by merchants.
5
�VIRGINIA GAZETTE ACQUISITIONS
One of the 134 issues of the Virginia Gazette acquired by the John D. Rockefeller Library since 2018.
This issue was printed by John Pinkney on December
8, 1774.
The John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library is pleased to announce that it has completed the purchase of 134 issues of the Virginia Gazette which first came to our attention in 2018. We would like to thank the donors whose generous contributions over the last
six years made this possible. We also extend our thanks to the seller for allowing us the time to acquire the funds necessary to
complete this transaction. The Gazettes acquired from these recent purchases were printed in 1774-1775 by all the printers
active in Williamsburg and Norfolk during those years. They increase our ability to share the story of the Williamsburg and the
American Revolution through primary sources.
With these recent purchases, the Rockefeller Library now owns almost six hundred issues of the Virginia Gazette printed in the eighteenth century. The oldest of these issues was printed by Williamsburg’s second printer, William Hunter, on January 10, 1751. Only the third and fourth pages of the issue remain, and they have suffered significant loss. Colonial Williamsburg
made its first purchase of a Virginia Gazette from a resident of Alexandria, Virginia in 1928. That issue from November 3, 1768,
and over fifty other issues are currently out for digitization. They should be available online this April.
With these most recent acquisitions, the Rockefeller Library holds original copies of approximately 25% of all the Virginia Gazettes printed in the eighteenth century. So, while we celebrate these most recent additions to our collection, we continue to be on the lookout for more issues to add to our growing collection.
6
�VIRGINIA GAZETTE ACQUISITIONS
(continued)
The first newspaper acquired by Colonial Williamsburg was this issue acquired
nearly one hundred years ago.
7
�ROCKEFELLER LIBRARY WELCOMES NEW STAFF
Rockefeller Library is delighted to welcome its new Reference & Outreach Librarian, Emily Petermann.
After double-majoring in History and Anthropology at Kansas State University, Emily earned
a Master’s in Library and Information Science from Simmons University in Boston. Before joining the
team at the Rockefeller, she was a Library Assistant II at the Massachusetts Historical Society. Her
academic background, experience with historical research using primary sources, and commitment to
making history accessible to all make her a wonderful addition to our team.
Her focus at “the Rock” will be assisting library users with their research, leading library
tours and outreach events, and providing training sessions on library resources.
8
�ROCKEFELLER LIBRARY WELCOMES NEW STAFF
(continued)
The Rockefeller Library is pleased to welcome its new Records Management Program Manager, Brenda Grow.
She has a B.A. in Business Administration and over 35 years of records management experience. Before joining the
team at the Rockefeller, she was the Records Manager at James City County.
Her new role at “the Rock” will be developing records management training, consulting on records-keeping best
practices, and overseeing the operation of our records center.
9
�ROCKEFELLER LIBRARY WELCOMES NEW STAFF.
(continued)
The Rockefeller Library is happy to introduce its new Associate Archivist, Rivi Feinsilber.
Rivi received her B.A. from Washington College with a major in History and minor in Anthropology. From there
she earned her M.A. in History at Virigina Commonwealth University (VCU), followed by a Master's in Library and Information Science with a concentration in Archives Management from Simmons University. Before joining the team at the
Rockefeller, she was an Assistant Archivist at The Mary Baker Eddy Library. Her academic research work includes Jewish
colonial religious history, with an emphasis in the British North American colonies.
Rivi will use her research and archival skills to process collections and help with research requests.
10
�VOLUNTEERS TRANSCRIBE NEWSPAPERS
Rockefeller Library volunteers do a lot of work behind the scenes to make materials more accessible to researchers. In Special
Collections, volunteers are busy transcribing 18th century issues of the Virginia Gazette to make them keyword searchable. We
greatly appreciate the time and energy they dedicate to this important work. Two of our volunteer transcribers do a lot more
than just work on the Virginia Gazette project as you will see from their brief introductions below.
Special Collections volunteer Helene Kriner.
Helene Kriner graduated from Bowling Green State University with a BA and MA in American Studies. Her major areas of focus
were eighteenth century history and literature. Given those interests, it should come as no surprise that she moved to Williamsburg from Cincinnati, Ohio, to be closer to eighteenth century historical sites. Since her move, Helene has been one of
the Rockefeller Library’s most dedicated volunteers. In addition to her work transcribing newspapers, Helene assists with interlibrary loan, shelving, inventorying, book repair, photograph identification, audio visual collection research, transcribing
Colonial Williamsburg stage and musical performances, and indexing files.
11
�VOLUNTEERS TRANSCRIBE NEWSPAPERS
(continued)
Special Collections volunteer Jack Baer.
After a thirty-two plus year career with the Federal Government, Jack Baer moved to Williamsburg in the summer of 2010 and
immediately signed up to volunteer with Colonial Williamsburg. There, he trained to give tours of Wetherburn’s Tavern and the
Thomas Everard House. Jack served in this capacity for ten years and his goal quickly became to have young children on his tours
that he was able to interest in colonial history. After ten years Jack began to search for another volunteer experience and began
working in the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library transcribing Virginia Gazettes. He says that the transcription project not only feeds
his interest in finding out what goes on in day-to-day life in eighteenth century Williamsburg, but also gives him pleasure, knowing that he is enabling historians and those interested in colonial history to access the pages of 18th century Virginia Gazettes
online. Jack has also been helping the Rockefeller Library staff inventory and document the audio-visual collection.
The John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library Newsletter is a publication of Colonial Williamsburg’s John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library.
Vice President, Educational Strategy and Civic Engagement
Mia Nagawiecki
Executive Director, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library
Carl Childs
Editor
Doug Mayo
Contributors
Tracey Gulden, Marianne Martin, Doug Mayo, Sarah Ner
ney, Jenna Simpson
Please visit Friends of John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library for information on how you can help support the Library and don’t forget to
like and follow us on Facebook: Rockefeller Library at CW.
12
�
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library Newsletter
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
John D. Rockefeller Jr Library newsletter. Volume 6, number 2, Fall 2023
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
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
2023
-
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Text
THE
MECHANICK’S
ADVISOR
3/2/24
�Blacksmith
Daily
Recently the work of the Blacksmiths has been focused towards
hardware as will be needed by the Bray School. Such as Nails,
Hinges, Shutter Dogs, and Locks. Alex and Broadus both nearing
completion of their first locks, Stock Locks, the final step for these
being a bit of woodworking. Unlike the more prominent case locks
with their iron or brass cases, the cheaper stock locks are cased in
wood, and have simplified inner workings. In looking at 18th century
English architecture you often see a hierarchy of locks as you move
away from the front door of a house, the front door will have the
finest lock such as a brass cased lock, the secondary doors like
bedroom or back doors often have iron case locks, and then the
doors farthest from the entrance like cellar doors or outbuilding
doors may have wooden cased stock locks.
- Broadus Thompson, Apprentice Blacksmith
Alex cutting out space in the stock for the
locking mechanism to fit.
�Brickyard
Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday
This week the Brickyard crew is undertaking the sizeable task
of removing the coping and shoulder bricks from the
Magazine wall sections. This requires hammer, chisels, and
the occasional power tool to remove the Portland cement
from the 1930s brick work. Once we remove the shoulder
bricks, the ones that taper the wall to the copings, we can
more easily lift up the copings.
- Madeleine Bolton
Master Josh at work!
�Cabinetmaker
Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
For cabinetmakers Bill Pavlak and John Peeler, much of 2024 will
center on furniture work for the Bray School. The past two weeks both
Bill and John spent some time in Collections looking at the originals
that serve as the models for their reproductions. As usual, they are
recording dimensions, tracing shapes, and surveying surfaces for tool
marks and other clues as to the original process of manufacture. John
will be making a dressing table and, later in the year a dining table. Bill
will be making a desk. All three pieces represent objects school mistress
Ann Wager would likely have have used in her living quarters.
Amid all of the antique study and material selection, apprentice Tam
has been busy planing away at some poplar for her tool chest project.
- Bill Pavlak
Bill was finding the most economical and
aesthetically pleasing way to utilize these
three wide walnut boards for his desk
reproduction.
The original desk from the Colonial
Williamsburg Collection - made between
1749 and 1753 in Southampton County,
VA.
�Carpenter
Sunday through Thursday
We continue to make shingles for the Bray and First Baptist
Church projects. Maybe a month more to go before we’re
done. We are knifing a clean face on the bottom 6” of the
shingles and rounding the butts of them.
- Matthew Sanbury, Journeyman Carpenter
One of
the eight
or nine
pallet
boxes of
shingles.
About
2000
shingles
per box.
�Cook
Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
It has been two more weeks full of surprise fortune over at the
Palace Kitchen, starting as one of our regular families brought
us a few hard-to-find meats for use in our programming. Thanks
to Eugene and Family we now have whole duck, whole rabbit,
and two hens for the table. Darren from Coach and Livestock
also gifted us with a beautiful rump of venison that was so large
we put it into thirds to use in multiple recipes. Coach and
Livestock were also instrumental in the pop-up butchering
program we held this past Saturday, by gifting us four Lester
Longwool Sheep (shoutout to Darren for coming up to help us
butcher that afternoon). Special thanks go to our friends down
at the Anderson Blacksmith Shop for always sharpening our
butchering tools and for looking into supplying us with new
styles of hatchets, cleavers, and knives to make our work more
efficient and accurate to the 18th century. We feel extremely
fortunate to have such standout colleagues and guests.
- Charlotte Shoaf
A selection of cuts from
Saturday's butchering
program.
�Cooper
Tuesday through Saturday
The Coopers have had a busy training schedule over the
last few weeks, attending both the Winter Symposium
classes on the Foundation's interpretive pillars and
sessions on Guest Service. Work continues in the shop,
of course, if at a slightly slower pace. We've completed a
few piggins and have a gunpowder cask under
construction.
- Jonathan Hallman
A gunpowder half-barrel
under construction and
ready for trussing.
�Engraver
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday through Saturday
Recently, Master Engraver Lynn Zelesnikar completed a copper
plate of a design she carved out once before, she has now made
it bigger and better. Apprentice engraver William Flemming
recently completed the engraving of three bottle tags created by
the silversmiths.
- Emma Allardice, Apprentice Engraver
Copper plate engraved by Lynn Z. Bottle
tags engraved by William F.
�Farmer
The historic farmers moved their office/break room from Great
Hopes Plantation this week. The new spot is the Pasteur Galt
Little Shop down the alley behind the Apothecary Shop. We sure
have a lot of books and files on agriculture as you can see in the
photo! Gone to the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma next week...
More about that next time.
- Ed Schultz
�Gardener
Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
Spring is right around the corner! At the Historic Garden bulbs
and early flowers are beginning to bloom, and many of our
overwintered vegetables are ready for harvest. Over the last two
weeks we harvested purple broccoli, cabbage, parsley, lettuce, and
edible Viola tricolor flowers for the Historic Cooks at the
Governor's Palace Kitchen. We planted our first seeds of the year,
hotspur peas, directly into the garden, and we built a trellis to
support them. Thank you to the Landscape Department for the
delivery of pollarded sycamore branches. We use these branches
to build trellises and panels of wattle fence at our site. Visitors to
the garden may notice the absence of our cold frame and hotbeds
this spring: they will be receiving some much-needed repair and
restoration behind the scenes.
- Teal Brooks
�Joiner
Sunday through Thursday
As diligent readers may recall, this year our shop will be producing a
set of furniture for the Bray School, reproducing some original pieces
in our museum collection. Ayinde has begun work on a blanket chest,
one of two that will be made this year. Brian likewise has started on
parts for an armchair with turned features, and once supplies arrive,
Peter will be diving in on a set of ladder-back chairs. Laura's progress
on the Engraver's tool chest continues with hardware installation and
soon, paint! After that she'll start the second blanket chest needed for
the School.
- Laura Hollowood
�Milliner and Mantua-Maker
Sunday through Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday
Over the last two weeks, we've welcomed two NIAHD interns Julia and Megan - into the shop. While listening to and learning
from our interpretation, they're keeping their hands busy stitching
themselves workbags, sewing rolls, and pincushions. Kate is
mending a pair of stays, while Rebecca has been working on a
cloak for HC&D and Janea has been finishing up a new shift and
petticoat. We're also doing research for our upcoming lecture
about clothing and textiles in the world of the Bray School.
- Rebecca Godzik
Setting in the partial
lining on the cloak's
hood
�Shoemaker
Daily
Victoria is almost halfway through her first pair of dancing
pumps. Nicole is closing the uppers for Matt Sanbury's half-boots.
Val just finished a pair of common shoes for Eve Otmar and is
beginning construction on a pair for himself.
- Valentine Povinelli
Val's common shoes for Eve Otmar. Victoria's dancing pump.
�Silversmith
Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
Trays are the main focus of the silversmith. Megan is very close to
finishing her first fish trowel and is getting rid of some scratches and
file marks on her tray. Chris is nearly done chasing hers and Bobbie
has been making more rims for the next trays in the line. Preston has
been preparing a tray of jewelry and bottle tags the engravers recently
sent over for retail. George has been refinishing a large amount of
our stakes and hammers.
- Megan Cantwell
Megan's fish trowel.
�Tailor
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
Mr. McCarty, journeyman, is making up a coat for Mr.
Logue, apprentice. He is currently working on the
buttonholes. It was not unusual for some buttonholes
on coats and waistcoat to be only decorative. This is the
case for the current buttonholes he is stitching.
- Michael McCarty, Journeyman Tailor
The only working buttonholes on the coat will be
at the level of the chest. On the reconstruction of
the coat belonging to John Blair, one can see the
working buttonholes above the level of the pocket
and the decorative ones below.
�Tin Plate Worker
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
This week, Steve has been working on lanterns, including
a new style with glass panes for military programs. Jenny
completed one of the very large canisters for Mount
Vernon and is now working on the second one. Soren,
our William & Mary intern, made his first tinderbox.
- Jennifer Lynn
The large canister for
Mount Vernon based
off of one in their
collections.
�Wheelwright
Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday
We welcome Joseph Conley into the Wheelwright Shop as an
Apprentice. Joseph comes to us with interpretive experience
from Fort Ticonderoga in New York and The Museum of the
American Revolution in Philly.
Work continues on the Pug Mill for Masonry Trades and
wheelbarrows for the Lewes Historic Society in Delaware.
- Paul Zelesnikar
A "Pudding
Barrow," essentially,
a food truck. This
had the ability to
both cook and serve
puddings to the
public...
�Next Week, Look Forward to
Updates From…
•Bookbinder
•Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
•Cabinetmaker
•Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
•Cooper
•Tuesday through Saturday
•Farmer
•Closed for the Season
•Fife and Drum
•Founder
•Tuesday through Saturday
•Historic Masonry
•Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday
•Milliner and Mantua-Maker
•Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday
•Musket Ranger
•Ticket Event
•Silversmith
•Sunday through Tuesday. Friday, Saturday
•Shoemaker
•Daily
•Tin Plate Worker
•Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
•Wheelwright
•Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday
•Wigmaker
•Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
Editor:
Matthew Siepinski
�
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. March 2, 2024
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Department of Historic Skills and Trades
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
2024-03-02
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/45914/archive/files/269fcc2a0eb6d5bc3891ae8974dd1f2c.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=NTJSkvqGJ-MW%7EQkqehpMigJC3zqjMJEAo5GLjJG%7EwqaHi4-pU5IkBR095xSNMA5Gjhnq4l9WGCYinURJMfsx2YaGR72YRgXLpCtckzSKIWUqZwSaMZTTXYYsr6hedM6M3Ld8Y-iQuIF%7E1rYx3soLeNlHq-pFpK0mI3kRB7kYR1XQtaw-m1vXjyJoCvHOfax-ASFhohSo4i5IlgmTtd-eRuX%7ElRM6vVdoyofpXi88n2Sdu%7EoJYIATUXdZaQtgcymLq7DFiU%7E-5t6MuI705LeP8dWGXotx5%7EzT2s-k6t5EQ3ZhQrkEU-T6jFTzaLQYwH1rinfxa7QbSjnR6gy192zHtA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
160fc6f2c84b0343b901106d8fb1b280
PDF Text
Text
THE
MECHANICK’S
ADVISOR
2/15/24
�Apothecary
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
We're busy with trainings this month and have been
concentrating our efforts on learning all we can! Sharon
continues with Ledger B. Margaret continues with
distillation. Stephannie continues with Hippocrates.
- Margaret Perry
The pelican (c/o Croker, Williams, &
Clark's Dictionary of Arts & Sciences,
1764) holds the dual distinction of
allowing distilled material to circulate back
into the solvent and also looking like a
little guy with hands on their hips.
�Carpenter
Sunday through Thursday
We are still working on shingles for the Bray
School and First Baptist Church. We currently
have 3 pallets complete. We’ve got 5 more to go.
- Matthew Sanbury
Shingles both done and waiting to be finished.
�Cook
Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
Fortune shone brightly over at the Palace Kitchen the last couple of
weeks! Thanks to our friends with Coach and Livestock and Master
Farmer Ed Schultz, we were gifted the opportunity to work with 6
Bantam chickens (courtesy of C&L) and 3 Snipes (hunted by Farmer Ed
himself on his property at home)! In the 30 years Frank has been in the
kitchen, neither he nor Barbra have ever had Snipes on the Governor's
table. The European Snipes were hunted to extinction in the 18th and
19th centuries, and the Common Snipe from the Americas only migrates
through Virginia once a year, making them an extra special gift that we
are very thankful for. Apprentices Dom and Abbey were able to practice
plucking and gutting all of these birds to time (a chicken should be
plucked, gutted, and ready for cooking in 30-45 minutes), and we are
pleased to report they were successful in this venture. Thanks to our
colleagues, we will now be able to show the public fowl that are
appropriate to the 18th century and how they would have been utilized
for the Governor's household.
- Charlotte Shoaf
The Snipes provided by Farmer Ed after
being prepared for the Govenor's table.
Dom and Abbey plucking the Bantam
chickens from Coach and Livestock.
�Engraver
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday through Saturday
Things are quiet for now in the engraving shop, as we work
through goals and winter training. Everyone is taking this
time to get some practice in, with the apprentices in
particular focusing on letter work. We are also collectively
working through a tray of trade silver from the silversmiths.
- William Fleming, Apprentice Engraver
Two bottle tickets set up and ready for engraving.
�Gardener
Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
Apprentice Marc has dodged rainstorms over the last week to
begin pruning the four pomegranate trees in the Historic Garden.
Pruning selectively removes branches to control the size and
growth of a tree for aesthetics, health, production, and interest.
These pomegranate trees do not lack for character! The first
daffodil bloomed in the garden and was quickly followed by
crocuses and snow-drops.
- Marc Nucup
A Punica granatum before pruning.
A pruned tree showing some of the
removed branches.
The first Narcissus blooming the garden,
joining the hundreds of other examples in
the historic area.
�Gunsmith
Sunday through Thursday
This past week Darrin cast brass into pistol trigger guards
and may pour again this coming week.
Richard and Darrin have also been hammering out a bar of
iron to shape it into a barrel skelp prior to welding a tube
from it.
- Darrin McDonal
The cast brass trigger guards still attached
to the gates and sprue.
�Harpsichord Maker
Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
Planes, those shaving tools that are vital to all woodworkers,
come in many different sizes. Large bench planes handle the big
boards. For the harpsichord makers and violin makers, these
tools go all the way down to small ones that fit into the palm of
your hand. While they can be regarded as cute tools, don't
underestimate them by their size. Small planes handle the fine
detail work from shaping a violin soundboard, to shaping the
curved bridge that transmits the string vibration energy to the
soundboard in a spinet. We keep all these at the ready in our
corner. They are highly prized... and thanks to our
cabinetmaking colleagues for the lovely arrangement in the
photo. Cheers and please come visit us.
- Edward Wright
Planes for Musical Instrument Making
�Joiner
Sunday through Thursday
With the Working Wood Conference behind us, we are launching
head first into furniture building for the Bray School! Ayinde has
made two of the six benches, Brian has started drafting out plans
for a turned chair, Peter is on the hunt for material for a set of six
ladder-back chairs, and Laura is wrapping up work on Mr.
Fleming's toolbox so she can begin shortly on a blanket chest.
Frequently visitors ask us "If you both make furniture, how are you
different from the Cabinetmakers?" This set of furniture illustrates
how our pieces tend to be more functional than fashionable when
compared to our colleagues on Nicholson Street. The current
research on the Bray School indicates that teacher Ann Wager,
perhaps seeking to be thrifty, may have procured furniture
secondhand or of an older or less ornamental variety, so we are
building our pieces to demonstrate what might have been in the
school. By the end of the summer, we should have tables, chairs,
chests, and benches ready for when the Bray School opens to the
public this fall.
- Laura Hollowood
One of the tables we will construct will be
based on this original walnut table, in our
museum collection, OBJ 1933-36.
�Printer
Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Saturday
The Press continues to work off 5,000 copies of pages
two and three of the main body of the current gazette.
David Wilson has a column and a half remaining of
typesetting to complete his news supplement. David has
also printed additional labels for the cabinetmakers .
Cecelia Weaver has completed the typesetting for “An
American Parody on the old song Rule Britannia.” Next,
Cecelia will set a colophon, proof, correct, then print this
item. Copies will likely be given to our guests as a
keepsake for visiting The Printing Office.
�Tailor
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
Quite a few coat projects on the work board right now. The
work board is our main stitching location in the shop. It is an
elevated platform on which we tailors sit in our ancient
position ,cross-legged, and work upon; getting us off the
dusty and drafty floor, and next to the windows for the best
light. Patterning and cutting happens on the counter in the
front room. The cord strung up above the board is used for
hanging up projects in progress.
- Michael McCarty
Our work board
comfortably accommodates
all three of us tailors,
maybe a few more if we
cleared off some of the
clutter.
�Next Week, Look Forward to
Updates From…
•Bookbinder
•Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
•Cabinetmaker
•Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
•Cooper
•Tuesday through Saturday
•Farmer
•Closed for the Season
•Fife and Drum
•Founder
•Tuesday through Saturday
•Historic Masonry
•Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday
•Milliner and Mantua-Maker
•Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday
•Musket Ranger
•Ticket Event
•Silversmith
•Sunday through Tuesday. Friday, Saturday
•Shoemaker
•Daily
•Tin Plate Worker
•Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
•Wheelwright
•Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday
•Wigmaker
•Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
Editor:
Matthew Siepinski
�
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. February 15, 2024
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 Foundatioin
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2024-02-15
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/45914/archive/files/a62fc9ad8a378d487b7e11cbe97b171d.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=HXtsgltffx4bwpw1grMkCqMIFgy4Rz4Tr2mq2xYfsW4LvMKyHoP-PdwYsbXr4DUoGDEB0ybB7DytNdZVOeudPfxk26o3pBaUb3Lo1TlYu7ilFaFxzby693WARDWehWDRwC6w77rsgBSrKeQeu1l2m2WxZkl%7EpFWjmSOwD66V7Jhg03QXRgFaqQzOZ5Ea6o1JEGmJn6fBSyK6idimS1ZhOsHIBH%7EIh7PQRAY683qSd3c%7EYEs8yqRdHsJVkg89TqFBsN4NLV5UbNe36Bq0HYmmAuH8l9xtQXw4ionO9MakP0yCnZhI7qhdCr9hpiDlgRYfQa9aXS2cDT0pUQTZLSni%7EQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
e4e1f35ac0a65731a1b795b961ed28f7
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Text
THE
MECHANICK’S
ADVISOR
2/8/24
�Brickyard
Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday
In the past two weeks the Brickyard crew had the opportunity
to visit both Christ Church and Menokin to gander at their
architectural wonders. With the Carpenters for company
much merriment was had, especially by Carpenter Bobby Clay
as the sight of three hundred years old carpenter brought a
tear to his eye. We also made sure to take Apprentice
Carpenter McKinley under our wing and help him see the
beauty of a barrel vault.
Otherwise, this week our drying shed acquired stairs which
have been much anticipated.
- Madeleine Bolton
The attic at Christ Church
McKinley and the barrel vault
�Cabinetmaker
Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
The cabinetmakers have been settling back into the normal workflow
after hosting and participating in the 26th annual Working Wood in the
18th Century conference over the final weekend of January. Bill Pavlak
and John Peeler presented on designing and building a chair that Bill
modelled after a plate first published by Thomas Chippendale in 1754 the presentation sought to answer the hypothetical question "how
would the Anthony Hay Shop of 18th Century Williamsburg have
interpreted Chippendale's design for the more austere local market?"
Bill also teamed up with master engraver Lynn Zelesnikar to compare
notes on how an engraver and woodcarver might each have interpreted
a drawing by Chippendale. Tamsyn and John, along with our
harpsichord making shopmates hosted a pre-conference open house at
the shop before the event kicked off while Bill joined our curator of
furniture in leading a series of tours at the Art Museum. The
conference was a success with attendees and we're all grateful to our
fellow tradespeople and colleagues from across the Foundation who
contributed greatly to that success. Thank you!
- Bill Pavlak
Bill demonstrates carving a
rococo cartouche under the
unflinching eye of the camera
and 200 attendees.
�Farming
Soil amendments continue to happen at Ewing Field. Last fall, we
had six dump truck loads of compost equaling 60 cubic yards put
on the field. We use modern means because of the massive
volume necessary to improve the almost half-acre.
But we are always trying to find good stuff for our field. This
winter we are transporting manure from various pastures to the
site, the 18th century way--- with an ox cart. All while Marshall
learns to drive the oxen under the expert eyes of Coach and
Livestock department’s Darin Durham. At least 15 years ago, a
guest whose father was a farmer in the old-style way of farming
told me that his motto for doing things was: Do two things
once .
- Ed Schultz
30 cubic yards of compost via trucks.
1 cubic yard by ox cart.
�Musket Range
We have been busy at the range and have set a new alltime record for attendance for January. We are also
preparing for the rest of 2024 by attending new training
and goal setting. We can wait for the warmer weather to
come. We have also been busy fixing the muskets and
fowlers so they are in tip top shape for spring.
Andy trying to stay warm!
�Shoemaker
Open Daily
Val is almost done with a pair of shoes for Eve Otmar
(Gardens). He will then start resoling his own pair. Nicole
is almost done with some repairs of shoes for Steve Delisle
(Tin Shop). She completed the patterning of Matt
Sanbury's (Carpenter's Yard) half-boots, and she has
started to build them. Victoria is almost halfway through
her first pair of dancing pumps.
- Valentine Povinelli
�Silversmith
Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
The silversmiths have been busy making trays as usual. Megan is
nearly finished with sleeve buttons and a fish trowel and is
working on the early stages of polishing her tray. Chris is chasing
detail into her tray and has been working with the production
team for a new Trades Tuesday video. Bobbie has been soldering
tray rims and helping Megan with her work. Preston has done the
final polish on Bobbie's tray, and it is on display in the main
cabinet. George has been raising small vessels and chasing more
tray outlines.
- Megan Cantwell
�Wheelwright
Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday
This week the Wheelwright Shop has been busy finishing a Gardner's
barrow for a historic society in Delaware. Murphy has begun a Pug
Mill for Masonry Trades! Stay tuned.
- Paul Zelesnikar
�Next Week, Look Forward to
Updates From…
• Apothecary
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
• Blacksmith
• Daily
• Carpenter
• Sunday through Thursday
• Engraver
• Sunday, Monday. Wednesday through Saturday
• Gardener
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
• Gunsmith
• Sunday through Thursday
• Harpsichord Maker
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
• Joiner
• Sunday through Thursday
• Leather Beech Maker
• Daily
• Military Programs
• Daily
• Palace Kitchen
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
• Printer
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday. Saturday
• Tailor
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
• Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers
• Sunday through Wednesday, Saturday
Editor:
Matthew Siepinski
�
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. February 8, 2024
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
2024-02-08
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/45914/archive/files/22ed9148777943414de50393c4430f1a.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=J1EGoZz%7EOe5s6K9hFr1WnIVMjEuV7D6Aq%7ERHSYgRn9hq2idJI-ZRb4LK2TYkys6hiBL0Yae2-c5Xq44hFR07mBbRLV0%7EOPcvJNeErQ-DXUmyyDl4MTtW6EndwPkM5QWRBcD4qhR%7Ev1Apjd0B5MdYzYrTq3MJ-fgdjXFuebWNUAB69lyBJl4Mp4fM2VEUVKyV9G9VeH8ft1P6B4p4-pinrf1Vy%7Eyb7mO3iMcMedUUJshWWBtxAX0fSyXLuCy5atxAJGhW99zUidIg8oOO-i-NjNVJWLypzzWEhxz0N2d19cFM8uVJuB3YnAUzxxnQN2niK%7ENTUuQJXbSoZ49YT-1C6w__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
85053fd5db057c3896a40f59b777bf35
PDF Text
Text
THE
MECHANICK’S
ADVISOR
2/1/24
�Apothecary
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
We've been excited to welcome back Olivia, our
NAIAD intern, for her second semester at the shop.
Sharon continues with the account books and found an
exciting 1794 entry for a surgery performed on an
individual's "thorax." (We wish Galt had been more
specific!) Stephannie is reading Hippocrates. Margaret
continues to work through material on distillation.
- Margaret Perry
Welcome back, Olivia!
�Blacksmith
Daily
The slow season this time of year is a good time for us
Blacksmith's to catch up on our less exciting bench work, filing,
fitting, and finishing, already forged things has been much of
the shop's focus as of late. Ken has been working on a pair of
tinsnips, as well as a yoke for a swivel gun. Mark a side axe, and
button hooks. Aislinn a few brick hammers, and fire tongs. Alex
turning to a bit of woodwork to fit the oak stock for his lock.
Broadus nearly finished with his lock, soon to also be chopping
out a stock.
- Broadus Thompson
Ken with the Tinsnips
�Carpenter
Sunday through Thursday
These last couple weeks we worked on a few projects. Shingles
for the Bray and First Baptist is of course our main project right
now, but we also were involved in the woodworking symposium
for a session as well as site cleaning during our yards
maintenance closure. It’s amazing how many cut offs and
materials pile up when we are working on a frame. This closure
has given us the ability to clean our yard and organize the
remaining materials.
A box of shingles for
the Bray School and
First Baptist Church.
A newly stacked and
stickered pile of framing.
�Gardeners
Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
This time of year, a gardeners thoughts turn to fruit trees and grafting. In 1728,
Batty Langley publishes New Principles of Gardening.
In the chapter about apples, "Where any Fruit-Tree decays having grown long in
that Place, plant another of a different Species in its Place, and not one of the
fame; for the old Tree having exhausted those Juices appropriate to its own Kind,
will starve your new-planted Tree, when at the fame Time another of a different
kind will thrive, and prosper very well." In 1728, they knew these things by
observation and experience. Today, thanks to science, we have a name for this
apple tree malady, and it is known as "replant disease".
Modern garden practices utilize rootstock that is specially bred to be resistant to
such diseases. Without this rootstock, newly replanted fruit trees would perish
after a few years. If replacing a dead fruit tree, remember Mr. Langley, and make
sure you have the correct rootstock for your graft or plant the tree in another
location in fresh soil.
- Eve otmar
Green Gage Plum in bloom.
Indian, Blood Peach in bloom.
Spring is coming!
�Harpsichord Maker
Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
This past weekend Melanie and Ed joined our cabinetmaking
colleagues and fellow tradesmen and guest speakers for the 26th
Annual Working Wood conference. It was a heady 3 1/2 day event,
woodworking, drawing, historical books (some of them literally in
front of us), designs, and tools. We harpsichord makers gave a
demonstration on historically methods of using veneers for
decorating our instruments, as well as a report on two historical
technical writings about the subject. Attendees viewed our current
project, the William Harris reproduction. Additionally, Melanie
received her journeyman papers marking her new status both in the
shop, Colonial Williamsburg, and the trade. Thanks for the
camaraderie, everyone and for letting us sit in and show what we
do.
- Ed Wright
�Joiner
Sunday through Thursday
The Working Wood in the 18th Century Conference has now
come and gone! January 25-28 was a flurry of activity, starting
on Thursday with an architectural tour of the Palace with
Journeyman Peter, and a session in Special Collections with
Apprentice Laura and Librarians Doug Mayo and Marianne
Martin. During the main sessions of the symposium, Master
Brian and Journeyman Peter presented twice on stage, sharing a
joiner's perspective on doors, blanket chests, architectural and
furniture design, and construction methods. We extend our
thanks to the hard work of fellow CW tradespeople, our guest
speakers, the Art Museum staff, our conference and events staff,
the staff of the Rockefeller Library, and of course, all of the
attendees.
- Laura Hollowood
Photos of Peter and
Brian presenting at
conference, including an
examination of an
antique blanket chest
and assembling parts of
their reproduction of
said chest.
�Leather Breeches Maker
Daily
Greetings!
Our shop celebrated its first birthday on January 15th!
We are very proud of all the work we have done in the
past year and look forward to the work to come. Thank
you to all of our colleagues who came and celebrated this
special day with us! Work in the shop is also progressing
nicely. Apprentice Emma is about 40% through her
1790's pair of breeches and Apprentice Wilson is nearing
the end of his sheepskin breeches. We are also focusing
on tool maintenance and training in this part of the year.
- Sarah Cross
Parts prepped by Apprentice Emma
�Tailor
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
Mr. Logue, Apprentice, is currently working on a coat for
Mr. Zelesnikar, Master Wheelwright. The fabric chosen is
a durable corduroy, velvet cape, and lined in unbleached
linen. The coat construction and material choice is based
on an original coat in Herefordshire, England that Mr.
Hutter, Master, and Mr. McCarty, Journeyman, examined
on a visit there in 2015.
- Michael McCarty
18th century
sleeves are
patterned to fit the
natural shape of
the arm; with the
forearm being
around a thirty
degree off from the
upper arm.
�Weaver, Spinner, And
Dyer
Sunday through Wednesday, Saturday
A new project is up and running on our loom! Many
hours of warping, threading, and sleying have come to
fruition now that our shuttle can start traveling back
and forth. A plain weave linen, bleached white, may not
be the most interesting textile we have ever made, but it
may just be the most common and most important
fabric to the people of Williamsburg in 1776.
Plain weave linen
on the loom.
�Next Week, Look Forward to
Updates From…
•Bookbinder
•Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
•Cabinetmaker
•Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
•Cooper
•Tuesday through Saturday
•Farmer
•Closed for the Season
•Fife and Drum
•Founder
•Tuesday through Saturday
•Historic Masonry
•Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday
•Milliner and Mantua-Maker
•Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday
•Musket Ranger
•Ticket Event
•Silversmith
•Sunday through Tuesday. Friday, Saturday
•Shoemaker
•Daily
•Tin Plate Worker
•Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
•Wheelwright
•Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday
•Wigmaker
•Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
Editor:
Matthew Siepinski
�
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. February 1, 2024
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
2024-02-01
-
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THE
MECHANICK’S
ADVISOR
1/27/24
�Brickyard
Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday
This week in the Brickyard the crew began to undertake
the much-anticipated task of unstacking the kiln. Be
sure to visit us during these next few weeks to watch us
unstack bricks to, you guessed it, restack them. We've
got a particularly interesting time ahead of us given the
complexity of the kiln itself.
- Madeleine Bolton
This chalkboard
outlines the contents of
each course.
We've already unstacked some First
Baptist Bricks!
�Cooper
Tuesday through Saturday
Every once in a while, the Coopers are asked to take on a
project that doesn't fit neatly into our purview, nor the
purview of our fellow woodworking shops. We were recently
asked if we could produce some punch strainers for use as
display pieces in a few places around town as replacements for
items that have worn out or gone missing. The punch strainers
are wood, but definitely not cooperage. However, we took on
the task and believe the results are pretty good.
- Jonathan Hallman
These are punch
strainers - the one
on the left is the one
we were given to
work from, while
the other three are
the strainers that we
produced in the
Coopers Shop.
�Founder
Tuesday through Saturday
Last week the foundry finally undertook the much-awaited casting of
the sock mandrel for the Small's plow project. The pouring shank
made by Apprentice Blacksmith Broadus was perfect for the job.
Many thanks to Journeyman Wheelwright Murphy and Apprentice
Engraver Will for lending us some extra hands in the process! The
clean-up work is underway, and hopefully it serves its purpose well.
As far as other projects, we're continuing with many we've mentioned
before, cast some new leaf cakes for the tin plate workers and, as
always, musket balls for the musket range.
- Leanne Bellouny
Lead cakes: used vs. fresh
Sock Mandrel pour
�Farming
Farmer Marshall Scheetz is being trained how to drive
oxen by CW’s ox driver- Darin Durham of the Rare
Breeds section of the Coach and Livestock department.
Oxen were the primary draft animals for 18th century
farmers just ahead of horses. They have superior
traction in muddy or rough terrain; are tough and
hardy; and good foragers in cut over forests. Every
farmer had cattle, even if but a few, Train steers to work
and you have power!
- Ed Schultz
�Musket Range
We got to train with Military Programs for shooting
the cannon. Alex, Doug, and Andy are now cannon
qualified. They will be augmenting Military Programs
staff for special events. In other news the Musket
Range finished up 2023 with our second-best year
for attendance. We can't wait to see what 2024 brings
us.
- Jeffery Thomas
�Milliner and Mantua-Maker
Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday
In between end-of-year evaluations and beginning-of-the-year goalwriting, the milliners and mantua-makers are off to a busy start for
2024. To better represent visually the presence of Agga, one of the
women Margaret Hunter enslaved, we've created laundry bags and
baskets filled with linens and other items that we know Agga was
skilled at mending and washing. In keeping with the anniversary
celebrations this year, we're also updating the garments we have on
display to reflect the fashions of the first quarter of 1774. Several
new items are required to supplement our representation of the
"current" trends, so Rebecca is working on covering a hat in silk
and spotted gauze. Janea just finished a new wool bedgown and has
embarked on a shift. We're also preparing for the arrival of a new
NIAHD intern and look forward to introducing another aspiring
historian to our trades.
- Rebecca Godzik
�Wigmaker
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
The wigmakers were busy working on wigs and hair styling for the
filming/photo shoot in the House of Burgesses and Governor's
Council Chamber last week. We will now move on to regular
maintenance work as programming takes a pause for the Winter
months and everyone brings their hair in for service. Benton has
begun working on a set of Buckles for HI Alex Pena. Edith has
started new bases for wigs that she will work on in collaboration with
our volunteer staff. Debbie has finished construction of Apprentice
Leather Breeches Maker Wilson's wig.
- Debra Turpin
�Next Week, Look Forward to
Updates From…
• Apothecary
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
• Blacksmith
• Daily
• Carpenter
• Sunday through Thursday
• Engraver
• Sunday, Monday. Wednesday through Saturday
• Gardener
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
• Gunsmith
• Sunday through Thursday
• Harpsichord Maker
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
• Joiner
• Sunday through Thursday
• Leather Beech Maker Daily
• Military Programs
• Daily
• Palace Kitchen
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
• Printer
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday. Saturday
• Tailor
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
• Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers
• Sunday through Wednesday, Saturday
Editor:
Matthew Siepinski
�
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. January 27, 2024
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
2024-01-27
-
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5f31cb1e7c871eb77ca20f806cf1b04b
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THE
MECHANICK’S
ADVISOR
1/20/24
�Apothecary
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
Firstly, major thanks to Paul and the wheelwrights for our
new cutting boards - they'll be used in our upcoming
workshop during the woodworking conference! New from
the account books in 1796, Sharon found the first listing for
Dover's powders (a diaphoretic/emetic patent medicine
containing, among other things, ipecac and tartar emetic) that
she's seen. Margaret, returning from the nineteenth century
only to fall asleep on the train and miss the 1770s entirely,
recreated a "pectorall surrup" from John Custis IV's earlycentury commonplace book that was intended to aid in
chest/breathing conditions & contained licorice root and
sulfur. Stephannie continues investigating the wide world of
historical narcotics.
- Margaret Perry
"Pectoral surrup" courtesy
of John Custis IV.
�Blacksmith
Daily
At the James Anderson blacksmiths' shop, the quiet of
January and February have given us a chance to get plenty
of filework done. This is also easier to do than forging in
the dark parts of the day, though we still have plenty of
pieces under the hammer. Mark has been at work on a cage
spit for Mt. Vernon, a side axe for the carpenters, and
researching filet knives for the kitchen. Ken has been
working on metal cutting shears for the tinsmiths. Aislinn
has focused on brick hammers and chest handles. Alex has
finished a bench hammer and he and Broadus both are
working on compasses, with Broadus doing the lion's share,
and both are progressing on their first lock.
- Alexander Hinman
Aislinn's bench
�Cook
Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
We are all very happy to be back in the Palace Kitchen
following the annual closing of the Palace for maintenance.
Since we were out of the shop for so long, we had to clear the
table and start fresh this past week. Slowly but surely, we have
been filling the empty tablecloth with goodies fit for the Royal
Govenor. Our intern, Mo, from Bruton High School, has also
been back with us and she worked with Barbra on a dish of
curried rabbit (a first for her!). Also, a huge thank you goes out
from us to our maintenance colleagues, who did some muchneeded repair work on our brick oven while we were closed.
We have been slowly warming the oven over the last week to
get it ready to bake on Friday.
- Charlotte Shoaf
Getting the table
back in action
after closing.
�Carpenter
Sunday through Thursday
The carpenter's yard is busy working on shingles for the
Bray and First Baptist projects. We have a few thousand
done and many thousand to go. This step in the
construction will take many weeks of work to get
through. Lucky for us it’s our favorite thing to do.
- Matthew Sanbury
Two crates of finished
shingles tightly packed.
A finished shingle ready to go.
�Engraver
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday through Saturday
Master Engraver Lynn has been working on two printing plates for
the upcoming woodworking conference. The larger plate is a
reproduction of a Chippendale drawing, while the smaller plate is an
enlarged detail from one of the chairs pictured k. The first. William
has been practicing engraving rings and drawing an illuminated
alphabet and assisted the Foundry with an iron pour this week.
Emma continues to work on drawings and tool maintenance.
- William Fleming
Leftover iron in the
Foundry crucible
�Gardener
Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
This is usually the coldest week of the year according to
weather prognosticators. This week we have seen
temperatures in the teens for three hours overnight and
then only a few hours above freezing the next day. More
extremes coming this weekend. The winter garden
survived nicely thanks to bell glasses, hand lights, cold
frame and hotbed. We used all of our tarps to cover and all
five of our straw mats. Using the tools of the time period,
one could still set the table with elegant vegetables.
- Eve Otmar
�Gunsmith
Sunday through Thursday
This last week has been filing and threading the breech pins, or
plugs out of wrought iron. After the proper diameter has been
obtained, which is 3/4", the pin is threaded with an adjustable die
wrench and slowly turned and tightened. The threads are cut a little
deeper each pass until they are full depth. Then the excess is cut
off. Darrin has also made a tiny brass spider sight which will be
inlet into the muzzle end of the barrel by tracing around it and
digging out the iron before peening in place.
- Darrin McDonal
The adjustable
wrench and the
spider site, ready
for install.
�Harpsicord Maker
Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
We have glued in the soundboard into the new spinet! The sticks are
clamps called go-bars that brace the board in place while the glue sets.
They run from the work up to the ceiling. Yes, there is very much
historical evidence for this method. Since our regular bench clamps
cannot accommodate this assembly, this handy method successfully
solves the problem.
Additionally, for the Working Wood conference next week, we are
preparing for our demonstration on historical veneering as it applies to
harpsichords, combined with our study of two historical treatises and
experiments with their techniques. A lot is happening right now. Cheers to
you all.
- Edward Wright
Veneer Assemblies for
Demonstration
�Joiner
Sunday through Thursday
Next week is the big week! Working Wood in the 18th Century
kicks off January 25, so we are deep in preparation for all our
contributions to the conference- an architectural tour of the Palace
with Journeyman Peter, a look in our special collections with
Apprentice Laura and librarians Doug Mayo and Marianne Martin,
and presentations during the main conference by Master Brian and
Journeyman Peter. Also in the shop- this month we welcomed
Ayinde Martin, Journeyman Carpenter, to our team and he has
turned out two of the benches for the Bray School, getting us off
to a great start with the set of furniture to be made this year for the
school's restoration. We are excited to have him in the shop!
- Laura Hollowood
Our shop is full to the
gills- here are both
benches, the frame for
the Conference blanket
chest, and on the
workbench in the
foreground, some of the
"star" panels for the
chest.
�Military Programs
Military Programs is using the winter period to conduct training
and maintenance. Our core focus for January is refining our Von
Steuben Manual of Arms drill and preparing to repaint the
cannons. New research is being completed to verify correct
cannon carriage paint color, recipes, and to test how the cannon
paint changes under field use (allegedly, the carriage paint color
changes due to reactions with fired gunpowder residue).
Additionally, Military Programs is working with Princeton
University to begin digitization of their copy of William
Congreve's 1778 manual, "Exercise for the Light 6 Pounder
Gun". This manual is an exciting addition to Military Program's
primary source collection and will greatly help in developing
artillery mobility programs for late 2024/2025.
- Terence Christian
A page from Congreve's 1778 "Exercise
for the Light 6 Pounder Gun" showing the
"Disposition for advancing guns in the
Face of an Enemy." (Image Credit:
Nadeau's Auction Gallery)
�Tailor
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
In the tailor shop we are working on a handsome suit for Mr.
Logue, Apprentice tailor. It consists of a reddish-brown wool
broadcloth coat and breeches, which with contrast nicely with a
vibrant light blue silk and worsted blend waistcoat. This suit will
be suitable for him in the cooler month of the year. As mentioned
here many times before, summer clothes would be made out of
linen, cotton, silk, and wool, but in their thinnest varieties and in
light colors.
- Michael McCarty
The brown coat and
breeches can be worn with
many different waistcoats,
but we believe this blue is
very pleasing
accompaniment.
�Weavers, Spinners, and
Dyers
Sunday through Wednesday, Saturday
Recently, our intern, Lydia, has been working with natural
dyes. She has been working to color match a madder root
experiment completed by a former journeywoman. By
following the notes left behind we have aided her in her quest
to dye her handspun and handwoven materials. Madder root is
sensitive to many factors, so the procedure is precise.
- Pamela Russo
Pictured is a pot of madder dye cooking behind the scenes and the
color cards left by the former journeywoman.
�Next Week, Look Forward to
Updates From…
• Bookbinder
• Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
• Cabinetmaker
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through
Saturday
• Cooper
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Farmer
• Closed for the Season
• Fife and Drum
• Founder
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Historic Masonry
• Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday
• Milliner and Mantua-Maker
• Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday
• Musket Ranger
• Ticket Event
• Silversmith
• Sunday through Tuesday. Friday, Saturday
• Shoemaker
• Daily
• Tin Plate Worker
• Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
• Wheelwright
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday
• Wigmaker
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
Editor:
Matthew Siepinski
�
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. January 20, 2024
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
2024-01-20
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/45914/archive/files/915aaa87b9957e297e1ba9bf42a2c712.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=g1wLieclvr2zYSNUcmul1CTJ-0Wy7ZVGwHiQ8oXto6U-IIH7GcEp6bZ6ZxGuUAv6KppNQ-XRQYI2DyDv%7EWPBdinnvYLlwTSyBPQ6tnCQe9U64w4KhG-ZwaUTPz0riPLBm-U9nzbxlKLOKnKqiEuaAjspVcFkT4NLcmNp9GkqefMkrNrLmMi0dAYTgqDy5wl3EvhvDax%7EBZggILf6qzguH41ywwXRYng1-KdcDGpQBVsyNbbCX%7ETWSADrxbjq30o2fVbUw9ZTEy9BIDgwveEZulDGNfOyxIO29dUZ9qS6RcrcqkZrYCRAc7DpuXNnbX5IjKU3ia6fGvNyuiqO2iATYg__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
cc68a7ebf18d617a5c25f2e9232579ae
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Text
THE
MECHANICK’S
ADVISOR
1/13/24
�Brickyard
Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday
This week in the Brickyard the crew has been moving
cord wood and enjoying the company of the carpenters
as they finish up our shed. With the new year comes the
unstacking of the kiln which will soon be upon us and
will occupy much of our early spring. Otherwise,
Apprentice Madeleine is continuing her practice on the
plaster panel. Starting with the scratch coat and waiting
for it to set hard enough to apply the following coat. We
are also in the midst of hiring a new apprentice, so
if you're seeking new zest for life check out Colonial
Williamsburg Careers.
- Madeleine Bolton
Scratch coat of the third
practice wall.
These are the keys that ensure the plaster
is locked to the lath.
�Cabinetmaker
Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
The cabinetmakers have been pushing forward with past
projects, and John and Bill have been preparing for the
upcoming Working Wood in the 18th Century Conference this
January 25-28. Bill has finished the back of his chair, and he
and John are producing demonstration parts to work on while
onstage. John has also finished fitting the dividers in his
cellaret project, and is now working on making the bottom.
Tamsyn is working on her dovetails in the context of drawer
making, all in preparation for constructing herself a tool chest
of drawers.
- John Peeler
John's cellaret with installed
dividers
Tamsyn's first drawer, with halfblind and through dovetails
�Farming
Ewing Field closed for winter season
An exciting new development for the Historic Farming Trade has
occurred for the gourdseed-type corn that we have been growing
for 40 years. This is a preferred corn of the 18th century Virginia as
the white kernels make excellent meal and grits and the stalks are
thick while the roots hold well in wind. Robert Beverly describes it
as early as 1705 in his The History and Present State of Virginia
and it is mentioned fairly often in the 18th century diaries and
journals of farmers. Anson Mills- a 21st century stone ground
gristmill specializing in heirloom grains has requested seed corn
from us because of these characteristics. This seed will be
distributed to modern organic farmers and then ground at the mill.
We are hoping that the gourdseed corn will someday be available on
guest’s tables at the Taverns one day. An old saying for preserving
living things is: To save it, You must eat it. This approach will
ensure the survival of this rare seed because it is being used beyond
museums.
Ed in a corn field in mid-2010’s
An ear of gourdseed corn
�Fife and Drums
The adult staff members are catching up on some much-needed
administrative work during the winter months. We unveiled our
new curriculum for Corpsmembers, progressed in planning
Drummer's Call, and investigated some exciting performance
opportunities for 2024. In class, we are working with the Corps
on fundamentals and improving technique. The adult staff are
leaving on Monday for a trip to Nashville, TN to play for the
American Bus Association Conference. Lastly, congratulations
to Knox Seabolt for becoming the new Fife Section Leader and
Andrew Reid for passing up to Private!
- Rebecca Sterner
An instructor helps a
recruit as he tries to
pass off a tune.
�Milliner and MantuaMaker
Thursday through Saturday
We apologize for our silence during December! In keeping with 18th century
tradition, the weeks leading up to Christmas, as well as the following 12 days of
Christmas, were extremely busy for milliners. This year's five-week wedding
program focused on wedding millinery - "white millinery" - for the bride. We
made a suit (matching set) of gauze millinery lined in silk (a cloak, a muff, and a
stomacher), and began another, which currently includes a silk satin cloak and a
matching petticoat. Rebecca has begun a coordinating hat, and other new pieces
will be added as time allows.
In between our year-end evaluations, Janea has been working on a new shift,
Kate has begun a printed cotton child's frock, and Rebecca is looking forward
to finally finishing up her stays.
In important and exciting shop news, congratulations go to Kate for
completing level two of her apprenticeship!
- Rebecca Godzik
Kate's beautiful "puckering" on the
stomacher, against the trim of Rebecca's
cloak.
�Shoemaker
Open Daily
Nicole is finishing up some repairs and is working on
patterning half boots for her apprenticeship. Victoria
continues work on a pair of dancing pumps for her
apprenticeship. Val is beginning a pair of common shoes for
one of the gardeners.
- Valentine Povinelli
A patch repair for one of our tradesmen.
�Silversmith
Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
The silversmiths are busy as ever with the silver trays.
Megan has soldered the rim onto her first tray with
Bobbie's guidance. Chris is chasing in the details of
her tray. Bobbie is stoning hers and is filing another.
George is chasing in the outlines to three more trays.
Preston is raising up a large silver bowl for a client as
well as multiple small bowls.
- Megan Cantwell
Megan's first tray.
Chris chasing in the details of the bouge
on her tray.
�Wheelwright
Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday
The Market Cart is ready! This vehicle was a
common sight here in Williamsburg in the 18th c.,
with farmers and enslaved carters moving goods
about the Capital City.
- Paul Zelesnikar
W.H. Pyne's Microcosm image of
the Market Cart.
Our Market Cart.
�Next Week, Look Forward to
Updates From…
• Apothecary
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
• Blacksmith
• Daily
• Carpenter
• Sunday through Thursday
• Engraver
• Sunday, Monday. Wednesday through Saturday
• Gardener
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
• Gunsmith
• Sunday through Thursday
• Harpsichord Maker
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
• Joiner
• Sunday through Thursday
• Leather Beech Maker
• Daily
• Military Programs
• Daily
• Palace Kitchen
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
• Printer
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday. Saturday
• Tailor
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
• Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers
• Sunday through Wednesday, Saturday
Editor:
Matthew Siepinski
�
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. January 13, 2024
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
2024-01-13
-
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THE
MECHANICK’S
ADVISOR
1/5/24
�Brickyard
Saturday, Wednesday through Sunday
This week the Brickyard Crew enjoyed the holiday season as well as
quite a bit of rain. Thankfully much of the work is under a roof,
mostly in the form of Apprentice Madeleine's plaster panel. Otherwise
this week we've enjoyed the Carpenters drawknifing away at some
shingles, and even giving it a try ourselves.
Master Josh also received a sailors token from William at the engravers
shop, which he is rather chuffed about. He had the following to say:
"Sailors tokens were often silver coin slugs or filed down minted coins
that would be engraved by a sailor to commemorate a ship they'd
served on, a battle they'd fought or a mess mate that had died. This
one is made from the obverse side of a Spanish piece of eight.“
- Madeleine Bolton
This is
Madeleine's second
plaster panel.
Josh with his newest
prized possession.
�Cabinetmaker
Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Sunday
The cabinetmakers have been carrying on with their various
projects through the holidays. Bill is moving ahead with the
joinery of his mahogany chair for January's woodworking
conference. In order to coordinate the many angled mortise and
tenons, we initially create a very boxy looking assembly for the
chair's back. Once the joinery is deemed acceptable (as gauged
off of the many straight lines), the structure is taken apart and
shaped into the fashionably curvaceous form customer's
appreciate. Tam has been making great progress on her
dovetailing practice. John, meanwhile has started to make and fit
the partitions that will keep bottles safe and sound on the
interior of his cellaret project.
- Bill Pavlak
Mahogany chair
starting to take shape
�Carpenter
Sunday through Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
For the last couple weeks we’ve been focused on finishing
up the brick yard drying house. We finished the installation
of the clapboard on both gable ends. With that task out of
the way we’ve split up a bit. Wes and Harold are building
the stairs for the drying house and Bobby, Mary and
McKinley are hanging the doors shuttered windows and
knifing more shingles for the Bray.
- Matthew Sanbury
Shuttered window the joiners
made and hardware the
blacksmith made were installed
over the lower window.
�Cook
Sunday through Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
Over the last few weeks of the Holiday Season, we had quite
a few guests asking about holiday food during the 18th
century. While the modern idea of specific holiday dishes did
not come about until the 19th century (thank you Mr.
Dickens), we have been putting lots of examples of
seasonally appropriate dishes out to the table. During the
winter season, things like figgy pudding, plum pudding,
Cheshire pork pie, mincemeat pies, forced cabbages, and
roasted birds would have made an appearance on the
Governor's table not only for a certain holiday, but we can
tantalize your tastebuds all season long. We hope everyone
has had a happy and healthy holiday season! On to a new
year full of delights!
- Charlotte Shoaf
A Cheshire Pork Pie, filled with salt,
pepper, and nutmeg seasoned pork, green
apples, white wine, and butter, decorated
with apples and apple tree branches made
of pastry.
�Engravers
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday through Saturday
Happy New Year all!
The Engravers are back in the swing of it. Lynn is working on
her presentation for the Wood Working Con.
William is working on Rings, Feather edge spoons and
Monograms.
And Emma has been nursing a fractured hand. She is
recovering and working on drawing and cutting a little at a
time. Lots of practice work.
We are gearing up for winter training and cleaning up the shop.
- Carol Zelesnikar
Here is an engraved cartouche detail, Emma's
tray with coat of arms and a chair test print.
�Founder
Tuesday through Saturday
As we near the end of 2023, I wanted to take a moment to look back at all the
completed projects that we sent out of the Foundry this past year for the Fife &
Drum Corps, Military Programs, the Tailors, the Milliners, the Silversmiths,
Development, the Musket Range, the Tin Plate Workers, the Engravers, the
Coopers, Historic Area Operations and even one private order. Here's our list (in
no particular order): 11 Drumhead Tensioner Hooks in brass, 11 Drumhead
Tensioner Wingnuts in brass, 2 Courthouse Keys in bronze, 2 Square Shoe
Buckles in sterling silver, 2 Oval Shoe Buckles in sterling silver, 10 Drummer's
Call Badges in pewter, 28 Frenchman's Map Tray Feet in sterling silver, 63 Small
Sunburst Buttons in pewter, 73 Large Sunburst Buttons in pewter, 39 Small Flat
Buttons in pewter, 17 Large Flat Buttons in pewter, 5 CW Seal Donor Gifts in
pewter, 4 CW Seal Donor Gifts in cast iron, 4 CW Seal Donor Gifts in bronze, 1
CW Seal Donor Gift in sterling silver, 4 Lead Cakes, 8 Demitasse Spoons in
pewter, 1 Water Bucket Handle in bronze, 2 Water Bucket Ears in bronze, 1
Water Bucket Handle Pattern in pewter, 2 Water Bucket Ear Patterns in pewter, 2
Shell Candlestick Bobeches in brass, 8 Slip-End Spoons in pewter, 2 Salt Spoons
in sterling silver, 1 Geddy Back Door Key in brass, 4 Tapersticks in pewter and
2,622 Musket Balls in pewter.
- Andrew Godzik
The forge and crucible
after an iron pour.
�Harpsichord Maker
Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
Toothing Planes are vital tools for applying veneers and working
intensely grained woods that other tools cannot work cleanly.
The blade edges are serrated and scratch the surface of the
wood instead of shaving it. For preparing veneers and applying
them to the cases of harpsichords, all the surfaces are left
scratched, assisting in the adhesion of the hide glue. Once the
veneers are applied, the toothing planes help clean the surfaces
evenly, followed by scraping and abrasives. Without these special
tools, working veneers and beautiful wood would become very
taxing on the worker. We have now revealed one of the secrets
to our work. Come see how it all is coming along.
- Edward Wright and Melanie Belongia
�Leather Breeches Maker
Thursday through Saturday
Our shop wishes you a Happy New Year!
The past few weeks in the shop have been busy with holiday guests as
we wrapped up 2023. Our shop wreath this year was in memory of our
dear friend, Journeyman Jan Tilley.
The new year started with Apprentice Emma beginning work on her
final apprenticeship project, a reproduction of an original 1790s pair of
leather breeches. Apprentice Wilson is working on a black sheepskin
pair of breeches. We see a trend of new black leather breeches in the
mid-1750s but also old leather breeches being dyed black to cover wear.
- Sarah Cross
Apprentice Emma making
the first cut in the leather for
her final project. (She was
nervous)
�Shoemaker
Open Daily
Val has built up the last for Eve Otmar and is now in
the process of building a pair of common shoes for
her. Victoria continues work on her dancing pumps.
- Valentine Povinelli
Val finishing up some boot repairs for Mark Schneider.
�Weavers, Spinners, and
Dyers
Sunday through Wednesday, Saturday
Pamela has been working on color matching with dyes recently. The
color in question was black. Anyone who has ever tried to match
two articles of black clothing knows that 'black' comes in many
shades. After some trouble shooting and a fresh batch of dye, a
match was achieved! It was also discovered that by altering the
mordant from iron to alum, black can still be possible. Getting color
successfully and repeatedly would have been the mark of a good
dyer.
- Pamela Russo
The single skein was white Leicester Longwool, and the other two show the
before and after of the soft gray corriedale. Both skeins of yarn are "True
Black"
�Wigmaker
Sunday through Thursday
The Wig Shop hopes everyone is having a lovely
holiday season! We have continued to be busy with
Burgess wigs and hair consultations. Debbie and
Benton are working on the final rows of their wigs and
both should be off the wig block in the next few days.
Edith has made a fresh batch of pomade that will be
utilized by the gentlemen who will be dressing their
own hair for the Burgess filming in January.
- Debra Turpin
Wigs ready for pick up
for the Burgess filming
�Next Week, Look Forward to
Updates From…
• Bookbinder
• Tuesday through Sunday
• Cabinet Maker
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
• Cooper
• Tuesday through Sunday
• Famer
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Fife and Drum
• Founder
• Tuesday through Sunday
• Historic Masonry
• Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday
• Milliner and Mantua-Maker
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Musket Range
• Ticket Event
• Shoemaker
• Daily
• Silversmith
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
• Tin Plate Worker
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Wigmaker
• Sunday through Thursday
• Wheelwright
• Sunday through Friday
Editor:
Matthew Siepinski
�
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. January 5, 2024
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
2024-01-05
-
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fea7426e919104d3fe665768de1f440a
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THE
MECHANICK’S
ADVISOR
12/21/2023
�Apothecary
Sunday through Thursday
We're gearing up for January and winding down
the year of work. Margaret has been working on
level 3 bandaging; Stephannie has been getting
into (reading about) narcotics; Sharon continues
with the ever-illegible Ledger B. Wishing everyone
a happy and healthy holiday season!
- Margaret Perry
The bandage for
the jaw, which
Margaret made
this past week.
�Brickyard
Saturday, Wednesday through Sunday
This week in the Brickyard, the crew has continued to occupy the
back of the site as plastering and wood splitting have been our
main tasks. In the last few weeks, Journeyman Carpenter Bobbie
aided Apprentice Madeleine in creating a sample panel wall which
now has the first coat applied, the scratch coat. This will be
followed by the brown coat, to achieve level, and a finishing coat.
Otherwise, this week Apprentice Apothecary Margaret stopped by
the yard to enjoy the tranquility of plastering and give Master Josh
tips on avoiding scurvy.
- Madeleine Bolton
Madeleine applying the scratch coat
Here we see Master Josh
regaling Margaret of his time
at sea.
�Cooper
Tuesday through Sunday
Our last update provided a clue about our wreath
for this year. Did you guess that we were making
a turkey? If so, you were right. If you haven't
had a chance to stop by the shop to see our
wreath, we've included a picture of the finished
product. Happy Holidays!
- Jonathan Hallman
This year's wreath at the Coopers Shop.
�Engravers
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday through Saturday
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all from the
Engraving shop!
William, Emma and Lynn have kept busy as usual for this
time of year.
William has completed a custom order of pewter teaspoons
the Foundry has made for a private order. Emma has
unfortunately fractured her drawing hand but is taking the
opportunity to read up on Engraving and hone those
interpretive skills. Lynn has set up her plate for the
Woodworking conference and preparing for January.
- Carol Zelesnikar
�Farming
Tuesday through Saturday
Like all Trades, the Historic Farmers are always engaged in an
experimental archaeology mode to help us understand the past by
doing it. Farmer Marshall Scheetz recently initiated a new
experiment on sheep folding. The restriction of sheep in hurdles
was meant to fertilize the fields through their manure in a distinct
location and then move it in planned manner to improve the
overall fertility of the soil in the field. Marshall researched the
concept using sources from England where it was frequently used,
and it’s use by progressive farmers here in colonial Virginia. He
built the hurdles, coordinated with Coach and Livestock, and
helped wrangle the sheep. This experiment will reveal it’s results
on the crops next summer. Can’t wait to see!
Marshall
encouraging
the sheep to
do their
work.
�Fife and Drums
As of writing this, we have done 2 of the 3 Grand
Illumination and Yule Log performances. One more to
go! We are also very excited and have been preparing
for the Christmas Guns program on Christmas Eve.
Lastly, please join us in welcoming our new fife
instructor, Ms. Catrina Richter! She comes from
Mountain Fifes and Drums in California and is excited
to join our Corps!
- Rebecca Sterner
The Sr. Corps enjoying watching the Our new fife instructor.
fireworks last Saturday.
�Founder
Tuesday through Saturday
This week the Founders have continued on several
projects. On Friday, Apprentice Leanne cast some more
silver tray feet for the silversmith's shop. After that we
utilized the hot forge for Apprentice Drew and Leanne
to cast and then finish some more musket balls to
round out our last order for the range (for the year!).
Journeyman Mike continues to work on shoe buckles
and has resumed work on some harpsichord hinges. We
all hope you are having a happy and healthy holiday
season!
- Leanne Bellouny
Some of Journeyman Mike's in progress work.
�Gardener
The Gardeners are open every day.
Cold-hearty plants dominate the garden now. Plenty of
greens continue to grow despite the series of frosty
nights. There is even new growth amongst the overwintering flowers. The cold and wet weather has slowed
activity in the garden; nonetheless, the digging up of
perennial plants for transport to the new site continues. A
tip of the cocked hat to Master Paul and the wheelwrights
for repairing and repainting our basket barrow.
- Marc Nucup
Healthy salad burnet (Sanguisorba
minor) despite the frost.
More perennials potted for transport
to the new garden.
�Harpsichord Maker
Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
I am pleased to announce that Melanie Belongia has
completed her apprenticeship. She now stands as
journeyman harpsichord maker. I am really pleased to
call her now a valuable colleague. We both, though, still
have so much to learn, so much we wish to do. Please
come by and say congratulations to her on her splendid
achievement.
- Edward Wright
Melanie Belongia,
Journeyman
Harpsichord
Maker.
Melanie Belongia, Journeyman Harpsichord Maker.
�Joiner
Sunday through Thursday
As December rushes past, January and the Working Wood
Conference hurtle closer! Master Brian and Journeyman Peter are
busy making rails and stiles for the front of the Eastern Shore
Blanket Chest, as well as planning the live demonstration they will
present during our conference next month. They will be showing the
connections between joiners' work building doors and furniture. If
you pay attention to doors around the Historic Area, some of these
shapes may look familiar to you!
Apprentice Laura continues to work on the toolbox, this week joining
the parts of the lid. By joining perpendicular pieces at either end of a
wide board, cupping of the board can be reduced and keep that lid
working perfectly for years to come.
Happy Holidays and we look forward to writing our next entry in the
new year!
- Laura Holloweood
Eastern Shore
Blanket Chest,
1795-1805,
Museum Object
Number 1930108.
�Musket Range
Ticket Event
The Musket Range Staff recently made a trip to a local
indoor gun range. We tried out some new timey guns and
did research on how their range is run. We all appreciated
the new guns that go off when the trigger is pressed and
the climate controlled environment but we started missing
our range and guns. We all want to wish everyone a Happy
Happy Holiday!!!
- Jeffery Thomas
Andy with his 44 mag.
Doug with a British Enfield.
�Shoemaker
Open Daily
The Shoemakers are delighted to have a fireplace to work by thank you Leather Breeches shop for taking us in! Victoria has
made a “trial fitter” to test the pattern for her dancing pumps
and has started stitching the real uppers. Nicole is catching up
on repairs and has started the patterning process for a pair of
half boots.
- Nicole Boileau
This year’s
Shoe Shop
wreath is
based on
The Old
Woman
Who
Lived in a
Shoe. Like
the title
character,
we’re
hoping to
find a
spacious
shoe home!
�Silversmith
Sunday through Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
The silversmiths are busy with tray making as usual. Megan
has finished a mote spoon that is now for sale in the James
Craig shop. Chris is working on ring repair and chasing
another tray. Bobbie has soldered the rim onto her tray and
is preparing to solder on the feet cast at the Foundry.
Preston has been busy working on his large and small bowls
as well as polishing a host of jewelry and spoons. George
has been hammering out an ingot and chasing in tray
guideline for even more trays.
- Megan Cantwell
Multiple feet cast
at the foundry on
the left, one
cleaned up and
filed on the right.
�Tailor
The Tailor is open Sunday through Thursday
The tailors are busy with projects. The shop is making a new
coat and waistcoat for a photoshoot in mid January. The
Brafferton suits continue to be in progress as well.
18th century tailor shops would have been busy up to, and
even through, the Christmas season. The season was one of
the most social of the year; filled will parties, balls, and
weddings.
- Michael McCarty
The shop is sheared
and the fleece is sprigged
for the season!
�Weavers, Spinners, and
Dyers
Sunday through Wednesday, Saturday
After lots of TLC on the countermarch loom, we are
finally making fabric! Most of the core components were
rehung or replaced so the machine could run at top speed.
We are now doing some color sampling on the first yard to
test out which weft colors will make the twill texture come
to life. Over on the counterbalance we are starting to drop
slats. This is a sign that one is approaching the end of the
warp. With that in mind, we have begun preparing for our
next project there as well. This will be a green and white
check destined for The Bray School.
- Pamela Russo
Pictured is the most
recent color sampling
done on the Birdseye
twill. Contrasting
weft yarn easily
shows the complex
texture.
�Wigmaker
Sunday through Thursday
The wig shop has been steadily finishing projects left and
right; intern Elias has just finished the bob display wig. The
Burgess Ball styling is in full swing, please reach out to us if
we've contacted you for a fitting. Benton and Debbie are
nearly done with their projects. We'd love to thank our
colleagues for voting us best site and wreathe, you're the best!
Edith Broward Edds
Elias putting in
the finishing
stitches!
�Wheelwright
Sunday through Friday
For the next two weeks, the Wheelwright Shop
is going through a much-needed facelift!
Hopefully the drainage installed will help the
building to survive another 85 years. Pics
coming soon!
- Paul Zelesnikar
�Next Week, Look Forward to
Updates From…
• Bookbinder
• Tuesday through Sunday
• Cabinet Maker
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
• Cooper
• Tuesday through Sunday
• Famer
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Fife and Drum
• Founder
• Tuesday through Sunday
• Historic Masonry
• Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday
• Milliner and Mantua-Maker
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Musket Range
• Ticket Event
• Shoemaker
• Daily
• Silversmith
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
• Tin Plate Worker
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Wigmaker
• Sunday through Thursday
• Wheelwright
• Sunday through Friday
Editor:
Matthew Siepinski
�
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. December 21, 2023
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
2023-12-21
-
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2c22bc407e9dbf02162012c5cade5022
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Text
THE
MECHANICK’S
ADVISOR
12/7/2023
�Apothecary
Sunday through Thursday
Margaret made an antiepileptic electuary (a paste ingested for
nervous system disorders like epilepsy) that includes valerian root,
an ingredient whose derivatives are still used in certain epilepsyrelated contexts. In pursuit of more information on Storck's
poison-derived cancer treatments, Stephannie found a literature
review from earlier this year (in Frontiers in Pharmacology) that
synthesizes promising results from 37 pre-clinical studies on antitumor effects of aconitine (a monkshood alkaloid.) Sharon
encountered the first example of lithotomy - bladder stone
removal - in a 1792/93 Galt-Barraud daybook!
- Margaret Perry
The binding agent in
Margaret's electuary was
a syrup of orange peel,
which is still somehow
more photogenic than the
final compound.
�Carpenter
Sunday through Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
The carpenters are working on a few different projects
right now. We are prepping for the stair case work for
the brick yard drying house as well as making plaster
lath from twisted clapboards. McKinley has been
working on the Bray school with Steve and Scott.
Mary has been making a new draw bench for the lath
and shingles coming out way.
- Matthew Sanbury
Mary’s draw bench under way.
The beginnings of another bundle of
plaster lath.
�Gunsmith
Sunday through Thursday
Richard continues to refine the pistol barrel for
the single pistol he is working on for a customer
while Darrin forged out a pair of bullet mold
halves that will end up going with the pair of
pistols he has been working on.
The two halves are forged out to be the same
and then filed, fit, riveted and cherried to the
proper bullet size.
- Darrin McDonal
Here are the two as forged halves of the
bullet mold and the pattern used as a
reference.
�Harpsichord Maker
Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
Melanie has prepared the all the veneer that will cover the top edge of
the spinet case. This way we avoid the unsightly look (to 18th century
eyes) of the veneer and substrate edge view. See the picture of the
case and you'll see what we mean. While on that, she found a couple
of damaged spots on the case veneer and patched them with new
pieces really well. You would never know what happened. She planed
out beautiful mouldings for the outer case a few months ago. We
reserved all of it for that use. Ed has planed more walnut mouldings
to finish the inner rim after the soundboard goes into the case for
good. Again, the trim gives a more handsome finish to the overall
effect of the assembly. Mouldings are great for covering up joins,
corners, and, dare we say, sometimes a few woodworking sins left
behind. Come see the results of our efforts. - Edward Wright
Spinet case top edge before veneering
Melanie patching damaged veneer.
�Joiner
Sunday through Thursday
The Joiners have reached a very busy time of year! Between the
upcoming Holidays with lots of visitors and some projects for around
town, they are deep in preparations for January's Working Wood in the
18th century conference. This year's theme is "By the Book", which will
see Peter and Brian exploring the connections between designs of
doors from pattern books and an Eastern Shore blanket chest. They've
begun making parts for it and will be demonstrating some construction
techniques during the conference. Laura will be conducting a session
with Rockefeller librarians Doug Mayo and Marianne Martin on how
our library is a valuable resource for our work.
We'd also like to welcome our newest volunteer, Rikk, who currently
assisting on the construction of some benches for the Bray School.
The Joiner's shop is now decked out for the
holidays!
- Laura Hollowood
Brian uses a plane to shape parts for the
blanket chest reproduction.
�Military Programs
Open Daily
Military Programs welcomed new Raleigh Tavern Society members,
Cal Huntzinger and Laura Kienle, to the Magazine Yard and
Guardhouse. Both Cal and Laura are avid 18th century enthusiasts
who spent two weeks at CWF living in one of our colonial homes
and wearing 18th century dress full-time. Military Programs
Interpreters Christopher and Ren enjoyed spending several hours
with our guests over two days discussing military history, equipment
and uniforming. Cal even brought us his excellent Dragoon's helmet!
Military Programs culminated the experience with Cal and Laura
acting as Linstock for a special cannon firing.
- Terence Christian
Military Programs Interpreter Christopher
with Raleigh Tavern Society Members Cal
and Laura.
�Shoemaker
Open Daily
Nicole has finished the pumps and overshoes and has now moved to
the final stage of her apprenticeship, which involves long-work (boots
and gaiters). Victoria has been busy with learning turn-shoe
construction and making char cloth for the colder days. Val finished
covering a box with marbled paper (courtesy of the bindery), to house
the embroidered baby shoes he made earlier this year. He is also
beginning a pair of common shoes for one of the gardeners. The
shop is also readying our wreath for Saturday.
- Valentine Povinelli
Nicole's completed dress pumps.
Marbled paper box with baby shoes.
�Wheelwright
Sunday through Friday
Work continues on the wagon, and wheelbarrows for Lewes
Historical Society in Delaware.
Fore under-carriage installed on Wagon.
Wagon together.
�Weavers, Spinners,
and Dyers
Sunday through Wednesday, Saturday
With such grim and gloomy days this past week, I'd like to
brighten your day with color! Specifically, the color yellow.
Yellow dyes are what we call light fugitive. This means that
when fabric is dyed yellow using natural dyes one only has a
few hours of that sunny color in the light of day before it
begins to fade to white. It was a symbol of wealth in the 18th
Century for just that reason! Something like this yellow silk
detail from a 1772 sample book would have been a flashy
thing to wear.
- Pamela Russo
Yellow silk twilled
over linen and
cotton from a
Manchester, UK
sample book
housed in the
MET's collection.
�Next Week, Look Forward to
Updates From…
• Bookbinder
• Tuesday through Sunday
• Cabinet Maker
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
• Cooper
• Tuesday through Sunday
• Famer
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Fife and Drum
• Founder
• Tuesday through Sunday
• Historic Masonry
• Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday
• Milliner and Mantua-Maker
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Musket Range
• Ticket Event
• Shoemaker
• Daily
• Silversmith
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
• Tin Plate Worker
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Wigmaker
• Sunday through Thursday
• Wheelwright
• Sunday through Friday
Editor:
Matthew Siepinski
�
Dublin Core
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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
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Title
A name given to the resource
The Mechanick's Adviser. December 7, 2023
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
2023-12-07
-
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PDF Text
Text
SPRING 2023
NEWSLETTER
VOL. 6, NO. 1
RITTENHOUSE GIFT
A post-conservation image of the Virginia Gazettes shown in their new bindings.
IN THIS ISSUE
Rittenhouse Gift:
p. 1-3
Architectural Drawings Conservation:
p. 4-5
Soldier and Sailor Training Program:
p. 6-7
Colonial Williamsburg Matchbooks:
p. 7-8
Urgent Conservation Priorities:
p. 9-10
New Databases:
p. 10-11
William Rind began publishing his Virginia Gazette in 1767 and continued until his death in 1773. After Rind’s death, his wife Clementina continued publishing the paper until she died the following year.
In 1996, Colonial Williamsburg acquired seventy-five issues of the
Virginia Gazette printed by the Rinds from October 8, 1772, to December 30, 1773. Among these issues are the last printed by William
and first by Clementina. Earlier this year, these issues were sent to a
conservation lab for treatment. The previous owner of the issues
had them bound and that binding was in disrepair at the time of
acquisition. The issues within the binding were becoming brittle and
difficult to handle, though they were not causing further damage. At
1
�RITTENHOUSE GIFT
(continued)
the lab, the conservator removed the old binding,
cleaned, deacidified, and flattened each leaf. Following
that process, each leaf was encapsulated in a plastic
sleeve, and then bound in two post bindings. Upon
their return to Special Collections, the issues were
used in this summer’s Teacher Institute sessions.
During those sessions, visiting teachers learned about
the business of printing and the role of newspapers in
pre-Revolutionary America, knowledge they will share
with their students back in their classrooms. At the
conclusion of the teacher sessions, the issues were
sent offsite for digitization. These images are now
available online.
The conservation and digitization of these issues was
made possible by a generous donation from Ms. Martha Rittenhouse. The John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library
appreciates her generosity and the generosity of all
our donors who make it possible for us to acquire, conserve, and digitize the important historic materials in
our care so they can be shared with the world.
A pre-conservation photo showing the state of the Virginia Gazette
issues before conservation.
2
�RITTENHOUSE GIFT
(continued)
One of Clementina Rind’s first duties as printer was to inform the public of the passing of her husband, William. The announcement appears here within the thick black
border.
3
�ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS CONSERVATION
Library volunteers Scott Spence and Nancy Marley assist with cleaning soot residue off architectural drawings using a lint-free
microfiber cloth and wedges of a vulcanized rubber dry cleaning sponge.
Special Collections volunteers are hard at work assisting with the cleaning of a group of one hundred blueprints received in
January as part of a donation from the architectural firm of Perry Dean Rogers Partners of Boston. The blueprints encompass floor plans, elevations, sections, and details of various buildings in Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area created by the
Williamsburg office of Perry, Shaw & Hepburn, the architects in charge of Williamsburg’s initial restoration. For many years,
the drawings remained in the firm’s Boston office in a basement storage area near a furnace. As a result, the drawings are
coated with a film of soot that must be removed before the drawings can be sent over to the Paper Conservation Lab for
flattening in a humidification chamber. Due to being rolled in tubes for many decades, quite a few of the drawings are not
responding to basic flattening treatments and will require humidification to relax them enough to flatten for storage in
drawers.
Colonial Williamsburg’s Senior Paper Conservator, Pam Young, showed staff and volunteers how to gently clean the soot off
the drawings. First, a lint free microfiber cloth is carefully applied across the verso of each drawing to remove an initial layer
of soot. Next, a small piece of vulcanized rubber sponge is gently dabbed on sections of the drawing exhibiting areas of
greater soil, such as the edges of the drawing exposed within the storage tube. The sponges quickly become saturated with
soot and often several are required to complete the cleaning of one drawing.
A more in-depth conservation project with architectural drawings is taking place in the Paper Conservation Lab under the
supervision of Young and Assistant Paper Conservator, Perrine Lesaux. They are currently preparing fourteen items from the
A. Lawrence Kocher Collection for an upcoming loan to the Palm Springs Art Museum for the exhibition Albert Frey: Innovative Modernist, to be held from January 13 to June 6, 2024. A. Lawrence Kocher served as an Advisory Architect for the
Williamsburg Restoration. In this role, he joined a group of practitioners from around the country who met
4
�ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS CONSERVATION
Colonial Williamsburg Assistant Paper Conservator, Perrine Lesaux, examining photographs and architectural drawings from the A. Lawrence Kocher Collection that will be loaned to the Palm Springs Art Museum
for the exhibit Albert Frey: Innovative Modernist.
periodically at Williamsburg to review the restoration work’s progress, develop guidelines, and share their expertise. Kocher
combined his study of colonial architecture through this consultant role with experimentation in the emerging International
Style by partnering with Albert Frey in the early 1930s to design buildings influenced by Le Corbusier’s atelier. Kocher returned
to Colonial Williamsburg in 1944 to become Architectural Records Editor, a position he held until 1954.
The Palm Springs Art Museum (PSAM) is borrowing ten architectural drawings, three photographs, and one news clipping that illustrate the collaboration between A. Lawrence Kocher and Albert Frey on such projects as the Aluminaire House,
Darien Guild Hall, the Ralph House, the Weekend House, a donut shop, and a miniature golf course. To prepare the drawings for
safe transport and exhibition at the museum, Pam and Perrine are carrying out cleaning, flattening, and mending tasks. Some of
the drawings require humidification in a chamber under a plastic dome. This relaxes the creases to give the drawings a smooth
surface for matting and framing for display. After exposure to the humidity, the drawings are individually flattened using heavy
weights. Perrine also uses thin Japanese tissue to fill in small losses on the drawings. By matching the tone and transparency of
the tissue paper, she can make these small repairs almost unnoticeable. Pam is mounting the drawings, photographs, and newspaper clipping to acid-free matboard in preparation for framing at the PSAM. The Rockefeller Library is grateful for the expertise
and support of our skilled paper conservation staff who have made these two important projects possible.
5
�COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG’S SOLDIER SAILOR TRAINING PROGRAM
Associate Archivist, Sarah Nerney, pictured, and Marianne Martin, Visual Resources Librarian, gave their presentation, “’We Shall
Carry On’”: Colonial Williamsburg’s Contribution to the War Effort, 1941-1945,” to an audience of forty-three people at the Williamsburg Regional Library on July 7, 2023. One of the main segments presented by Sarah focused upon the Soldier Sailor Training Program. She explained that in May 1942, President Chorley wrote a letter to Brigadier General Forrest Williford, then the
commanding officer at Ft. Eustis, proposing an idea that he hoped would demonstrate Colonial Williamsburg’s commitment to
making a real and valuable contribution to the war effort. Chorley proposed including in the Ft. Eustis basic training program a
one-day educational trip to Colonial Williamsburg to demonstrate to the soldiers “why we are in this war and just what we are
fighting to preserve.” This program would be a required part of basic training rather than a recreational visit. It would be constructed to show that the current fight was to preserve the general foundations of a free people which was the same fight for
what Chorley referred to as the Four Freedoms of the American Revolution: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of
the press, and freedom of assembly. And where better to reinforce these concepts, said Chorley, than in the place where these
foundations were no different in 1942 than they had been in 1776? It would be a real-world application of the vision of Rev.
Goodwin and Mr. Rockefeller “that restored Williamsburg might become the nation’s inspirational and cultural center for those
who believed that the principles for which our forefathers fought should be maintained as the central feature for real Americanism.”
6
�COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG’S SOLDIER SAILOR TRAINING PROGRAM
(continued)
By October 1943 a brochure had been produced for military visitors to take away with them as a Colonial Williamsburg souvenir. Known as the “Are You Filling Their Shoes” folder, the brochure included a map of Colonial Williamsburg with prominent Revolutionary sites from the program tour. Historical information about the Four Freedoms and the Founding Fathers
in the brochure was intended to reinforce the information military visitors learned during their on-site visits. It emphasized
the role that the current military was playing in upholding the Revolutionary ideals and was meant to be a continuing inspiration after departure from Colonial Williamsburg by literally asking: Are you filling our patriot forefathers’ shoes? Rockefeller loved the folder and told Mr. Chorley that it was “one of the finest pieces of literature the Restoration had ever put out”
and that “He and Mrs. Rockefeller were so impressed by it they were mailing copies to all their sons in service.” An online
exhibition of We Shall Carry On”: Colonial Williamsburg’s Contribution to the War Effort, 1941-1945 is also available.
COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG MATCHBOOKS
In August 2023, Corporate Archives acquired a set of twelve Colonial Williamsburg matchbooks in a green cardboard sleeve
made by the Maryland Match Company of Baltimore, Maryland. The matchbooks feature two colored illustrations of Colonial
Williamsburg exhibition buildings (and the College of William and Mary Wren Building) on the front and reverse of each book,
with a brief history of the buildings on the inside. The matches (now removed for the safety of the collections as it is a bad idea
to have combustible materials in a library!) had green match heads. The matchbooks likely date from the late 1940s or early
1950s. The Travis House is included in the illustrations and described as functioning as a public house, which indicates that it
was still at that time in position at the foot of Palace Green on Duke of Gloucester Street. Travis House restaurant closed in February 1951 when the Kings Arms Tavern opened to replace it. Correspondence in Corporate Archives from 1949-1952 between
the Reproductions program and the Maryland Match Company indicates that Colonial Williamsburg had engaged the company
to produce the matches which would then be sold in its shops. Thanks very much to Russ Cowell who had this treasure in his
possession and was willing to add it to the Corporate Archives collections as we do not have many samples of products from the
Restoration era. As we approach our centennial anniversary in 2026, it is nice to bring another piece of our history back home.
(Corporate Archives Accession 2023-051)
7
�COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG MATCHBOOKS
(continued)
Colonial Williamsburg matchbooks depicting some of the most important public buildings in the old
capital.
8
�URGENT CONSERVATION PRIORITIES : ROBERT CARTER III LETTERBOOKS
Robert Carter’s letter discussing the musical performance of Benjamin Franklin.
Robert Carter III (1728-1804) was a member of the Virginia Council and perhaps the wealthiest Virginian of his day. He attended
the grammar school at the College of William and Mary before going to London to study law. Upon his return to Virginia, he
moved into Nomony (sometimes Nomini) Hall in Westmoreland County. Carter married Frances Tasker of Annapolis, Maryland
in 1754. In 1761, they moved their young family to a house near the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg. Carter recorded details
of his life in Williamsburg in the three letter books he kept during his years in the colonial capital. The letter books commence
with Carter’s move to his Williamsburg home on Palace Green in 1761. Early letters provide dimensions of the home’s interior
and document how Carter decorated and furnished his residence. Further letters reveal Carter’s love of music and musical instruments. In one such letter, Carter relates how impressed local musician Peter Pelham was with Benjamin Franklin’s performance upon the glass armonica in New York. Pelham’s description intrigued Carter so that he ordered an armonica from London for his Williamsburg home. Other letters document the wide range of goods Carter consumed, the management of his plantations and personal and family matters.
9
�URGENT CONSERVATION PRIORITIES : ROBERT CARTER III LETTERBOOKS
(continued)
Colonial Williamsburg acquired Carter’s letter books in 1957. Earlier this year a vendor imaged the volumes and Special Collections staff and volunteers transcribed them. The images and transcriptions are now freely accessible online. Special Collections
would like to thank Catherine Freemon for her assistance in transcribing these volumes.
To protect the pages from handling, conservators laminated the pages of the volumes and rebound them in a modern binding.
Current conservation staff have determined that the laminate poses a serious risk of loss to the pages of the letter books and
needs to be reversed. Reversing the lamination process is expensive and time consuming. The estimates for delamination,
treating and rebinding of the three volumes is approximately $30,000. If you would like to aid us in our efforts to preserve Robert Carter’s letter books, please contact Carl Childs Abby and George O’Neill Executive Director of the John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Library.
Colonial Williamsburg has opened Robert Carter’s home for tours. If you would like to see Robert Carter’s Williamsburg home,
you may make a reservation to do so.
NEW DATABASES FOR FALL 2023
Rockefeller Library is delighted to announce the acquisition of three new primary source databases that are highly relevant to
the Colonial Williamsburg’s research priorities. These resources will expand our scholarly horizons and help our historians, researchers, and interpreters uncover and tell new stories, that “the future may learn from the past:”
Indigenous Peoples of North America
Presenting content sourced from both American and Canadian institutions, this collection will enhance research and increase
understanding of the historical experiences, cultural traditions and innovations, and political status of Indigenous peoples in the
United States and Canada. The material included in this archive has received direct-from-source permission to digitize newspapers from various tribes and organizations and features Indigenous language materials, including dictionaries, religious texts,
and primers. This resource will support the work of Colonial Williamsburg’s American Indian Initiative and allow all our researchers to explore the impact of invasion and colonization, and the intersection of Indigenous and European histories and
systems of knowledge.
10
�NEW DATABASES FOR FALL 2023
(continued)
Slavery And Anti-Slavery: A Transnational Archive
Part II, Slave Trade in the Atlantic World
The documents in this collection chart the inception of slavery in Africa and its rise as perpetuated on both sides of the Atlantic
Ocean, placing particular emphasis on the Caribbean, Latin America, and United States. This resource was developed by an international editorial board with scholars specializing in North American, European, African, and Latin American/Caribbean aspects of the slave trade.
Part III, The Institution of Slavery
This collection explores, in vivid detail, the inner workings of slavery from 1492 to 1888. Through legal documents, plantation
records, first-person accounts, newspapers, government records, and other primary sources, it reveals how enslaved people
struggled against the institution. These rare works explore slavery as a legal and labor system, the relationship between slavery
and religion, freed slaves, the Shong Massacre, the Demerara insurrection, and many other aspects and events.
Together these modules will enable Colonial Williamsburg’s historians to conduct comparative research on slavery on a broader
scale, both trmporally and geographically.
Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Nichols Newspapers Collection
This resource provides access to the newspapers, periodicals, pamphlets, and broadsheets that form the Nichols newspaper
collection held at the Bodleian library in Oxford, UK. All 296 volumes of bound material, covering the period 1672-1737, are included. The collection charts the history of the development of the press in England and provides invaluable insight into seventeenth and eighteenth century England. It also contains many references to Virginia!
The John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library Newsletter is a publication of Colonial Williamsburg’s John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library.
Vice President, Educational Strategy and Civic Engagement
Mia Nagawiecki
Executive Director, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library
Carl Childs
Editor
Doug Mayo
Contributors
Marianne Martin, Doug Mayo, Sarah Nerney, and Melissa
Schutt
Please visit Friends of John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library for information on how you can help support the Library and don’t forget to
like and follow us on Facebook: Rockefeller Library at CW.
To contact the library directly, please call 757-220-7249; 757-565-8510 or email us at rocklibrary@cwf.org.
11
�
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
John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library Newsletter
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
John D. Rockefeller Jr Library newsletter. Volume 6, number 1, Summer 2023
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
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
2023
-
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c0b688b5b2e9299d437f0e6f5b63c707
PDF Text
Text
THE
MECHANICK’S
ADVISOR
11/17/2023
�Brickyard
Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday
This week the Brickyard crew has their full attention on the kiln
firing, which started on Tuesday the 14th and will continue until
some point on Saturday the 18th. To see this kiln through, two
shifts - day and night - will tend to the tunnels as the fire builds.
Included in the brickmakers numbers this year are various
apprentices, and Journeyman, from the Blacksmiths, Carpenters,
Coach and Livestock, Garden, Joiners, and Sites. Our most
esteemed participant is of course or volunteer Larry who
graciously puts up with us. As we enter into the latter half of the
firing you will see the kiln's heat grow in intensity which will
eventually reach two thousand degrees of heat.
- Madeleine Bolton
Night crew, from L-R; Mary (apprentice View of the inside of the tunnel, here you
Carpenter, Shelby, Lacey (Brickmaker), can see what we refer to as a corveled arch.
Chelsea (Brickmaker), and Madeleine
(apprentice Brickmaker).
�Cooper
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
This week we had the
chance to take a look at
all interesting piece of
cooperage that is part
of our collection here
at Colonial
Williamsburg. One of
the items in the lumber
room of the Everard
House (which is
currently not open for
visitation) is a wooden
pitcher made from a
small cask. While not
on our current list of
projects, I think we'll at
our to the list of things
we'd like to make in the
future.
- Jonathan Hallman
Wooden pitcher from the lumber room of
the Everard House.
�Farming
Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday
We have had an excellent yield of cotton this year due to the
dry weather this Fall. It is significantly higher because the dry
weather facilitates the bolls opening. The Tidewater region is
not a very good location to grow cotton because the growing
season is not hot enough, long enough. That’s why places
further south like South Carolina and Georgia are
preferred. The usual scenario for us is that about one-third of
the bolls will not open due to the cooler and rainier weather in
the fall. Farmers did grow cotton though for home use. This
explodes when the Revolution blows up the economy and
strangles imported cloth. It made it a grow and wear situation.
- Ed Schultz
Cotton plant & Cotton ball
�Fife and Drums
Last week, Mr. Allen and
Ms. Sterner got to take part
in the grand opening of
the new Williamsburg Fire
Station. Ms. Sterner took a
group of Sr. Corps
members to play before
Stonehouse Elementary
School's program for
Veteran's Day. Mr. Adams
enjoyed his time at the
Percussive Arts Society
International Convention
this past week and came
back with lots of new
materials for our drum
section. We finished the
week with a great march
and performance for
Veterans' Day! Lastly,
congratulations to Ben
Moberg for passing up to
Private!
- Rebecca Sterner
Mr. Allen and the Sr. Corps prepare to
step off for the Veterans' Day parade.
�Founder
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
The last two weeks have been full of projects at the foundry. Apprentices
Drew and Leanne headed over to the guard house to lend our advice
about musketball casting. Journeyman Mike made molds for some shoe
buckles and tray feet which Drew cast the silver for. Our NIAHD Intern,
Isaac, cast some more musket balls for the range while the forge was still
hot. Apprentice Leanne got the chance to attend the "I Made This"
conference and really enjoyed it! The apprentices finished up a bunch of
spoons and delivered them to Military Programs for them to use in
interpretation. Drew also finished up a rough cast key. Finally, the
apprentices got a chance to solder their taper candlesticks putting them
just a bit closer to finishing another apprenticeship skill.
- Leanne Bellouny
Drew advising Alex on casting at the
guard house.
Drew blowpipe soldering his taper stick.
�Musket Range
Ticket Event
November begins and
it is our busiest time
of year. Doug is
instructing and
improving every day.
Andy received his
first 5 Star rating on
Trip Adviser. This is a
special time of year
with the beautiful
colors and cooler
weather a grate time
to come out and
check out the range.
- Jeffrey Thomas
Andy instructing the people who gave him
5 stars!
�Shoemaker
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday
Val continues with repairs
while Nicole is nearly done
with a pair of pumps and
over-shoes for Mark Hutter.
She is about halfway through
with a pair of common shoes
for Robert Weathers.
- Valentine Povinelli
Nicole and Val moving the last bench to
the Breeches Shop for the winter.
The cast and crew of the Vacation
Channel shoot that the shop participated
in.
�Silversmith
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday
The silversmiths are busy with
multiple trays. Megan
continues to work on her very
first tray and has started to
chase the inside details and
structure. Chris has finished
her chasing, and her tray is
now ready for the rim to be
soldered on. Bobbie has been
making rims and has started
laying out another tray. Preston
is working on a large punch
bowl. George has started
chasing the lines for his tray.
Megan's Tray.
- Megan Cantwell
George's Tray
�Wheelwright
Sunday through Friday
This week we
present a
Velocipede! Murphy
has field-tested and
is now waiting for
varnish to dry
before we can hand
it over to the
customer. This has
been a 5 month
project, with many
bumps along the
way, but an ultimate
success, not only for
Murphy, but the
Wheelwright Shop
and for HTS! Well
Done.
- Paul Zelesnikar
Murphy is taking a ride.
�Wigmaker
Sunday through Thursday
The wigmakers have
stayed busy these last
weeks. Journeyman Edith
is focusing on the shop's
holiday wreath, putting
some of her research to
creative use. Intern Elias,
Apprentice Benton, and
Master Debbie continue
to weave different blends
of human hair for their
respective projects.
Maintenance continues as
usual for the wigs and
hairpieces of our day and
evening staff, though this
may be the proverbial
calm before the holiday
storm. Please don't
hesitate to reach out if
you have any hair related
needs or questions!
- Joseph Parker
Left to right: Elias's wig for static display in one
of our exhibition sites, Benton's wig for himself,
and Debbie's wig for Apprentice Wilson in the
Leather Breeches shop
�Next Week, Look Forward to
Updates From…
• Apothecary
• Sunday through Thursday
• Blacksmith
• Everyday
• Carpenter
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
• Engravers
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday through Saturday
• Gardener
• Everyday
• Gunsmiths
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
• Harpsicord Maker
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
• Joiner
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
• Leather Breech Makers
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Military Programs
• Daily
• Palace Kitchen
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
• Printer
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
• Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers
• Sunday through Wednesday, Saturday
Editor:
Matthew Siepinski
�
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/.
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
2023-11-17
Title
A name given to the resource
The Mechanick's Adviser. November 17, 2023
-
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e90e1937623d63aa99206737f5b89c21
PDF Text
Text
THE
MECHANICK’S
ADVISOR
12/1/2023
�Apothecary
Sunday through Thursday
Sharon has been working
on the journeyman
committee to develop a
trades curriculum postapprenticeship.
Stephannie compounded
a conserve of orange
peel - the last component
to her level 1
compounding module.
Margaret has finished a
comparison chart of
medicinal ingredients
through time.
- Margaret Perry
A page from the 1787-1789 GaltBarraud Daybook (c/o Swem SCRC,
W&M).
�Brickyard
Wednesday through Sunday
This week at the Brickyard crew has been enjoying the calm
that follows a kiln firing, which ended on Saturday the 18th.
The firing appears to have been rather efficient, so we are
excited to see the fruits of our labor in the coming months.
After the kiln we had the opportunity to go to Rosewell and
gaze upon what's left of that impressive building.
Otherwise, Apprentice Madeleine worked on the yard
wreaths while Master Josh fashioned himself a shillelagh.
Journeyman Kenneth has been splitting the White Oaks that
was felled next to the yard.
- Madeleine Bolton
Rosewell was completed in 1740
but was destroyed by fire in 1916.
�Cabinet Maker
Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
Recently in the Cabinet
Shop, Bill has finished his
sample chair back for this
year's Working Wood in
the 18th Century
conference. It's made of
tulip poplar as a test of
concept, but he will now
start on the real deal- a
chair made of mahogany.
Tam has finished a small
slide-lid box for storing
some of her smaller tools,
and is moving on now to
other bench appliances.
John has finished up the
dovetail joints of his
cellaret upper case. The
full-blind joints might not
show, but each one took a
few hours of work to get
right. Not an uncommon
story for the
cabinetmakers!
- John Peeler
One of John's Full-blind, hidden
dovetails
Bill's finished prototype chair back
�Carpenter
Sunday through Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
These last couple weeks
we’ve installed the sills/
thresholds, jambs, and
headers for the gable end
door and shuttered
window on the brick yard
drying house. The next
step is to knife and install
clap boards.
We also want to welcome
back Wes Watkins to the
carpentery crew. Wes
worked with us for 16
years and left CW in
2015. He’s rejoined us for
more fun as we prepare
to undertake this next
series of buildings.
- Matthew Sanbury
Scaffold to access the gable end door.
�Cooper
Tuesday through Saturday
With December upon us, it's time for decorations to
go up in the Historic Area as part of a tradition that
dates back to the early years of the Restoration. As we
have for the last few years, the Coopers are making
our own wreath. We thought we'd offer you a hint as
to what we're doing - can you guess what it is? Stop by
the shop to see the finished decoration if you have a
chance.
- Jonathan Hallman
Some of the elements for our
wreath this year.
�Cook
Sunday through Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
With November flying by, we have officially wrapped up both of our
fall programs, Secrets of the Chocolate Maker and 18th Century
Brewing. These will return in the spring when the weather is more
hospitable to those specialties. This week Dom pulled out all the stops
in making a Croquant Cover (a decorative cloche made of pastry) and
the first beautiful salad of the fall season. Usually, Barbra is the master
artisan of all things 18th-century salad, but with her out from a wee
surgery for the next few weeks, Dom paid homage to her expertise and
made a salad worthy of her skills. We hope everyone is having a
wonderful start to the holiday season!
- Charlotte Shoaf
The Croquant Cover.
Dom's seasonal salad, inspired by Barbra.
�Engravers
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday through Saturday
This past two weeks William and Lynn have been getting the
names on the silver gorget gifts. Emma had her 90 day review
and has made great progress. It has been requested she be
moved to level 2 of her apprenticeship. Some trade silver was
completed and sent back to the Silversmiths. Next project
Lynn will be starting is a copper plate for the woodworking
conference. Everyone is looking ahead to their yearly reviews
and setting new goals.
- Carol Zelesnikar
Silver bracelet-private order.
Chair engraving to be replicated.
�Farming
Tuesday through Saturday
It was rough going cutting the barley this year. Not so much the
heat of July, rather it was because it was “lodged” by a
thunderstorm. Lodged means laid down by wind, rain, and usually
both. It was just off the ground though and therefore not moldy.
Bent over like a crab, it was cut with a sickle. In August it was
threshed with a flail. This is akin to beating it with a small stick on
a long stick to remove the straw. The resulting material is mixed
with chaff which is the outside part of the grain and the spiky
beards. Shown below is winnowing the chaff from the grain.
The barley goes to the Foodways Trade to make malt for beer.
This is an 18th century variety called Scots Bere. Maybe it is
different. We shall see…
- Ed Schultz
Winnowing barley.
�Fife and Drums
We kicked off the holiday season last week with a trio
performing at the Williamsburg Inn Lighting. Come out
to see us at the Yule Log performance this Friday and,
of course, the first Grand Illuminations on Saturday.
Lastly, congratulations to Sergeant Chase West and
Private Greyson Johnson for advancing in rank!
- Rebecca Sterner
The Sr. Corps was thrilled to have cold enough weather to
break out their black spatterdashes for Wednesday's evening
performance.
�Founder
Tuesday through Saturday
This past week, Mike has been hard at work on a pair of sterling
silver shoe buckles for the ladies down at the Millinery Shop. Drew
has finished a pair of pewter tapersticks and has begun work on
another order of 500 musket balls for the range. With the tapersticks
completed, another skill for the apprenticeship has been attained.
Leanne isn't far behind either. She finished one of her tapersticks
and the second is well on its way to completion.
- Andrew Godzik
Mike wants to know if you've had your One of Drew's finished pewter tapersticks.
oats today.
�Gardener
The Gardeners are open every day.
As November draws to a close, the gardeners are making the last
preparations for colder weather. Willow "withies" have been
harvested and then formed into hoops that are positioned over the
broccoli and cauliflower. When we expect temperatures to dip into
the twenties, cotton tarps are pulled over the hoops to protect the
plants from frost. Both of these brassicas will bear fruit in the spring.
Even though we have lacked an adequate amount of rain for this
month, the lettuce has thrived. We have begun to harvest lettuce and
send it to the cooks in the palace kitchen. Sent to the kitchen lately
has been Indian Cress (nasturtiums), sweet potatoes, Welsh onion,
viola blossoms and kale leaves.
- Eve Otmar
Winter bounty from the garden to the
Governors table.
�Gunsmith
Sunday through Thursday
The pistol barrels are reamed smooth, cut in half and are now
being breeched which involves forging, filing and threading
the breech pins, or plugs. The barrels are threaded to receive
the breech pins.
Brad drilled the hole in his lock plate to fit the tumbler. It's
first drilled undersized. Then enlarged and reamed to the
precise diameter to receive the tumbler shaft. Then he will
move on to the internals of the lock which would be the
bridle, bridle screws, sear and sear screws.
- Darrin McDonal
A view looking through one of the
pistol barrels after being reamed
smooth.
Brad drilling through the lock
plate with the brace & bit.
�Harpsichord Maker
Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
From the harpsichord corner, Melanie has completed work on the
bridge. Her first one and it’s a really lovely shape. More refining will
come , but it’s a great start. Ed has begun the balancing of all the keys.
With lead weights, each key will retract to its proper resting position. But
each key is a little different. So, with a single consistent counterweight on
the front of each key, he adjusts the size and location of the rear lead
until the balance equalizes, like balancing on a see-saw. Thus, not only
will the keys fall to rest, but will also feel and work consistently under the
player’s fingers. Irregular feel is not allowed. Come see how we are
making all this come together.
- Ed Wright
The cherry bridge strip in
position in the spinet.
Keyboard with balancing lead weights.
�Joiner
Sunday through Thursday
As we move towards winter, the Joiners have been tackling a variety of
projects. In addition to continuing work on already in-progress pieces,
such as Laura's tool chest for the Engravers, Brian has been busy
hammering out shutters for the Brickmakers' drying shed, Peter
attended a class on chairmaking and returned with a fantastic fan-back
chair, and everyone in the shop is working towards January's Working
Wood in the 18th century. Brian and Peter will be exploring the
construction of a fabulous Eastern Shore blanket chest, and Laura will
be hosting a program at the Rockefeller with librarians Doug Mayo and
Marianne Martin. Work also continues on furniture for the Bray
School: Brian has made templates of the legs of an armchair to be
turned on a lathe, and Peter and volunteer Rikk have begun making
parts for several benches.
- Laura Hollowood
The original Eastern Shore blanket
chest (Object # 1930-108).
Peter's new fan back chair, made in a
week-long class with chairmaker Curtis
Buchanan of Tennessee.
�Musket Range
Ticket Event
We have been working hard with the restoration of
the guns we shoot at the Musket Range. Andy and
Alex have restored 4 of our fowlers and we are
currently working on our 1st Musket. Our guns are
regularly checked for safety and proper function. As
you can imagine over these last 7 years the guns have
been through a lot, from the scorching heat of
summer to the damp cold winter. The restored guns
look almost new.
- Jeffrey Thomas
Top fowler unrestored.
Bottom fowler restored.
�Military Programs
Open Daily
Military Programs worked with Drew and Leanne from The
Geddy Foundry to conduct an open fire musket ball casting
training. Staff learned to melt pewter and lead, skim impurities,
judge hot/cold metal temperature, cast musket balls in both a
single mold and in a larger double gang mold, and cast ingots.
The four pounds of cast ball will be used as an interpretive
object demonstrating basic militia equipment requirements of
the pre- and the Early War periods. The casting training is the
first component of Military Programs' Winter Training. The
collaborative training program will see MP staff complete
internal and collaborative training sessions with other HTS
shops and sites over the coming months.
- Terence Christian
Cast musket balls are remelted as raw
material for a new cast batch.
Chris holds a newly cast tree of musket
balls.
�Shoemaker
Open Daily
Nicole has finished the pumps and overshoes and has now moved to
the final stage of her apprenticeship, which involves long-work (boots
and gaiters). Victoria has been busy with learning turn-shoe
construction and making char cloth for the colder days. Val finished
covering a box with marbled paper (courtesy of the bindery), to house
the embroidered baby shoes he made earlier this year. He is also
beginning a pair of common shoes for one of the gardeners. The
shop is also readying our wreath for Saturday.
- Valentine Povinelli
Nicole's completed dress pumps.
Marbled paper box with baby shoes.
�Silversmith
Sunday through Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
Work continues on the trays. Megan is chasing in the bouge of
hers and helped Bobbie solder on the rim of another. Chris is
also chasing in details of her tray while George is chasing in
the lines of his. Preston is working on his large and small
bowls. The silversmiths are also working on saw piercing
snowflake ornaments out of nickel for their Christmas
wreaths. The snowflake designs are from the trade silver
jewelry.
- Megan Cantwell
The newly soldered tray Bobbie has been
working on.
A few of the ornaments.
�Tailor
The Tailor is open Sunday through Thursday
A sporting coat for the
hunt season is in the
works in the shop. As
18th century Englishmen
had the habit of hunting
out of their coat pockets
rather than hunting bags,
we have added extra
pockets to hold his
miscellaneous equipment.
In addition to the to usual
hip pockets, we have
added to breast pockets
with sheepskin lining for
durability and absorbency.
The order will be
delivered to the customer
when he arrives next
week.
- Michael McCarty
Body right of the coat; showing the position
of the breast pocket above the usual hip
pocket.
�Wigmaker
Sunday through Thursday
Tis the season for decorating! This year's themed wreath is Rapunzel, based off
of the 1790 version published in Leipzig, Germany, by Friedrich Schultz. This
version is the base of the Brothers Grimm famous tale, although the trope of
the Maiden in the tower predates most published stories and appears globally in
folklore. On the wreath is hair that was available to 18th Century wigmakers,
along with other materials such as cut-glass beads, known as paste jewels, and
silk flowers utilized by hairdressers to adorn ladies' hair styles. The basket woven
tower base, as well as the shingles, were done utilizing a technique called palette
work. We see this being used in sentimental jewelry from the latter half of the
18th century, in affectionate tokens of friendship, love, and death. The hair is
carefully sculpted on a flat surface and a paste or diluted glue mixture is used to
hold its shape. The dried pieces can then be cut and attached to any decorative
setting. The wigmaker's chose quite a large setting this year! The tower is made
of ethically sourced Nation Builder hair. The grey base was previously the
Marquis de Lafayette's horsehair wig and the Chesapeake style roof is leftover
horse and human hair from George Wythe's most recent tonsorial adornment.
- Debra Turpin
�Next Week, Look Forward to
Updates From…
• Harpsicord Maker
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
• Apothecary
• Sunday through Thursday
• Blacksmith
• Daily
• Carpenter
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
• Gardener
• Daily
• Engravers
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday through Saturday
• Palace Kitchen
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
• Gunsmith
• Sunday through Thursday
• Joiner
• Sunday through Thursday
• Military Programs
• Printer
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
• Leather Breech Makers
• Daily
• Tailor
• Sunday through Thursday
• Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers
• Sunday through Wednesday, Saturday
Editor:
Matthew Siepinski
�
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. December 1, 2023
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
2023-12-01
-
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0259782e18799c755d72d49ec57bb5fe
PDF Text
Text
THE
MECHANICK’S
ADVISOR
11/9/2023
�Carpenter
Open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
The carpenters are installing trim around some
shuttered windows and a door on the brick
yard drying house, as well as clapboards. We’ve
also raised the scaffolding for the work on the
gable end.
- Matthew Sanbury
Clap board wall with window trim.
�Engravers
The Engravers are open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday
This week William and Lynn have been working through
the Brafferton Indian School gorgets getting all the names
drawn on and ready to cut. Lynn has been working on
several private orders as well. One of which is a mourning
ring coming up. Many options to engrave inside so several
were drawn out to show the customer. Bracelets as well as
pewter teaspoons from the Foundry are getting engraved
this week.
- Carol Zelesnikar
Mourning ring options and bracelet drawn out.
�Gardener
The Gardeners are open every day.
The gardeners brought out the bell glasses and hand lights as
Williamsburg experienced a couple of frosty nights last week. While
most of the plants in the ground are cold hardy, the glass provides frost
protection to more delicate leaves. Since those chilly nights however, the
warm fall days have encouraged a few late bloomers about the garden
such as Johnny Jump ups, adding some excellent color. The gardeners
have begun, in earnest, preparing for the pending shop relocation by
collecting daffodil and hurricane lily bulbs. A poet's laurel was
discovered to be terribly rootbound necessitating the breaking up of the
plant into three pots for future transport and replanting.
- Marc Nucup
Narcissus and Lycoris radiata bulbs being
Saving a very rootbound Danae racemosa
set aside along with Danae racemosa for
for use in the future garden.
the garden move.
Viola tricolor blooming in the warmth of
November!
�Gunsmith
The Gunsmith is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
Richard has been in the smith shop refining the shape of the
pistol barrel tube while Darrin has finished reaming the tube for
pair of pistol barrels. Now he is spending many hours filing the
exterior to a nice octagon to round shape before he cuts them in
half. The filing goes from octagonal to sixteen sided, to thirty
two, until they are round. You can see the facets in the photo.
Breaching them is next, but that's for a future Mechanics
Advisor.
- Darrin McDonal
Filing the pistol barrels shows the
transition from facets to round.
�Harpsichord Maker
The Harpsichord Maker is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday
Greetings from the
corner...Work continues on
the details of the keyboard,
with arcades applied, and
applying baize fabric and
leather for silencing the
surfaces where wood
contacts. No knocking
allowed... Melanie has
completed the soundboard
for now. She has turned to
making the bridge, a long,
curved strip of cherry wood.
It will both support one side
of the stringband when glued
to the soundboard, and also
critically transfer the string
energy to the soundboard,
which amplifies that energy
and thus produces the tone
we all know.
We continue... always. Best to
you all.
- Edward Wright
Soundboard and Case.
Soundboard Bridge and Tools
�Joiner
Open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
November has been off to a
busy start for the Joiners.
Journeyman Peter is away this
week to Tennessee to attend a
class on making a Fan Back
Side Chair, led by Curtis
Buchanan. We are eager to see
the results of his hard work.
Brian is diving into preparing
stock for the first of the Bray
School projects- a set of
benches that represent how
the students were likely seated
for their lessons. Laura
continues working on the
toolbox, gluing up the case,
cleaning the finished dovetails,
and planing a simple molding
for the bottom of the case.
- Laura Hollowood
The style of
chair that Peter
is making at
class this week,
a Fan Back
Side Chair.
Laura's toolbox, showing the dividers
inside the top compartment.
�Leather Breeches Maker
Open Tuesday through Sunday
Greetings! We are nearing the
end of inventory with the
washing and mending of two
pairs of breeches that were
part of the original "Summer
of the Breeches" project in
2015. They are holding up
well and brings the total of
still issued breeches made
that year to six!!
We also welcomed the
shoemakers back into our
shop for the winter months
as their current space has no
heat source. As they say, if
you are cold, they are coldbring them inside.
- Sarah Cross
The set up of Shoe island and Breeches
town.
�Printer
Open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday
Here at the Printing Office, we had a visit from Diane Rey
who portrays Anne Catherine Green, printer of the
Maryland Gazette. Diane and Cecilia Weaver both set lines
for a proposed book that would be small enough to have
sixteen pages in the press at one time. We plan on printing
on damp paper to see the paper shrinkage before we
commit to a final line measure.
- Peter Stinely
Type for proposed new book.
�Tailor
The Tailor is open Sunday through Thursday
November is National Native American History Month.
In November of 1773, the young Indigenous men who attended the College of
William & Mary’s Brafferton School were provided new clothing. Of imported
fabrics and English style, the garments were an integral part of the school’s
efforts to indoctrinate the students in English culture and religion. The surviving
receipt for the fabrics and accessories purchased reveals much about the attitudes
towards and the experiences of these boys as they negotiated a life between their
tribal communities and the colonized world. This year marks the 300th
anniversary of the building of the Brafferton school and this November is the
250th anniversary of that receipt. Come visit the Tailors in their shop as they
recreate and discuss the clothing of the Indian boys. Thursdays November 9, 16,
23, and 30. Ongoing between 10am-Noon and 2pm-4pm. General Admission
Ticket required.
- Michael McCarty
Invoice of the Brafferton Indian School
Clothing for Students, 1773 / William &
Mary / Brafferton Estate Collection,
University Archives, Special Collections
Research Center, W&M Libraries /
UA113.
Portrait of Tooanahowi, 1734 / attrib.
Jonathan Richardson, Sr/ CWF Collection
/ 2005-125.
�Weavers, Spinners, and
Dyers
The Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers are open Sunday through Wednesday and
Saturday
Annie's overshot is
off the loom! This
means that it is time
to set up a new
warp. Joe will be lead
weaver on a brilliant
blue point twill.
With nearly 1,300
yarns to program,
this warp will take at
least 13 hours to set
up. That is, if there
are no mistakes!
- Pamela Russo
Warp in the set up process on the
countermarch loom
�Next Week, Look Forward to
Updates From…
• Bookbinder
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Cabinet Maker
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
• Cooper
• Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
• Famer
Tin Plate Worker
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday,
Saturday
• Wigmaker
•
Sunday through Thursday
•
Sunday through Friday
• Wheelwright
• Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday
• Fife and Drum
• Founder
• Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
• Historic Masonry
• Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday
• Milliner and Mantua-Maker
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Musket Range
• Ticket Event
• Shoemaker
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday
• Silversmith
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
Editor:
Matthew Siepinski
�
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. November 9, 2023
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
2023-11-09
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/45914/archive/files/8cf46c9014c302c38d79ad14b502b077.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=h12uQgmeEqrPpZOhlWqfTJUqOautSnDtzBjRyS%7EADlOO1qfQOAGpjvfCwpYgWBGs0j0101N2v7dkL9quzCj6YKeTrsfZIaIcz7cJSpWjKNXc9vxZf7aMWM-RSd%7ETWk6niM3%7EX1MoWr6R9W5G3IOBWUmipGt%7ELnGbo79m8iUl9jlkpJI1KtWOaGMnBAjjkXYAA%7E-cPnHgs5YlX68DIjdgISLFeTqFKILyuUI9vTwETkBpMLqVNc7INdHsLMaGq2hQvpK-pKjDzRXvGw9kERtvIDe-zomT7-gx-XjTOks6-MBcatSEwjQ5caYUqoJUTqUJxcs6TUZofbd8bibjornMNA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
3078938d87896236cc3a10fb4ec39848
PDF Text
Text
THE MECHANICK’S
ADVISOR
11/3/2023
�Bookbinder
Tuesday through Saturday
Hello! My name is
Abigail Cagle, and I
am a sophomore at
William and Mary
who is interning at
the Bookbindery. I'm
majoring in
Linguistics with a
particular interest in
philology, and I'm
minoring in History
via the NIAHD
Program. In the shop,
I've been learning
from Barbie better
how to interpret with
compassion, wisdom,
and enthusiasm. I've
also been learning
from Bob about
economy of motion
and the sort of joy
that comes from
craftsmanship.
Everyone has been
very lovely to work
alongside and learn
from!
- Barbara
Swanson
Abigail making use of the light on a rainy
day.
�Brickyard
Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday
This week at the Brickyard the
crew continues to stack the kiln
taller. These will be the last few
courses before the platting
(casing for the top of the kiln)
goes on and we scove the
exterior. Scoving is a simple
process of smearing a sandy
mixture of clay to the casing of
the kiln, this will greatly
improve the efficiency of the
firing. Who doesn't love
smearing a very chilled wet
mixture on rough cold bricks?
Sounds like a jolly good time.
Otherwise, this past week
Master Josh debuted his
Halloween costume - Cousin It.
- Madeleine Bolton
The coping bricks make an interesting
layer near the upper middle of the stack.
�Cabinet Maker
Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
Please welcome apprentice cabinetmaker Tamsyn, the newest
member of the Hay Shop! Though Tam is new to us, she may be
familiar to many of you having worked in CW's stores and serving
internships with both the coopers and silversmiths in the recent
past. We're excited to introduce her to the trade and see where she
takes it.
Meanwhile, Bill has been knocking together a prototype for the
poplar chair he's constructing for the Working Wood conference in
January and preparing his lecture on enslaved cabinetmakers for
next week's "I Made This" conference at the Art Museums. John
has been practicing secret mitered dovetails - one of the most
challenging dovetail variants - in preparation for building the upper
case of his cellaret project. This joint combines the clean look of a
miter on the outside with the considerable strength of a dovetail on
the inside.
- Bill Pavlak
Meet Tamsyn, our new apprentice
cabinetmaker.
John has been practicing his secret mitered
dovetails.
�Cooper
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
We occasionally get questions in the Cooper's Shop about
yokes used to carry buckets. With that in mind, we recently
decided to make one to have on hand in the shop. We used a
piece of poplar provided to us by our colleagues at the
Carpenter's Yard.
- Jonathan Hallman
Shoulder yoke for carrying buckets.
�Farming
Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday
Corn was the essential “Giver of Life” for all peoples in the
Americas. Its calories sustained life. We recently harvested the
corn with the help of Darin Durham and his team of oxen. As
you can tell below- the oxen love corn as well! This year, the rare
18th century type of corn called “gourdseed” will be sent to
Anson Mills in South Carolina who will distribute it to modern
farmers to grow and this corn will be ground in Anson Mills. The
hope is that we can soon get this gourdseed corn on the tables at
the Taverns. A real taste of the past.
- Ed Schultz
Gourdseed corn in ox cart.
Darin Durham with Roscoe the ox’s
tongue!
�Fife and Drums
We've been very busy the past two
weeks at Fife & Drum. On October
20th, we led the William & Mary
Homecoming parade up Richmond
Road followed by Glenn Close and
her dog Pip. Last Thursday, we
performed at the Trunk or Treat for
James River Elementary School and
certainly had the most historically
accurate costumes. We also
performed as part of the Power of
Place launch and greatly enjoyed
playing Prince Eugene's March as
Seabolt and Green escort Audrain Motor
fireworks went off.
Sports group from the Lodge to Shields
- Brodie Adams Tavern
Ms. Sterner brought the Recruits and nonmarching Privates up to see a Junior Corps
performance
The Senior Corps marches down Duke of Gloucester
Street after their afternoon performance
�Founder
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
Last week we, along with Apprentice Engraver William, headed over to
the Archaeological Collections Building where we met with Sean Devlin
who showed us a number of artifacts that were found during the
archaeology of the Geddy Foundry. We’ve seen photos of some of these
items before in books we’ve read for the apprenticeship, but it’s quite
something different to see and hold the actual pieces in our hands. A
special thank you goes to Sean for making this possible. Now that the
Geddy site is back open from being closed for maintenance, Mike has
completed work on the candlestick bobeches. He has also started working
on a pair of silver shoe buckles. Drew and Leanne have completed
another batch of 500 pewter musket balls for use as souvenirs at the
musket range. We’d like to get a head start casting another batch, but we
must wait until the new firebrick lining in our forge is fully cured before
we can use it. That means, the apprentices can use this time to get
another one of their goals for the year completed by soldering and
finishing a pair of pewter tapersticks each.
- Andrew Godzik
Photo from James Geddy and Sons:
Colonial Craftsmen by Ivor Noel Hume.
Photo of the same hook from
Archaeological Collections.
�Milliner and MantuaMaker
Tuesday through Saturday
Last week was a whirlwind of a week for the
milliners/mantua-makers! On Tuesday and Friday, we
hosted workshops for the North American Textiles
Conservation Conference. Our goal was to introduce
clothing conservators to the hands and minds of 18thcentury makers by allowing them to handle
reproduction garments, pick apart seams, watch a gown
fitting, experiment with the cutting of a jacket, learn
some new stitches, and take a whack at pinking 18thcentury style. On Saturday morning, Rebecca presented
at the Omohundro "Contested Freedoms" conference;
she and two fellow members of the "She Had on
When She Went Away" creative team offered a lecture
cum workshop about archival silences and the
importance of expanding definitions of "research" and
"documents" in the honest representation of history.
Workshop participants learn to think like a mantua-maker, puzzling
out how to cut a jacket from only 40 inches of fabric.
Kate, meanwhile, journeyed to the
University of North Carolina to showcase
the completed reconstruction of Lanah
Sawyer's ensemble as part of the "Sacred
Nine" musical interpretation of "The Sewing
Girl's Tale." In her talk-back with the
audience afterwards, she shared her
experiences as a CW apprentice, sewing as
Lanah would have, and discussed the
research behind the recreation of her
garments. It's been a week defined by
demonstrations of the value of material
realization as a necessary partner to textual
sources...and we were even rewarded for our
efforts with a nod to one of our trades on
Jeopardy!
Lanah Sawyer's recreated ensemble on display
during rehearsal at UNC Chapel Hill.
�Musket Range
Ticket Event
BIG NEWS from the Musket Range. First we set
a new all time record for the month of October.
Second Doug is now a full fledged Musket Range
instructor! Doug has completed all his training
and is now instructing shooters. Which brings us
to thirdly we have now opened up to six shooters
per session! We look forward to the fall fully
staffed!
- Jeffery Thomas
Doug instructing for the first time.
�Shoemaker
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday
The Shoemakers
have moved out
of the Armoury
shed into the
Leather Breeches
Shop just in time
for the cold front.
- Nicole Boileau
Val repairing Mark Schnieder's boots
Nicole is halfway done with a pair of
channel pumps and overshoes
�Wheelright
Sunday through Friday
We're back from a whirlwind
two-week tour of England
and Scotland. There, we
attended The Worshipful
Company of Wheelwrights
annual Michaelmas Dinner, a
black-tie event held at
Goldsmith's Hall, London.
We also had opportunity to
study collections at The
Museum of English Rural
Life in Reading, The
Highland Folk Museum in
Kingnuisse, Scotland, visit
our friends Master
Wheelwright Douglas
Andrews in his shop in
Heathfield, and Master Phill
Gregson in Southport. More
things than can be typed for
this update! We are grateful
for our generous donors that
allowed us this opportunity.
- Paul Zelesnikar
Paul with a 1780 Carrier's Wagon at
MERL.
Studying objects in Scotland.
�Wigmaker
Sunday through Thursday
We've been weaving our
increasingly chilled fingers into
tangles lately. We have three
different human hair wigs all
being produced at the same time.
One for static display, one for
Benton to utilize himself, and one
for Apprentice Leather Breeches
Maker Wilson. We are all doing
different blending techniques as
well. Benton's is unique in it's
color blocking. Some hair styling
has been done recently as well. As
always, feel free to reach out to us
for any hair related needs or
questions. Also, if you know you
have special programming coming
up in the next couple months,
please do not wait to let us know.
The sooner we know about it, the
sooner we can get your hair ready
for you!
- Debra Turpin
Benton's color blocked frame, Edith &
Elias's color blend for display, Debbie's
frame for Wilson.
One of our most satisfied customers
reflecting on life.
�Next Week, Look Forward to Updates
From…
• Apothecary
• Sunday through Thursday
• Blacksmith
• Everyday
• Carpenter
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
• Engravers
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday through Saturday
• Gardener
• Everyday
• Gunsmiths
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
• Harpsicord Maker
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
• Joiner
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
• Leather Breech Makers
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Military Programs
• Daily
• Palace Kitchen
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
• Printer
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
• Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers
• Sunday through Wednesday, Saturday
Editor:
Matthew Siepinski
�
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. November 3, 2023
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
2023-11-03
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/45914/archive/files/25fb07c7ddfeaea756d3f05b6fd290b3.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=jIBtkL4dQoTD5WPWHfHjNxoHkDR4BhBZWVoDknaGGrAfkuMN6suCAfKizVijvKNShUhQvvV6cLGTkWhvV56CQ7lc8UxI3yJSo7OGkGkPpd79JsB%7EZLpGwRiPBO7wbsTafTC58cq6k4jUlR5ecNT6v2o2%7ExEYcUYj8bKnz5CvMttoHm6KIXFia-hXqkODY5tW0H9dr1FJ94gR7dUZ9I2R6eCm%7E5Yk6sJQ9vmOSD3DrZQvL5espnLKjbQe5wrVAjLhzhNoTVxX6dSABdCPnHb4amfq0AM4etTNCFzmeSZn46ytebO1UrWfIvQBVC7swQ5xypGbCEJBfoH6yGw17h8XXA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
796d182b20246aabe32f23d74e9a2016
PDF Text
Text
THE MECHANICK’S
ADVISOR
10/27/2023
�Apothecary
The Apothecary is open Sunday through Thursday
Stephannie
continues
compounding with
a sweet tincture of
rhubarb (a nicesounding laxative).
Sharon has started
transcribing GaltBarraud Ledger B,
which began in
1791, and Margaret
is working on the
midwifery section
of the level 3
apprenticeship
curriculum. We're
also happy to have
our NIAHD intern
Olivia in costume
interpreting!
- Margaret Perry
Olivia, our Fall 2023 NIAHD intern, stands
behind the apothecary shop counter in 18thcentury clothing.
�Blacksmith
The Blacksmith is open every day
In the Blacksmith
shop this week Ken
has been working on
hardware for a bar,
as well as hardware
for a wall gun. The
Journeymen work
on sine bracket
parts, Mark also
working on a
soldering iron for
the tinsmiths.
Broadus is putting
together a broiler
for Mount Vernon.
And Alex made
lantern brackets.
Josh adjusting a pair of tongs this morning.
- Joshua Rachita
�Carpenter
Open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
This week we’ve started back up on the brick yard drying
house. We’re focusing right now on adding some studs and
sistered studs to the end walls and gables. We have a few
obstacles to work around including hiding the electrical
panel box in a way that it can still be serviced if it needs to
be. A shuttered window and door will also be added in
coming weeks. Thanks to the blacksmiths, we will have all
the needed hardware.
- Matthew Sanbury
The re dimensioned studs on the horses are New brace studs, sistered studs, and windowsill
for the gable door posts to be sistered and for brick yard drying house.
the window trim and door trim is rough cut
to width for the brick yard drying house.
�Engravers
The Engravers are open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday
This week, the apprentices William and Emma took advantage of the
shop's closure for maintenance to take a trip to the VMFA, along with
our fellow apprentices Leanne and Drew from the Foundry. There, we
met with the Objects conservation staff and had a chance to look
closely at some of their silver collection, including a donated
collection of more than 200 pieces of silverware made by Hester
Bateman of London in the 18th century. William also had a chance to
look at the silver service of Lord Admiral George Anson, the captain
of the English ship depicted in his latest copperplate engraving, as
well as a pair of spice casters produced by an early 18th-century
William Fleming. The VMFA staff were incredibly kind and generous,
and we hope to be able to continue fostering relationships such as
these in the future. We highly encourage our colleagues in other trades
to similarly reach out to other institutions as you are able and help
foster important connections such as these.
- William Fleming
A pair of silver casters marked by 18thcentury silversmith William Fleming.
A silver sauceboat stand bearing the arms of
Lord Admiral George Anson.
�Gardener
The Gardeners are open every day.
Preparations for colder weather continue in the Historic Garden. In the
last two weeks we have planted lettuce, harvested bushel basket gourds,
dug a portion of our sweet potatoes, and sowed seeds for clover and
corn poppies. We also tried our hands at the masonry arts and stacked
up bricks for our fire pit. While recreational fire pits are fashionable in
modern gardens, a fire pit would not be the focal point of a formal
garden in the 18th century. Its central location at our site today will
allow us to stay warm while we work and interpret to guests through the
winter.
- Teal Brooks
Brick fire pit in the Historic Garden
Broccoli and other cool-season vegetables
A selection of gourds and an edible cushaw squash
�Gunsmith
The Gunsmith is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
The Gunsmiths took the opportunity this last Tuesday to visit the
Conservation department to view a nice American long rifle from
1774. The gunsmith who built it isn't entirely clear due to the fact
the name engraved on the top barrel flat is heavily worn and not
legible.
Darrin and brad continue to ream the pistol barrels and Richard is
making the silver mounts for a customer's pistol.
- Darrin McDonal
The components for the next silver mounted pistol.
�Harpsichord Maker
The Harpsichord Maker is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday
We are deep into the details on the new
spinet... Melanie gluing ribs to the
soundboard with sticks to the ceiling (a
very common method)... then she can
begin shaping them to give the
soundboard its proper flexibility... Ed
cleaning up the key front decorations
and bringing everything into preliminary
fitting into the instrument... It will be
like this for a while. Come visit and see
how it is coming together.
- Edward Wright
Go-bars Clamping Ribs to Soundboard.
Fitting up the Action.
Key Fronts.
�Joiner
The Joiner is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
For those of you curious about
our upcoming projects, we’d like
to share a look into some of the
original pieces we have been
studying for reproduction. For
the Bray School, we expect to
make a mixture of chairs, tables,
chests, and benches. Apprentice
Laura will be tackling a walnut
table, based on Obj 1933-36,
which has turned legs and
stretchers and will be a great
introduction to turning.
Also quickly approaching is the
upcoming Working Wood in the
18th Century conference. For
this symposium, Journeyman
Peter and Master Brian will be
presenting on an Eastern Shore
blanket chest, Obj 1930-108,
which features some eyecatching panels.
- Laura Hollowood
Black walnut table, Obj 1933-36 in the CWF
Collections
Easter shore yellow pine blanket chest, Obj
1930-108 in the CWF Collections
�Palace Kitchen
The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday
It was a busy couple of weeks over at the Palace Kitchen! We saw a
lot of familiar faces, as a bunch of our regular guests in the kitchen
all seemed to be in town at the same time. This past Friday, the
team spent the day with our friends from productions, as we
worked on a video/photo shoot with accompanying interviews on
our trade and food's impact on the 18th century and today. It was
so much fun working with everyone and cooking dishes for the
shoot. We roasted stuffed pork, make hominy over in the scullery,
and roasted coffee. We are excited to see the final product of
everyone's collective work!
- Charlotte Shoaf
A behind-the-scenes shot of Dom being interviewed in the Scullery.
�Tailor
The Tailor is open Sunday through Thursday
Mr. McCarty, Journeyman, is making up a single
coat front at the request of the DAR museum in
DC. It will be used to show the interior work
inside of a coat that is not seen once the lining is
put in. In this case linen, buckram (stiffened linen),
and wool make up the interlining of this silk coat.
Together they help bother create and reinforce the
structure of the coat's front.
- Michael McCarty
The main fabric of the coat is a lovely
figured silk.
�Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers
The Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers are open Sunday through Wednesday and
Saturday
Recently two new interns have begun at the Weaver's shop!
Lydia has been a revolutionary war reenactor for many years
and with a degree in textile design and a concentration in
woven structures for jacquard looms Lydia has been an
excellent fit in the shop. Kaya is NIAD student studying history
at the College of William and Mary. This week both ladies have
learned to card and spin wool and have tried their hands at
weaving!
- Pamela Russo
Kaya on the left and Lydia on the right.
�Next Week, Look Forward to Updates
From…
• Bookbinder
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Cabinet Maker
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
• Cooper
• Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
Tin Plate Worker
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday,
Saturday
• Wigmaker
•
Sunday through Thursday
• Wheelwright
•
Sunday through Friday
• Famer
• Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday
• Fife and Drum
• Founder
• Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
• Historic Masonry
• Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday
• Milliner and Mantua-Maker
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Musket Range
• Ticket Event
• Shoemaker
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday
• Silversmith
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
Editor:
Matthew Siepinski
�
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. October 27, 2023
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
2023-10-27
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/45914/archive/files/64c5735af70b7d72c356aec25711ab53.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=DGHCB8NUzenmorE91xlSOqHWYSKN4Mj5X9FuIRCrEh2JpDjWMFQia5IBUZ%7EFwbxnswtt3z7cO3r54FWPgwwKegGcl4N41C%7Ea61m3JSeUnncfWKvycZjPiCWWSk1r506Wi84b7jygAVcbY9Ri-KlKj7rdeBBl3S80NG%7ESpPucGhRo37RQWFxB7uNbDrAYIxGO7wjhXUAQk-3%7E2O5gvs2ASBl9MclM9PRBNIJb5QlR-QoYQ%7EYGj%7EQaOcJeJbcU0mA63jiRa6T1lxXn0jzLton5Ue9e7ej4YnxrpafkwFuOW7YgCr9QpjsWJUcc8iJ9jLm6g8Pe6Ye2LSYRThDyE-q5EA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
245577c9d4ba880a1376f3c0a2757c3f
PDF Text
Text
THE
MECHANICK’S
ADVISOR
10/20/2023
�Apothecary
The Apothecary is open Sunday through Thursday
We welcomed Sharon
back from vacation this
week to great fanfare she arrives victoriously
from the Midwest having
secured the best kielbasa
and aged gouda.
Meanwhile, Stephanie
has been busy reading
and compounding,
making some lovelysmelling aromatics: an
aromatic powder, a
tincture of cardamom,
and an infusion of
cinnamon, all producing
warming effects on the
constitution. Margaret is
currently typing this
from the Public Hospital
250th commemorative
programming weekend
while transcribing some
Civil War medical
documents for the
Archaeology
department.
- Margaret Perry
We also assisted our fellow sewing trades for
National Sewing Week with a recreation
interrupted suture on leather.
�Blacksmith
The Blacksmith is open every day
This week in the shop we
have continued working on
our hardware for the Bray
School such as the shutter
dogs and HL hinges. Josh
has also made headway on
the grease drip tray for a
peculiar grid iron design.
Sections of a gridiron, while in progress.
Mark has continued working
on the sign bracket project
and Aislinn on fireplace
tongs. We have welcomed
the cooler weather and many
guests this fall!
- Joshua Rachita
Decorative elements forged by Mark ready to be
fit up.
�Bookbinder
The Bookbinder is open Tuesday through Sunday
Mr. Doug Cohen volunteers his time
between the Tucker House at
Colonial Williamsburg, and Gunston
Hall, where he portrays George
Mason. A longtime patron of the
Bookbindery, he recently reached out
to ask if we had any scrap paper for a
special project. Doug wanted to
recreate seed packets that he read
about in Trend and Tradition Winter
2020 issue, that he could use at the
Grand Opening of Mason's garden at
Gunston Hall.
CW Volunteer Doug Cohen as George Mason, at the grand
opening of his garden at Gunston Hall.
Seed packets made from scrap paper, courtesy
of the Bookbindery.
Modeled after packets created
by William Hamilton and
William Bartram of
Philadelphia and used by the
Colonial Williamsburg
Gardeners, we were happy to
assist. Fun Fact: William
Bartram created what is known
as Bartram's Garden-a place
that you can still visit today!
Happy seed saving, Doug!
- Barbara Swanson
�Cabinetmaker
The Cabinetmaker is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday
John continues full-steam ahead
on his walnut cellaret as he
wraps up work on its two
drawers. Now that he's got them
dovetailed together, he will shift
his attention to making their
bottoms. Bill has settled on a
design for the chair he'll build
for the Working Wood in the
18th Century conference in
January. Bill's chair is a variation
on a design published by
Thomas Chippendale (1754)
that leans into the Gothic revival
tendencies of English rococo
fashion. Next, he'll swap his
pencil for chisels, planes, and
saws to knock together a
prototype.
- Francis Pavlak
John's cellaret with its freshly dovetailed drawers
in place
Bill's chair design based on an original by
Thomas Chippendale
�Cooper
The Cooper is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
Over the last two weeks, we've been working on
something new to us in the Coopers Shop. In response
to a request from the Tinsmiths, we've made some
staved canteens. We think they turned out pretty well.
Coopered canteens made of Atlantic white cedar.
�Engravers
The Engravers are open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday
Engravers William and
Lynn have been working
steady on the Brafferton
gorgets. Emma has been
working on
apprenticeship drawings
and completing a printing
plate based on artwork
from the 1600's of Dodo
birds! We have also been
preparing for our
maintenace shutdown
coming up next week.
Emma's plate and water colored print of Dodos
- Carol Zelesnikar
Wheelwrights print and original artwork done for the Wheelwrights trip gifts
�Farmers
The Farmers are open Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday
Farming is part of the Campaign for Colonial
Williamsburg, and the new Ewing Field is completely
funded by donations. The Farmers are deeply grateful for
this opportunity. See above Director of Coach and
Livestock- Undra Jeter and Farmer Ed Schultz giving a
message for a promotional piece for the Campaign.
�Fife & Drum
Fife and Drum has a busy
end of the month planned
as we continue our regular
programming, perform at
James River Elementary's
Fall Festival and
participate in William and
Mary's homecoming
parade. Our new recruits
are all settling in nicely
and our remaining recruits
from last year are working
hard to start marching in
time for Grand
Illumination(s). Lastly,
congratulations to Fifer
Morgan Shimp and
Private Orrin Chapman
for advancing in rank!
- Rebecca Sterner
A young guest enjoying the Sr. Corps'
march down DoG St.
�Founder
The Founder is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and
Saturday, but will be closed 10/17 through 10/27
Over the last two weeks, the Founders have been keeping busy.
Journeyman Mike has continued working on some brass bobeches.
Apprentices Drew and Leanne attended the trades event for the
Raleigh Tavern Society and worked on some practice blowpipe
soldering. The last couple days we’ve been shut down for
maintenance but work hasn’t stopped. Along with various research,
the apprentices have been reorganizing patterns in our attic storage
and the whole shop (plus Engraving Apprentices Will and Emma)
headed over to collections to check out some original pieces with
Eric Goldstein.
- Leanne Bellouny
Foundry work we wanted to showcase.
Original molds for pewterware.
�Gardener
The Gardeners are open every day.
The look appearance of the
garden has begun to change
indicating the end of the
summer season and the coming
of short days and colder
temperatures. Vegetables
grown for this colder season
are hardy greens such as kale,
collard, cabbage, garlic and,
spinach. For a little beauty,
Calendula, Snapdragons,
Wallflower and Viola are all the
color that will be seen in the
dreary winter days. Vegetables
of a more luxurious nature
such as Broccoli and Cauliflower will require coverage on extremely
cold nights with fabric stretched over wooden hoops. Lettuce and
parsley can be had if you had the wealth to afford bell jars or hand
lights.
- Eve Otmar
�Gunsmith
The Gunsmith is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
This week in the Gunsmiths, Brad
has been finishing a tomahawk
and haft with some polishing and
engraving left to do on it. Brad is
now practicing engraving before
cutting it in the tomahawk bit.
Darrin, with the help of Richard
and Brad, has been reaming the
pistol barrels and now is on the
finish reaming bit which will
polish the bore to final size.
Richard has started on a new
single pistol for another customer.
Richard started on smithing the
lock plate on Wednesday.
- Darrin McDonal
Brads tomahawk.
The rough reamed bore.
�Harpsichord Maker
The Harpsichord Maker is open Sunday, Monday, and Thursday through Saturday
Greetings from the harpsichord
corner... Melanie is deep into the
making of a beautiful new
soundboard for the spinet, a lot
of planing, lots of shavings. It
will ultimately finish at about
3/32
inch thick (or thin!). Soon she will
make ribs and a cherry bridge for
it, which will bring it into final
shape. This will be a big part of
the spinet's tonal character.
Ed has been installing little brass
staples into the jacks. These will
limit the pivot movement of the
tongues to just the amount
required for their action.
Staples for Jack Mechanism installed by Ed
New Soundboard in Progress by Melanie.
If that movement remains too
loose, the mechanism will not
repeat quick enough for fast
playing. This design, we
discovered, allows fine
adjustment of that movement,
simply by bending the staple
further in or out.
We are in the subtle work for this
instrument... the stuff maker like
to keep hidden so it all appears
magical and mysterious. But for
us, please visit and see how we do
all this work. Cheers.
- Edward Wright
�Historic Masonry
The Brickyard is open Sunday, and Wednesday through Saturday
This week the Brickyard crew
continues on as we come up on two
weeks since our pal Nick 'The
Notch' White left to grow beyond
the Brickyard. In the great Brickyard
of life you never truly leave,
especially if you leave a clay hand
print on the saw house.
Work on the kiln stacking continues
as the once small stack gets higher
and higher. Unstacking brick to
restack them is tiring work
surprisingly.
We're approaching the half way
point of the kiln structure with the
vaults, or tunnels, of the base of the
kiln reaching completion.
- Madeleine Bolton
�Joiner
The Joiner is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
With all of the cherry boxes
for donors finished and
delivered, the joiners are now
turning their attentions to
January's Working With
Wood in the EighteenthCentury conference and
upcoming Bray School
projects. We've been spending
some time with our fantastic
curators and conservationists,
studying extant pieces in our
museum collection that can
serve as examples of the
furniture we will be making
for the school. So far, we
have inspected a blanket
chest, a turned leg table, a
bench, and a few chairs. Our
thanks and appreciation to
Tara Chicirda and Chris Swan
for their time and expertise.
- Laura Hollowood
Brian Weldy, Master Joiner, and Tara Chicirda,
curator of furniture, examine the bottom and legs
of a blanket chest (1969-279).
The completed boxes, ready for presentation to
the donors.
�Leather Breech Makers
The Leather Breech Makers are open Tuesday through Saturday
Things are fairly steady here in the
shop. Apprentice Wilson is working
on the finer points of sewing and
apprentice Emma is starting her final
project of her curriculum. We are also
working our way through the first
wave of breeches turned in for
inventory and maintenance. It is
amazing to see the different wear and
longevity each pair has.
Inventory and maintenance underway.
Our oldest pairs in circulation
were made during the
summer of 2015 and still
going strong!
- Sarah Cross
Detail of a pair of breeches being made.
For Staff:
Please remember to drop off issued
leather breeches if you have not already
done so starting Oct 17th.
�Military Programs
Military Programs and interpretation are given at the Guardhouse daily
The past two weeks have largely
focused on training and continued
quarterly maintenance. Military
Program Staff continue work deep
cleaning the muskets and bringing them
back to a high shine both as a
preventative maintenance action and in
preparation for the coming holiday
season.
Terence attended the National Muzzle
Loading Rifle Association Instructor
Training Course in Fayetteville, NC.
This training will enable Terence to
meet both CW occupational
requirements and assist, as required, at
the Musket Range.
Alex is currently on travel to
Independence Seaport Museum and
Fort Mifflin in Philadelphia, PA. He is
connecting with Curators and
Archivists in preparation for a Spring
2024 speaking series; Alex will access
unpublished primary sources related to
the Delaware Campaign and identify
future collaborative opportunities
involving Virginia Regiments' early war
experiences.
- Terence Christian
"National Muzzle Loading Rifle
Association (NMLRA) qualification
target
Polished Short Land Pattern Lock.jpg -"A Short Land Pattern Service Musket
lock recently serviced and polished to bring
it back into good working order."
�Milliner & Mantua-maker
The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Tuesday through Saturday,
but closes at 12:00PM on 10/24 and 10/27
Last week, we welcomed Millie to
our team as a new JI. Millie is a local
student who will be spending several
afternoons a week with us as part of
her high school's mentorship
program, which allows students to
explore a potential career path in
their chosen field of study. To
practice her stitching, she's focusing
on a workbag and a sewing roll to
store her tools. In between
preparations for two workshops that
we'll be teaching for next week's
American Textile Conservation
Conference, Janea has whipped up The finished apron from the front, with ties long
enough to wrap fully around the body to tie in front.
two new aprons for the Cooks for
their upcoming Trades Tuesday
filming on Friday. Rebecca continues
preparations on her presentations
for the Omohundro and the "I
Made This..." conferences, with
some shift-mending and staysaltering interspersed to keep her
hands busy, too. Kate has moved on
to the petticoat for the Lanah
Sawyer project and, with the help of A single buttonhole allows the peak of the
engraver Emma, is exploring block- apron's "bib" to fasten over a button on the
printing options for Lanah's
waistcoat beneath.
summer-weight shawl.
- Rebecca Godzik
�Musket Range
The Musket Range is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday
Doug has returned from NMLRA training and is one
step closer to becoming an instructor at the Musket
Range. He is now working on his Range Safety Officer
certification. Hopefully we will be up to full staff by the
start of November!
- Jeffery Thomas
�Palace Kitchen
The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday
Closed 10/20
We've had a successful beginning to October over in the kitchen with
two of our Fall programs making an appearance. Our Fall Intern, Aubry,
got to try her hand at chocolate-making the first Monday of the month
and she took to learning the complexities of chocolate with ease. We
also had our second brew of the fall this past Sunday, where we worked
on a Porter, the workhorse beer of the English during the 18th century.
We also bottled and sampled the first brew of the season, the Old Mum.
The flavors of ginger, hot pepper, and coriander shone through better
than we had hoped for. A great way to celebrate the fall season!
- Charlotte Shoaf
Abbey, Dom, and Barbra in the throes of brewing.
�Printer
The Printer is open Sunday, Monday, and
Thursday through Saturday
Cecilia Weaver has been correcting her song, and this
coming Monday will be begin making ready the press
for printing. Copies will likely be given to our guests
as a keepsake for visiting The Printing Office. The
rest of the staff has been continuing with printing
The Virginia Gazette.
- Peter Stinely
�Shoemaker
The Shoemaker is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
Nicole and Victoria made another trip to Archaeology to
continue their calceology studies. The shop's video was
released on Trades Tuesday, as well as another one in which
Victoria talks about the baby shoes we made last Winter.
Nicole is halfway done with a pair of pumps with overshoes
for Mark Hutter, Val is fixing a pair of shoes for Dave
Wilson, and Victoria is fixing a pair of half-boots for Ren
Tolson.
- Valentine Povinelli
Val with some recent repairs. Victoria at Archaeology.
�Silversmith
The Silversmith is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
Megan is has been working on the blade for her fish trowel as well
as her tray. Chris has been chasing the details into the bottom of
her tray. Bobbie continues to work on the medallions and making
tray rims. George has started his tray and is drawing wire for more
tray rims.
- Megan Cantwell
Megan's fish trowel
Bobbie's wire rim
�Wigmaker
The Wigmakers are open Sunday through Thursday
Benton has completed his hand
knotted caul and is ready to
start stitching to the outline
tape, it took him approximately
38 hours to produce the silk
netting. Our NIAD intern Elias
is stitching on wefts of hair
that he has woven and Edith is
weaving the final two rows of
hair for the wig.
Benton's silk hand knotted net on
top of the outline tape.
These rows cover the hard
front of the wig and prevent
it from being seen. In honor
of Halloween, Edith's son
modeled her journeyman
project, a reproduction of a
17th C Scottish wig and
mask worn by Alexander
Peden.
- Edith Broward Edds
Edith's son, Sullivan wearing the repro
mask(sheep's skin made by Master Howlett)and
wig; the original is in the National Museum of
Scotland.
�Next Week, Look Forward to
Updates From…
• Apothecary
• Sunday through Thursday
• Blacksmith
• Everyday
• Carpenter
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
• Engravers
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday through Saturday
• Gardener
• Everyday
• Gunsmiths
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
• Harpsicord Maker
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
• Joiner
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
• Leather Breech Makers
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Military Programs
• Daily
• Palace Kitchen
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
• Printer
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
• Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers
• Sunday through Wednesday, Saturday
Editor:
Matthew Siepinski
�
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. October 20, 2023
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
2023-10-20
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/45914/archive/files/12b1f1c463c20e15ca5e959824f17acd.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=TbfJUClWYDYOmAPSbDkcjM285XBTSW5xxy7o-2CRJol7ug3RVKfrPPjGD0iX1I1nKc71Qt6na98ZjmvEq3axKQDB1ptzmzFniM%7Eozyr7JYdLgMNko2UUWby49o6Oou9h5Q-LWQbSZ6Q7qTSRb8KWyztQqshfbCnX6vLyZo7P5lUY4UvGF5erD9eWASmHnR8HGzVj3YNX8zqd6pQQRkxhPSr5ZpxSkN%7EDku2520LdlPgWJygYiUTTBHECnj-jI1NeWDATd5Izyw-3Bzo0J-wDWkwA1sPfZGVhXSNsMgsoFEDXyQJ0ir8lY3fuckSk9ofhVYmQY8ELk6sZzm0-9m7eJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
86562af045a6118c094e331c3b72d6a4
PDF Text
Text
THE
MECHANICK’S
ADVISOR
October 6th, 2023
�Cabinetmaker
The Cabinetmaker is open Thursday through Monday
A miter square in John's hand
a drawing board made of poplar
“These past weeks, Bill
has been doing some
sketching and design
brainstorming for our
upcoming conference
in January. John has
been working on a few
side projects- a miter
square for laying out
45 and 135 degree
angles, which has
helped him make a
drawing board that
imitates upcoming
work on the cellaret.”
- John Peeler
�Cooper
The Cooper is open Tuesday. Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
“We recently wrapped up work on orders for three
other organizations. In addition, we continue to
handle the manufacture and repair of items for use
within Colonial Williamsburg. This week that included
rehoming a tub that our colleagues in Historic
Foodways use for salting meats.”
- Jonathan Hallman
A rehooped salting tub for
Foodways. The holes drilled
in the bottom allow the
liquid drawn from the meat
in the salting process to
drain away.
�Farming
The Farming Trade is open at Ewing Field Tuesday through
Saturday, weather permitting.
“Welcome back to Marshall
Scheetz and this time as a
historic farmer! You may have
known Marshall previously
during his 15 years at the
Cooper Shop. He left in 2016
to pursue his successful private
coopering trade in 2016 but
missed museums.
Marshall Scheetz and his humor!
Marshall Scheetz
Marshall has been a historic
farmer way back when he was
at Claude Moore Living History
Farm in Northern Virginia and
most recently at the farm at the
Museum of the American
Revolution at Yorktown. He
grew up on a sheep farm and is
a voracious gardener at home.
And… he still has the same
great sense of humor as you
can see by the pictures below!
Come by Ewing Field and say
hi to Marshall.”
- Edward Schultz
�Fife & Drum
The Fifes and Drums will perform Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in Market
Square, Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and
Saturday at 1 pm on the Playhouse Stage.
Mr. Adams forming a plan with drum recruits
to help them pass up to the Jr. Corps.
“This Saturday will be very
exciting for the fifes and
drums as we welcome our
2023 class of recruits to
the Corps! 14 brand new
fifers and drummers will be
issued their instruments
and have their first class.
The day after, we will be performing in Merchant's
Square for Occasion for the Arts at 10 am.
Lastly, congratulations to Sergeant Luke Sipes,
Private Evie Pick, and Private Johnny Shrack for
advancing in rank!”
- Rebecca Sterner
The Jr. Corps stepping off for their Saturday
march.
�Founder
The Foundry is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
The completed CW seals.
“Apprentice Founders
Drew & Leanne are
pleased to announce
that after 145 hours
of finishing work, we
have completed
(along with some help
from Master
Engraver Lynn) the
donor gifts of the CW seals. We made 3 in cast
iron, 3 in pewter, 3 in bronze and 1 in sterling
silver. Journeyman Mike has continued work on
the candlestick bobeches for a private order. We
would also like to take a moment to officially
welcome our NIAHD intern Isaac who will be
working with us on Friday and Saturday
afternoons. If you're ever in the area, feel free to
stop by and say hello.”
- Andrew Godzik
�Historic Masonry
The Brickyard is open Wednesday through Sunday, weather permitting
“This week in the
Brickyard the crew
continued to plug away at
the kiln, creating the
beginnings of the casing.
Before the sundried brick
can be moved from its
shelter, we will be creating
a covered shelter. This
much needed cover will
Sundried coping bricks taking shelter in the saw house. protect the kiln from
any rains we get from
now until the first day
of the firing.
Otherwise, this week
we received a delivery
from the wheelwright
shop: a new
sandbox!”
- Madeleine Bolton
The casing for the kiln with the posts for our
shelter.
�Milliner & Mantua-maker
The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Tuesday through Saturday
“To
commemorate
Orange Shirt Day,
we created and
shared over 100
"knots" (bows)
with colleagues
across a number
Orange knots and a trimmed hat created to
of different
mark Orange Shirt Day on September 30th.
departments. Rebecca supplemented the effort by
also trimming two hats, one of which went to
Nicole Brown to wear during her conversation
about the Brafferton over the weekend. Kate
continues work on the 1793 stays and spent last
week assembling an impressive summary document
of her research for the Lanah Sawyer project.
Rebecca has been preparing for the upcoming
Omohundro conference and continues work on her
own stays in between. Janea is away for the week,
teaching a workshop in California.”
- Rebecca Godzik
�Musket Range
The Musket Range is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
“This week we sent Doug to North Carolina to
complete the National Muzzle Loading Rifle
Association student and instructor courses. These
courses are required for all Musket Range instructors
to work at the Musket Range. Doug has been
studying hard, researching and practicing his skill set
in preparation for this course. We can't wait to get
Doug back to finish up his training with the National
Rifle Association Range Safety Officer course. This
training is done in house by Jeff who is a Chief
Range Safety Officer.”
- Jeffery Thomas
�Wheelwright
The Wheelwright is open Sunday through Friday.
Journeyman Carpenter Ayinde on delivery to Masonry Trades site.
“This week at the Wheel and Wagonworks brings a
successful completion and delivery of the sandbox to
Masonry Trades. Many thanks to the Blacksmiths for
the shaft pin and bolts for both the wagon and Market
Cart chests. Murphy was invited to speak at Virginia
Tech last week for a few Public History classes.”
- Paul Zelesnikar
Shaft pin in situ.
�Wigmaker
The Wigmakers are open Sunday through Thursday.
“As the relief of cooler temperatures has arrived, we
have been working on maintenance as usual, in
addition to several projects. Debbie continues to
weave hair for Apprentice Leather Breeches Maker
Wilson's wig. Edith is building bases for Intern
Elias's wig and a wig for static display. Elias is
weaving hair for the static exhibit wig. Benton has
completed the outline for his new wig and is
continuing to hand knot the base for it. Volunteer
Marie is working on small attachments for herself.”
- Debra Turpin
Left to right: Benton's outline; Wilson's wig; Elias's wig; Marie's pieces
�Next Week, Look Forward to
Updates From…
• Apothecary
• Sunday through Thursday
• Blacksmith
• Everyday
• Carpenter
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
• Engravers
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday through Saturday
• Gardener
• Everyday
• Gunsmiths
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
• Harpsicord Maker
• Sunday, Monday, Thursday through Saturday
• Joiner
• Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
• Leather Breech Makers
• Tuesday through Saturday
• Military Programs
• Daily
• Palace Kitchen
• Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
• Printer
• Sunday through Thursday
• Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers
• Sunday through Wednesday, Saturday
Editor:
Matthew Siepinski
�
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. October 6, 2023
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
2023-10-06
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/45914/archive/files/aba35834bb19b31210dba01d06fee687.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=MR62H-6p19vUo2MkJsgIxOj3JLB76fRIAxQawhtzqxEnMNgCFm2F0siGUMKUO01qhCvxeBPr%7Egtq0cIUxRKeY03vFof7OcUsm5XBPVtRSSu7g5gtdS4APhAw2cWy7GhwHCSVLZWsZU0PK6U8xBQ80xzVSw-uHcvxBaAY05TB0Bg8GRFQ1xIHZO%7EwyanDP4uJp-n%7EyIx7Yw9a8BICJ7kw0VUXyyEvE1lxN5c62sz7jjaBhgHm2%7EZWgDa9irD6NKcejJ8a6KsaH1k-2IwBozEV9HueLJAetGFVHUYKdDWGo4FROGhi0060defWp9dD3UoGX3WpCdGt8Sutc1Gm6gle%7EQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
e85210d91f15726ec114de75a71e3500
PDF Text
Text
THE MECHANICK'S ADVISER
September 29, 2023
Apothecary – Stephannie and Margaret have
been busy this week reading, compiling papers, and
prepping for future programs. Margaret continues
to prepare work for the two hospital-related
conferences in October: she'll be at the
commemorative events on Oct. 12-14, as well as
the Omohundro Institute "Contested Freedoms"
conference on the 27th. Stephannie has been
reading and revising our 'shop files' folders,
evaluating currently held research on subjects like
hygiene, occupational health, and currency with
the aim of updating our shop's knowledge for the
future. We also rustled up a simple line of
interrupted sutures for a sewing-themed
photoshoot!
Suturing a piece of leather with a curved needle, linen
bolsters provide support for the skin between knots.
The Apothecary is open Sunday through Thursday.
Blacksmith – The Blacksmith shop is open Thursday through Tuesday.
Bookbinder – The Bookbinder is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Cabinetmaker –The Cabinetmaker is open Thursday through Monday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 34
�Carpenter – The carpenters have been working on clapboards for the drying house walls. Mary has
undertaken the building of her draw bench, and Harold is practicing brace layout/cut and test fitting.
We would also like to welcome our newest apprentice, McKinley Groves. Stop by and say hi.
Clapboards installed on wagon shed.
The Carpenter is open, weather permitting, Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 34
�Cook – Over the last couple of weeks, we have been busy over in the kitchen getting our fall intern from
William and Mary, Aubry, accustomed to the foods of the 18th century. Aubry spent about four days with us
as a part of her coursework, and it was a fun and educational experience for all! Aubry has made bread,
cheese on toast, a salad for summer, and stewed shrimp thus far. Since she has been enjoying herself so much,
she has come to spend extra time working with us outside of her required 10 hours a week. This Wednesday,
the team also had the pleasure of heading over to Christiana Campbell's for a tasting with the Chefs from
Hospitality. They have a new menu launching as a part of a special program bringing Native and African flavors
to the dishes created by Campbell's, and we were all thrilled with the selections we sampled, as well as the
opportunity to be included in the tasting.
Aubry with her Manchette bread dough.
Aubry preparing the bake oven for bread.
The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Cooper – The Cooper is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 34
�Engraver – The Engravers have been working hard on many presentation pieces. Emma has been working
on her apprenticeship drawings. William has also worked on trade silver from the silversmiths and bottle
tickets. Lynn has recently finished the print for the Wheelwrights and has been watercoloring them and
capitol seal prints. Also assisting in polishing the Gifts the Founders made.
Clockwise from top left:
Emma's drawing.
Watercolored seal.
Bronze seal.
The Engraving shop is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Farming – The Farming Trade is open at Ewing Field Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will perform Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in Market
Square, Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at 1 pm on the
Play House Stage.
Founder – The Foundry is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 34
�Gardener – Scarlet runner beans (Phaseolus coccineus) in the American Indian Garden continue to bloom
as we move into fall with even some late Nantikoke squash (Cucurbita maxima) blossoms in evidence. Corn
(Zea mays) and sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) have been harvested with select stalks left in place for the
beans to climb. The crowd favorite castor plants (Ricinus communis) have been removed from the north
quarter in order to turn, hoe, and raise beds for the fall planting. The apprentice's favorite flowers have
prolifically bloomed over the last two weeks: Colchicum autumnale and Mirabilis jalapa.
Clockwise from top left:
The American Indian Garden will be allowed to go fallow this winter rather than be cleared and planted with a cover crop.
A bed cleared and (mostly) turned awaits the fall planting.
All the flowers of genus Colchicum are toxic.
This yellow mirabilis flower displays magenta spots, the plant can have variously colored blossoms on the same plant.
The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmiths are open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 34
�Harpsichordmaker – Greetings from the harpsichord corner....
Melanie has begun joining the spruce pieces that will form the soundboard. Spruce trees do not grow large
enough to make one or even two-piece spinet soundboards. She must glue several pieces together to
accommodate the size of the soundboard. It means really accurate planing of the edges of each piece. This
one, based on the Harris original, is big, so some long joins are necessary!
Ed has begun making bone arcades that will decorate the front ends of the natural keys. The end grain of the
wooden levers was considered ugly, so mouldings or ivory/bone decorations masked that part. He soaks the
bone pieces in vinegar overnight to soften them, then cuts a circular decoration with a profiled drill bit. Then
he saws the circles in half and thus gains two half-moon decorations. Later he will glue the arcades one by
one to each of the keys. The effect will be beautiful. Come see how we are doing all this. Cheers.
Clockwise from top left:
Melanie Jointing Soundboard
Pieces by Planing.
Soundboard Pieces Beigh
Glued.
Ed Drill Arcade Profiles
Finished Arcades for Natural
Keys
The Harpsichordmakers are open Sunday and Monday, Thursday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 34
�Joiner – It's been a busy time in the Joiner shop! Laura has been cutting dovetails for the engraver's toolbox
case, which will form the main body of the box, and then will have more joints to cut later for a drawer and
shallow tray. Peter has made himself a new mallet- the head is dogwood, and the handle is hickory- an
indispensable tool at the joiner's bench. Brian had the opportunity while on a much-deserved vacation to visit
the American College of Building Arts in Charleston, SC, which specializes in teaching trades important to
historical preservation like architectural carpentry and stonework, plasterwork, and blacksmithing.
All hands have also been working on creating a set of over 40 cherry gift boxes for donors, to be presented in
October with pieces produced by other Trade shops.
Peter's new dogwood mallet.
Laura's toolbox dovetails in progress.
The Joiner is open Sunday and Wednesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 34
�Leather Breeches Maker – Greetings! Last week, apprentices Emma and Wilson had the opportunity
to attend a workshop held at the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, VA. The workshop focused on brain
tanning, a method used by Eastern woodland tribes during the 18th century to process deer and other skins.
The workshop also examined the political, economic, and cultural significance and impacts of the skin trade.
The workshop was taught by Talon Silverhorn, and both apprentices learned a great deal of hands-on skills as
well as amazing historical knowledge and research. This trip was made possible because of gifts to our shop,
and we are very grateful to donors who give to historic trades to enable us to access such opportunities. While
on the topic of thanks, A huge thank you to FCM for hosting this amazing workshop. We also thank the Tailor
and Shoe shops for helping interpret the LBM shop while the apprentices were away.
As a reminder, we are doing
inventory at this time and ask
anyone with leather breeches to
bring them in for review during the
times listed below:
A-L last names, between Sept.
26th- 30th. M-Z last names,
between Oct. 10th- 14th.
Supervisors, please check that
your current (and any former)
reports bring their breeches in to
be inventoried.
Clockwise from top left:
Emma attaching the skin to
frame, preparing to scrape
the epidermis off.
Wilson breaking the skin after
tanning.
Dry scraping the hair off a
deer skin.
Talon, Emma, and Wilson with
a finished brain-tanned and
smoked deerskin.
The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 34
�Mason – The Brickyard is open Wednesday through Sunday, weather permitting.
Military Programs – With the weather changing to cooler Autumn temperatures, Military Programs
has moved core programming indoors while continuing outside drill and musket demonstrations. Staff have
been at work preparing equipment for the first "In Defense Of Our Liberty!" programs by giving the muskets
a good, quarterly deep clean.
Additionally, Military Programs sent a group to the Frontier Culture Museum's "Global Tempest:
Revolutionary War Weekend." CW Staff focused on the 80th Regiment of Foot's presence in Edinburgh,
Scotland prior to sailing for New York. The CW contingent was joined by living history groups from around
the region, including the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
In tandem with our collaboration with the Frontier Culture Museum, Military Programs also completed its
second Homeschool Group Workshop. We look forward to working with the Homeschool groups again in the
Spring!
Left: "The 80th Regiment encamped, prior to Guest arrival, at the Frontier Culture Museum's "Global Tempest: A Revolutionary War Weekend." “
Right: Looking into the Guardhouse from the north porch windows.
Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Musket Range –The Musket Range is open (Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday)
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 34
�The Printing Office – The Press continues to work off 5,000 copies of pages two and three of the main
body of the current gazette. David Wilson has a column and a half remaining of typesetting to complete his
news supplement. David has also printed additional labels for the cabinetmakers.
Cecelia Weaver has completed the typesetting for “An American Parody on the old song Rule Britannia.”
Next, Cecelia will set a colophon, proof, correct, then print this item. Copies will likely be given to our
guests as a keepsake for visiting The Printing Office.
The Printer is open Sundays through Thursdays.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 34
�Shoemaker – The Shoemaker is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Silversmith –The Silversmith Shop is open Sunday through Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Tailor – Despite grey skies this week, the tailors have been busy in the shop. Mr. Logue, apprentice, is
working on a coat out of worsted wool. Mr. Hutter and Mr. McCarty have been assisting him in the making of
the 28 "deathshead" buttons for the coat. These buttons are made by covering wooden button molds with
silk twist (thread). In the 18th century, they would have been made in a cottage industry in and around
London, employing women and children.
Deathshead buttons look complicated, but the technique can be learned quite quickly.
The Tailor is open Sunday through Thursday.
Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 34
�Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – This past Tuesday was Dye Day! We spent the month leading up to the
big day spinning as much yarn as we possibly could. We were able to put together ten skeins of our Leicester
Longwool, and we cannot wait to see these go off to a good home. With indigo blue, logwood purple,
cochineal red, and fustic yellow, our handspun yarn is now a veritable rainbow. If anyone ever has fabric in
need of dyeing, please ensure the following: all fabric has finished hems, all fabric is labeled with your name
and desired color, and all fabric is brought to us no less than one week prior to dye day.
Handspun yarn dyed with indigo, logwood, and fustic
The Weaver is open Sunday through Wednesday and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 34
�Wheelwright –As September nearly closes, this week at the Wheelwright finds Journeyman Carpenter
Ayinde nearly finishing a sandbox for Masonry Trades, Journeyman Wheelwright Murphy nearly finishing
the Velocipede and Master Paul nearly finishing the undercarriage of the wagon.
Above: A Carpenter admiring his work.
Below: A wagon fore-undercarriage assembly.
The Wheelwright is open Sunday through Friday.
Wigmaker – The Wigmakers are open Sunday through Thursday.
Director – Ted will have open office hours: Tuesday 11-12, Thursday 1-3, Friday 12-2
As a reminder, my office is above the Weaver's Shop.
The Mechanick's Adviser is a Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills publication.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 34
�
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 9, number 34, September 29, 2023
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
2023-09-29
-
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Text
THE MECHANICK'S ADVISER
September 8, 2023
Apothecary – The Apothecary is open Sunday through Thursday.
Blacksmith – The Blacksmith shop is open Thursday through Tuesday.
Bookbinder – I am happy to report that Volunteer Bookbinder Bob Lyon is an enormous blessing! Bob has
jumped right in and fits seamlessly into the flow of our little bindery. Dale Dippre describes Bob as one of the
most knowledgeable people he has ever known on the subject of 18th-century bookbinding, and we are
happily basking in the lessons he gives. He also has a wicked sense of humor, and you can often hear peals of
laughter coming from upstairs when he is around!
Bob Lyon trims paper for the Homeschool Program presented twice in September.
The Bookbinder is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 33
�Cabinetmaker –At long last, Bill completed his copy of an 18th-century English writing table based on an
original displayed in the Randolph House. This table looks simple, but that is very deceptive. With multiple
adjusting mechanisms and a complex writing drawer, it can be used by one person sitting or standing, or by
two people - each with their own adjustable writing surface. The drawer space also includes two secret
drawers and a flip-out quadrant drawer for storing quills and ink wells. Meanwhile, John continues to progress
on his cellaret as he finished framing in the spaces and guide systems for its drawers.
Clockwise from top
left:
The completed
mahogany writing
table.
With the top angled
back and the writing
drawer open, the
table is now set for
two people, each with
their own work
surface.
The table with its
rising top for the
sitter to read, write,
or draw in comfort.
The table with its
double rising top
becomes a standing
desk.
The Cabinetmaker is open Thursday through Monday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 33
�Carpenter – The Carpenter is open, weather permitting, Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Cook – The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Cooper – We continue to work on tubs to complete orders for two other museums. We also presented
workshops for home schoolers these past two Tuesdays.
A tub under construction.
The Cooper is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 33
�Engraver – The Engraving shop is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Farming – The Farming Trade is open at Ewing Field Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will perform Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in Market
Square, Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at 1 pm on the
Play House Stage.
Founder – As usual, the Founders have been trucking along with our CW seals. With their impending due
date, the pewter spoons Apprentice Drew has been working on have taken a back seat. Apprentice Leanne
cast several brass bobeches: four for our "shell" candlestick and one for our candelabra. Journeyman Mike
has begun cleaning those up and says they're looking great.
Rough cast bobeche for the candelabra.
Rough cast bobeches for the shell sticks.
The Foundry is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Gardener – The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmiths are open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 33
�Harpsichordmaker – The Harpsichordmakers are open Sunday and Monday, Thursday through
Saturday.
Joiner – The Joiner is open Sunday and Wednesday through Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Mason – This week in the Brickyard the crew is starting to work on the site of the kiln to reclaim what
Mother Nature has covered. While we wait for the last bricks of the season to dry, ever so slowly it seems,
the kiln takes priority. You'll find us meticulously stacking the Clampe over the next few weeks.
Work on the kiln begins!
The Brickyard is open Wednesday through Sunday, weather permitting.
Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 33
�Milliner and Mantua-maker – This week, we welcomed our fall semester NIAHD intern, Rachel, to
the shop. Rachel has already made impressive progress on her first project - a sewing roll - and is beginning
to learn the shop's interpretation as she informally responds to questions from guests as she works. Janea
continues experimental work on a new "undress" style of jacket and petticoat, which is based on an image
from the CW collection. Rebecca's stays have been fit-checked by Master Tailor Mark and, after just a couple
of tweaks, will be ready for boning in a day or two. Kate has nearly finished the 1793 stays for the Lanah
Sawyer presentation; she has also been researching shawls from the late 1780s and early 1790s as she looks
towards the next phase of that project.
It’s the week of the stays! Kate’s 1793 stays on the left and Rebecca’s early 1770 stay on the right.
The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 33
�Musket Range – We recently had the lead removed from the berm at the Musket Range for the first time.
MT2 the company we chose to do the work, came out and performed the reclamation project. They removed
4845 pounds of lead for recycling. They then replaced the berm. We will continue adding lead until our next
reclamation project, which is slated for 2030.
New face on the berm and a barrel full of musket and fowler balls.
The Musket Range is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
The Printing Office – The Printer is open Sundays through Thursdays.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 33
�Shoemaker – The work continues as Victoria is nearly finished with a pair of slippers for Josh Graml, and
Nicole is nearly halfway through a pair of channel pumps with overshoes for Mark Hutter. Val has nearly
completed a pair of common shoes for himself. Val has also been in correspondence with the curator at the
Carroll County Farm Museum in Westminster Maryland regrading a cache of concealed shoes that was
recently donated to their institution.
Val looking for an instep leather to get a last up to the proper width.
The Shoemaker is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 33
�Silversmith – Megan is engraving her fish trowel and working on her tray. Chris is continuing work on her
tray and has started to chase a bottle ticket. Bobbie has been making wire for the homeschool classes and
making more medallions. Preston is working on a fleet of bowls and polishing jewelry. George continues to
hammer ingots and draw wire.
Megan’s Fish trowel.
Chris’ Bottle ticket.
Bobbie’s Medallions.
Preston’s Bowls
The Silversmith Shop is open Sunday through Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Tailor – The Tailor is open Sunday through Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 33
�Tin Plate Worker – “For by Hammer and Hand all arts do stand”, having traditional Blacksmiths as
neighbors is an immeasurable asset for the tin shop. Master Ken Schwarz has finished work on a sinking
hammer and started on a swaging tool for the Tin Shop. The polished hammerhead is ready for hafting,
something that will be done in the Tin Shop as the handles’ styles follow the preferences of the users. It is
bimetal in that the iron body and the welded steel faces are different metals, as it should be for the 18th
century. The "swage" will be copied from one in our collection that was given to the Foundation by Judy and
Bill McMillen. We did not yet have this specific tool in the shop, and both its style and the swaging pattern it
will form in the tinplate is appropriate for the shop’s period of activity and the 18th century in general. This
tool became necessary to fill out an order for a set of plate covers for Mount Vernon. The small two-bead
swage pattern will add rigidity and impart a touch of style to the otherwise plain covers.
Above: Hammer head ready for hafting.
To the right: Ken drawing the swaging tool from the original in the
collection.
The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – The Weaver is open Sunday through Wednesday and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 33
�Wheelwright –After a long absence, our Junior Wheelwright Liam has returned. This week, he set forth
on making dowels for upcoming jobs.
Young Liam dowelling away.
The Wheelwright is open Sunday through Friday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 33
�Wigmaker – Greetings! Our new Intern, Elias, started last week and has already begun to practice the
art of weaving hair. He will be working with Edith on a long term project to produce his own wig. Benton
has begun to work on a new wig for himself as well. Debbie continues to weave human hair for Apprentice
Leather Breeches Maker Wilson and Edith has started an outline for a display wig. As always, please reach
out to us with any hair related needs or questions.
Elias's practice weaving.
Benton hand knotting.
The Wigmakers are open Sunday through Thursday.
Director – Ted will have open office hours: Tuesday 10-12, Thursday 11-1, Friday 12-1:30
As a reminder, my office is above the Weaver's Shop.
The Mechanick's Adviser is a Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills publication.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, 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 9, number 33, September 8, 2023
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
2023-09-08
-
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Text
THE MECHANICK'S ADVISER
September 15, 2023
Apothecary – We have been excited to
welcome Olivia, our NIAHD fall 2023
student, for the past two weeks! Alongside
the regular shop curriculum, she'll work with
Dr. Galt's 1780-82 ledger to decode
treatments that Galt gave during the war.
Stephannie has made a compound
testaceous powder (antacid, with chalk and
oyster shell) and a decoction & infusion of
Peruvian bark (antimalarial, among other
things!) Sharon completed her full statistical
analysis of Galt-Barraud daybooks 1 and 2,
and Margaret completed a chart comparing
Public Hospital entries in the daybooks
versus ledgers.
Stephannie's compounded medicines:
a white, chalky compound testaceous
powder and a dark brown infusion of
Peruvian bark with mild sediment at
the bottom.
The Apothecary is open Sunday through Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 32
�Blacksmith – This week in the Anderson Blacksmith shop, Ken has been working on claw hammers and a
tinsmith's rounding hammer. Mark has been finishing paring knives for the kitchen and spoon bits for the
carpenters and working on a bracket. Aislinn has been working on her fire tongs and sharpening pinking irons.
In apprentice land, H-L hinges are still at the top of the list, with Ken teaching the apprentices. Alex has also
finished a dozen framing chisels for the carpenters, Broadus has started a fireplace shovel for Mt. Vernon,
and Josh has made some corner braces for a sand box going to the brickyard. As ever, all's well that falls well
at the foot of the anvil.
An H-L hinge, a pinking iron, and a spoon bit for a brace.
The Blacksmith shop is open Thursday through Tuesday.
Bookbinder – The Bookbinder is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Cabinetmaker –The Cabinetmaker is open Thursday through Monday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 32
�Carpenter – We have been focusing on the gates at Ewing Field these past couple of weeks. The
Blacksmiths made the hardware, and we mounted the hardware and installed the gates. One pair remains to
be installed but needed extra utility marking before the posts could go in. Harold and Shelby did a great job
on the three around the windmill.
The completed Wagon shed. The single gate hung by Shelby. The double gate hung by Harold and Shelby.
The Carpenter is open, weather permitting, Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 32
�Cook – Since launching into the Fall season, the kitchen has changed to be open Friday through Tuesday at
the Palace Kitchen. We also had the first of our fall chocolate programs, which will be on the first Monday of
the month from 9-noon. After the program, we had some lucrative research time, where Dom and Abbey
continued their training presentation on dining at the Governor's dinner table. At the same time, Barbra
worked on her presentation on herbs for the conference in November.
Crab Pie was made earlier last week in the cooler weather.
The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 32
�Cooper – The Cooper is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Engraver – The Engravers this week have been working on apprenticeship projects and exercises as well
as continuing silver medals for the Brafferton Indian school project. Also, the print for the Wheelwrights trip
gifts is nearly done.
Top: Apprentice work.
Bottom: Brafferton engraving (less than3/4" tall), Wheelwright Print
The Engraving shop is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 32
�Farming – The soil at Ewing Field will need to be improved annually over the next five years. Today was
the first application of compost since the original work in February 2023. Check out the black gold in the
photo. Meanwhile, Ed was in Pennsylvania at the Landis Valley Farm and Museum looking at plows in their
collection last week. In other news--- we are so grateful for the shed that the Carpenters recently completed
at the site! It will provide much-needed shade for us and guests and serve as a workspace.
Compost on Ewing Field.
Looking at the details of a plow.
The Farming Trade is open at Ewing Field Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will perform Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in Market
Square, Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at 1 pm on the
Play House Stage.
Founder – The Foundry is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 32
�Gardener – The Historic Gardeners have been busy the last two weeks removing plants from the garden
that are no longer producing to make way for our fall seedlings. One of the plants we pulled up was cockscomb
(Celosia argentea var. cristata). If properly dried, its colorful flowers can be saved for decoration indoors. In
a letter to John Custis IV of Williamsburg, English botanist Peter Collinson describes the process for a similar
flower, "Gathered in full flower and hung up with the heads downwards, will keep their Colour for many
years." In a very exciting update to the caterpillars described for you two weeks ago, the Gardeners are
thrilled to report that a chrysalis of the monarch caterpillar was found on our milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).
Left: Cockscomb flowers hanging up to dry at the Historic Garden.
Right: The chrysalis of the monarch butterfly on a milkweed plant.
The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 32
�Gunsmith – This last week in the Gunsmith shop was very exciting with the completion and delivery of the
latest rifle. The customer and his sons came to our shop to take delivery of it and by their reaction, very happy
indeed.
The finished rifle.
The Gunsmiths are open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 32
�Harpsichordmaker – From the harpsichord corner... Melanie's keyboard has taken full character. The
pearwood chromatic key blocks with the thin black caps will undergo a black dye. This is a very regular method
of manufacture for those pieces. Ed has returned to the jacks, fitting the pivot tongues to the forks and drilling
the axles on our little bow drill setup. The drill is patterned after one illustrated in Andre Jacob Roubo's
woodworking treatise of 1772. There are lots of parts to a spinet's mechanics. Best to you all.
Top: Bow Drill Based on Roubo 1772.
Bottom: Keyboard to Date by Melanie
Bow Drill Image from Roubo 1772.
Jacks Drilled for Axle Pins by Ed
The Harpsichordmakers are open Sunday and Monday, Thursday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 32
�Joiner – The Joiner Shop is still feeling the departure of our friend and colleague Scott Krogh, who is
moving to Alabama. Seven and a half years ago, Scott joined the shop with Amanda and Peter to become
the first three apprentice joiners in CW history. This past winter, he and Peter became the first to complete
that apprenticeship. His wisdom, knowledge, wit, work ethic, and kindness enriched the people around him.
There wasn't a project that he was afraid to tackle, and that courage inspired the same quality in others. We
will all miss Scott terribly. Please join us in wishing him and his family all the best for this next adventure
that they have embarked upon.
Clockwise: Scott, Amanda, and Peter on their way to start learning to carve, 8/20/16
Scott with his completed Food Safe before it is delivered, 6/17/22
Scott and Peter receiving their Journeyman Papers, 3/8/23
Scott with his reconstruction of the Finney House mantelpiece, 8/30/23T
The Joiner is open Sunday and Wednesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 32
�Leather Breeches Maker – Greetings!
We are asking all employees/volunteers who have been given a pair of leather breeches from the shop or
Jay Howlett to bring those breeches to our shop so we can do inventory. We will mark, wash, and mend
your breeches and get you on the maintenance schedule. You may also be asked to sign some paperwork if
you still need to do so. Supervisors, please check that your current (and any former) reports bring their
breeches in to be inventoried.
A-L last names, please drop your breeches off between Sept. 26th-30th
M-Z last names, please drop your breeches off between Oct. 10th-14th.
In other news, apprentice Wilson just finished his second pair of breeches, which were issued to Joe the
Weaver!
Joe is sporting his new leather breeches.
The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Mason – The Brickyard is open Wednesday through Sunday, weather permitting.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 32
�Military Programs – Military Programs Staff continue working on research and curriculum projects,
including finishing the 71st Highlander uniform hunting shirts and preparing for invited talks and archive visits
in Philadelphia.
Additionally, Military Programs is developing and refining Homeschool Group Workshops over the next two
weeks. Students learn about 18th-century military lifeways through participatory activities, including
equipment interpretation, cartridge rolling, military drills, and bat-and-ball games. The workshop culminates
with a fire demonstration of either the 3-pounder cannon or musket volley.
A big thank you to all our collaborative partner units (especially Weavers, Courthouse, Joiners, and Engravers)
who have provided security for the daily cannon demonstrations!
Matthew works on sewing his hunting shirt, a curriculum and research development goal.
Kevin stands in front of the Guardhouse to welcome the student group.
A selection of military equipment, including cartridge rolling materials, for this week's student workshop.
Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 32
�Milliner and Mantua-maker – The Milliner and Mantua-maker are open Tuesday through Saturday.
Musket Range –The Musket Range is open (Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday)
The Printing Office – The Press continues to work off copies of pages two and three of the main body
of the current gazette. David Wilson is beginning the setting of the final page of the news supplement, which
contains news from China taking 13 months to get to Williamsburg.
Typesetting begins this week on “An American Parody on the old song Rule Britannia.” A new volunteer from
The College of William and Mary will set, proof, correct, and print this item while with us this Autumn. The
song appeared in Pinkney’s gazette, its last two lines:
Rule Britannia, rule the waves,
We’re subjects, but we’re not your slaves.
The Printer is open Sundays through Thursdays.
Shoemaker – The Shoemaker is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Silversmith –The Silversmith Shop is open Sunday through Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Tailor – Mr. Logue, Apprentice, got to photograph
this waistcoat he made for Mr. Zelesnikar, Master
Wheelwright. Made of mohair velvet and wool, it
should be an excellent warming layer for this winter.
Velvet with a mohair (hair from Angora goats) pile
was a common choice for men's breeches in the 18th
century, especially for servants and coachmen.
Master Wheelwright, Paul Zelesnikar
The Tailor is open Sunday through Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 32
�Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – The Weaver is open Sunday through Wednesday and Saturday.
Wheelwright –The Wheelwright is open Sunday through Friday.
Wigmaker – The Wigmakers are open Sunday through Thursday.
Director – Please join me in congratulating the following members of the Historic Trades and Skills Team
for achieving their next career milestones:
Wilson LeCount, Leather Breeches Maker, has achieved Level Two in his apprenticeship.
Mary Lawrence Herbert, Carpenter, has achieved Level Three in her apprenticeship.
Benton Parker, Wigmaker, has achieved Level Three in his apprenticeship.
Pamela Russo, Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer, has achieved Level Three in her apprenticeship.
Tim Logue, Tailor, has achieved Level 4 in his apprenticeship.
Joe Wixted, Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer, has completed his apprenticeship and is now a Journeyman.
Ted will have open office hours: Monday 11-1, and Friday 2-4
As a reminder, my office is above the Weaver’s Shop.
The Mechanick's Adviser is a Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills publication.
Editor: Ted Boscana
Contributors: Apothecary – Margaret Perry: Blacksmith – Alex Hinman; Carpenter –Matt Sanbury; Cook –
Abbey Shoaf; Engraver – Lynn Zelesnikar; Farmer – Ed Schultz; Gardener – Teal Brooks; Gunsmith – Darrin
McDonal; Harpsichordmaker – Ed Wright; Joiner – Peter Hudson; Leather Breeches Maker – Emma Cross;
Printer – Peter Stinely; Tailor – Michael McCarty
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 32
�
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
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Title
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The Mechanick's Adviser. Volume 9, number 32, September 15, 2023
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
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2023-09-15
-
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THE MECHANICK'S ADVISER
September 8, 2023
Apothecary – The Apothecary is open Sunday through Thursday.
Blacksmith – The Blacksmith shop is open Thursday through Tuesday.
Bookbinder – I recently had the pleasure of visiting Historic Annapolis, where a group of talented
interpreters brought bookbinder and stationer William Aikman's shop to life, circa 1773.
It was interesting to discover that Mr. Aikman also ran a Circulating Library, which is a fee or subscriptionbased library. Recently, the Bookbindery at Colonial Williamsburg has come across more and more
information showing the different functions that people in the Print and Bookbinding/Bookselling Trades
sometimes served. For instance, William Parks, our first Printer, wore many different hats, one of them being
that he provided schoolbooks for the children at William and Mary through our shop, and also bought the
books back when they were no longer needed. Though I have found no evidence yet that Parks ran a
subscription Library, William and Mary did-- something I will share about more in the future.
It's fun to put all the pieces together, and it is valuable to see what a sibling museum is doing to bring history
to life! Bravo, Historic Annapolis!
Historic advertisement explaining the fee system
and terms for Aikman's Subscription Library.
Books that Aikman would have sold
or rented out of his shop in Annapolis.
An interpreter explains how
the Circulating Library works.
The Bookbinder is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Cabinetmaker –Bill has been hard at work with the finishing process on his writing table, building up
layers of seedlac. It takes a lot of time to apply a finish like this, but this table has been worth it. John is in the
process of gluing up the lower case for his cellaret, a big milestone in the project. Our volunteer, Sarah, has
finished up her time with us, and also a carved panel-in-frame project. We will get it all finished out for her
to take home soon. Well done, Sarah!
Sarah's frame and panel project
The Cabinetmaker is open Thursday through Monday.
Carpenter – The Carpenter is open, weather permitting, Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Cook – The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Cooper – It is with a degree of sadness that the Coopers announce the departure of our apprentice, Jackie,
for new fields of endeavor. She starts her new job within the Foundation next week as an assistant curator.
We wish her well in her new position, but we will sorely miss her in the shop. Meanwhile, we continue our
work to complete several orders for other museums.
These cannikins are just part of an order for the Lewes (Delaware) Historical Society.
The Cooper is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Engraver – The Engraving shop is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Farming – The Farming Trade is open at Ewing Field Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – We are getting ready for a busy couple of weeks here at Fife and Drum. Our next big
performance will be for Constitution Day on September 17th on the Art Museum Lawn. Meanwhile, the Jr.
Corps is growing in numbers as more recruits join and have their first marches. Lastly, congratulations to
Lance Corporal Duncan Pavlak, Lance Corporal Jude Pelletier, and Private Alex Wade for passing up to the
next rank!
Recruits march behind the Jr. Corps to celebrate Private Collin Frey's first march.
The Fifes and Drums will perform Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in Market Square, Saturday at 12:30
pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at 1 pm on the Play House Stage.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Founder – The Founders have been busy this week continuing work on the donor gifts of the CW seals.
We plan to make some molds this Friday for a private order and cast the brass for them on Saturday.
A completed cast iron CW seal; we also make them in pewter, bronze and sterling silver.
The Foundry is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Gardener – The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – The Gunsmiths are open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Harpsichordmaker – The Harpsichordmakers are open Sunday and Monday, Thursday through
Saturday.
Joiner – The Joiner is open Sunday and Wednesday through Saturday.
Leather Breeches Maker – The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Mason – This week in the Brickyard the crew steadily lost their numbers as several of the summer crew
are leaving the nest to take the gospel of brick far and wide. Otherwise, this week production of coping
bricks continued and are being moved into the carpenter's saw house as they dry. This size of brick will
likely be what finishes out or summer in the next few weeks.
The coping bricks fill up our drying bed quite fast.
The Brickyard is open Wednesday through Sunday, weather permitting.
Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Milliner and Mantua-maker – Janea has dedicated this past week to an 1818 bonnet that will
complement a brown silk pelisse in the Mary D. Doering exhibit when it opens in the new textile’s gallery
later this fall. The guests have enjoyed seeing it mature from its skeleton frame to a fully-realized version of
its printed source image and we can't wait to see how it looks over the beautifully dressed mannequin hair
that our wigmakers have supplied.
Kate continues research and stitching for the 1793 Lanah Sawyer project. With the gown now complete, she
has moved on to the stays, which are closely based on an original pair in CW's collection that she studied and
patterned a couple of weeks ago. After pausing to attend to some necessary shift-mending, Rebecca also
continues work on her own stays. The channels should be completed today, so the boning process will begin
over the weekend.
On the left: The bonnet's main components: the wire
frame and its pleated silk cover.
On the right: The pleated brim covering in place.
On the left: Covering the back is one of the trickiest
parts...
On the right: Nearing completion! Just some trim to
the brim and the ties to go...
The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Musket Range –While we were closed for reclamation our staff got to explore the Historic Area and the
Yorktown Battlefield. We all visited The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown where we found Doug's
relatives. We will reopen on Friday September 8th.
Mann Page 1st Doug's Great Uncle 8 times removed.
Col John Page Doug's Great X10 Grandfather
The Musket Range is open (Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday)
The Printing Office – The Printer is open Sundays through Thursdays.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Shoemaker – Val has almost completed a new pair of common shoes for himself, as his present ones are
falling apart. Nicole has nearly finished the first of a pair of channel pumps for Mark Hutter. Victoria is
wrapping up a pair of slippers for Josh Graml and will soon begin a pair of turn shoe pumps for herself.
We wish the best for our summer intern Tyler Swartz
as he resumes his studies in New England.
Completed shoes waiting to be issued out to staff.
The Shoemaker is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Silversmith –Megan is planishing her matching set of mugs and working on her tray. Chris is continuing
to work on her tray and the silver skewers. Bobbie is polishing the medallions and soldering buttons.
Preston is raising his large and small bowls and polishing the medallions. George is forging out ingots and
gave the forge an overdue cleaning.
Chris' Tray
Megan's Tray
The cleaning of the forge
The Silversmith Shop is open Sunday through Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Tailor – The Tailor is open Sunday through Thursday.
Tin Plate Worker – This week, Steve and Jenny have been working on patterns and prototypes for a few
items in the Mount Vernon kitchen order. Both items are based off of originals in the Mount Vernon
collection, which Steve was able to visit earlier this summer. From his measurements and photographs, Jenny
has been working on a very, very large canister for storing dry goods. It's been quite tricky due to a lot of
sections that have to be pieced due to the dimensions of 18th century tin sheets. Steve is working on a spice
box with a deep domed lid and sections inside the box for the various spices. The trick with the lid is stretching
the material evenly without hammering it to the point that it tears.
Steve starting to raise the shape of the lid in the morning.
Smoothing out the domed lid at the end of the day.
The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – This week in the shop Annie completed their third overshot coverlet.
This blanket was in black and white and the fourth and final blanket will be woven with a cochineal dyed wool
weft. Be sure to wish Annie luck during this home stretch! While the coverlets have been Annie's alone to
work on, we have all been setting up the second run of government set tartan. This marks the halfway point
for this project.
Pictured is Annie's third overshot and partially built tartan warp
The Weaver is open Sunday through Wednesday and Saturday.
Wheelwright –This week at the Wheelwrights has Paul finishing the repair of the new (ish) Stage Wagon
wheel, Ayinde continuing his alterations of the seating for the Wagon, and Murphy continuing his work on
the Velocipede and Lathe.
Repaired front wheel and fore undercarriage.
The Wheelwright is open Sunday through Friday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Wigmaker – Maintenance continues, as usual, especially as the summer season is winding down and Fall
programming gets started. Debbie is building a new dark brown human hair wig for Apprentice Leather
Breeches Maker Wilson, while Edith practices different outlines for wigs. Benton is now working on a new
hand knotted base. We will be welcoming NIAHD Intern Elias to the shop this week as well. Please stop by
and say hello to him. As always, please reach out with any related needs or questions.
Debbie is adding a support tape to Wilson's wig
Edith's practice outline
The Wigmakers are open Sunday through Thursday.
Director – Ted will have open office hours: Monday 3-4, Tuesday 9-11, Thursday 9-11, and Friday 12-1:30.
As a reminder, my office is above the Weaver's Shop.
The Mechanick's Adviser is a Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills publication.
Editor: Ted Boscana
Contributors: Bookbinder – Barbara Swanson; Cabinetmaker – John Peeler; Cooper – Jonathan Hallman; Fife
and Drum – Rebecca Sterner; Founder – Andrew Godzik; Masonry – Madeleine Bolton; Shoemaker – Val
Povenelli; Silversmith – Megan Cantwell; Tin Plate Worker – Jenny Lynn; Wheelwright – Paul Zelesnikar;
Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, 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 9, number 31, September 8, 2023
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
2023-09-08
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THE MECHANICK'S ADVISER
September 1, 2023
Apothecary – The Apothecary is open Sunday through Thursday.
Blacksmith – This past week, with the Master and Journeymen away, the Apprentices were left to play.
All three worked on HL hinges in preparation for the many upcoming building projects. HL hinges are a staple
of 18th-century English hardware. Apart from hinges, Josh worked on the gridiron. Alex worked on a cleaver.
And Broadus on a cooking fork. As always, all's well that falls well at the base of the anvil.
The work of the Apprentices.
The Blacksmith shop is open Thursday through Tuesday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Bookbinder – Dutch Gilt Paper, as it is known now, was not Dutch but most likely imported from Italy
and Germany and popular in English children's books in the 18th century. It was either imported from the
Netherlands or 'Dutch' was a corruption of Deutsch. At the time, it was called 'Dutch Floral Boards,'
'emboss'd paper,' or 'gilt and flowered paper,' among other names. The Gilt was made from "a very
malleable alloy of 11 parts copper and 2 of zinc, beaten into thin leaves, and used as a cheap imitation of
gold leaf. Not common in the world now, our Volunteer Bob Lyon found a place that keeps the craft alive in
the Orkney Islands, U.S. It has been informative and fun to see what a new book done in Gilt looks like,
compared to its older one. We have found several examples of the paper not only on children's books but
also on a 1771 Almanac printed by Williamsburg Printers Purdie and Dixon belonging to St. George Tucker.
The older book in the picture shows a children's book, circa 1775, with the Dutch Gilt faded, and what it
would have looked like when it was new. We will be exploring how it was made and will keep you posted.
A children's book circa 1775 covered in Gilt sits next to a modern incarnation.
1771 Almanac by Purdie and Dixon covered in gilt.
The Bookbinder is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Cabinetmaker – Things don't look too different in the Hay Shop this week, but projects are progressing
nicely. Bill is in the middle of varnishing his mahogany writing table with all its moving parts disassembled to
make that long process a little easier. John, meanwhile, is making parts to support the drawers and guide
their movements in his walnut cellarette. He has also been teaching our volunteer, Chris, the ins, and outs of
mortise and tenon joinery.
The mahogany writing table was scattered around the shop, with the cellarette rising in the background.
John instructs Chris in chopping a mortise.
The Cabinetmaker is open Thursday through Monday.
Carpenter – The Carpenter is open, weather permitting, Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Cook – We have been playing with Deceits over in the Palace
Kitchen this week. An 18th century Deceit is the equivalent of
today's "Is it cake?" viral videos: a dish meant to look like something
other than what it really is. Beef In The Sausage Fashion, which are
flattened beef steaks filled with sausage stuffing, rolled and stewed
to look like sausages, as well as Pigeon au Poire (pigeon to look like
a pear), have both made their way to the table. Pigeon au Poire is
always a treat when guests come in and think it's a "pear" when
really it is a whole stuffed pigeon wrapped in breadcrumbs, pearlike, with its leg sticking out of the top as a stem. During a three-hour
18th-century dinner, it's nice to have some edible whimsy on the
table for the guests of the Governor to enjoy.
Pigeon au Poire made by Dom.
The Palace Kitchen is open Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Cooper – The Coopers have been busy of late working on items to fill a number of orders for other
museums. A photo of some of the tubs we made for one of the orders is included.
Tubs made of Atlantic White Cedar with iron hoops.
The Cooper is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Engraver – This week, the Engravers have been busy with apprenticeship projects. William has been
working on cutting brass rings with mourning designs. Emma is well into her required drawing. As well as
working with some brass and practicing on pewter. Lynn is working on two special projects. One project is for
the Wheelwrights, and one regarding the Brafferton School. Photos will be presented when they are done.
The Engraving shop is open Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Farming – The Farming Trade is open at Ewing Field Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting.
Fifes and Drums – The Fifes and Drums will perform Wednesday through Friday at 4:40 pm in Market
Square, Saturday at 12:30 pm starting at the Capitol and marching to the Palace, and Saturday at 1 pm on the
Play House Stage.
Founder – The Founders spent their Professional Development Day rearranging and cleaning the Foundry
last week. Our back room has again been turned into a usable interpretive space, so come check it out! Many
thanks to Apprentice Engraver William and Journeyman Joiner Scott for some of the heavy lifting. As for our
work, we've continued working on the CW seals and, to give our muscles a break, started on some pewter
spoons, too. Most excitingly, Lob has returned! We're very happy to have him back.
The newly refreshed molding room.
Mike is back!
The Foundry is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Gardener – This week saw the Gardeners identifying caterpillars. While all these juvenile visitors will eat
and damage plants, some species are important as pollinators (once they metamorphize into butterflies),
while others are heavy feeders that must be eliminated. Black swallowtail caterpillars (Papilio polyxenes) and
monarch (Danaus plexippus) caterpillars are left unmolested as much as possible-though sometimes, it is
necessary to move these larvae to protected locations. Southern armyworm moth (Spodoptera eridania)
caterpillars do damage to such a wide range of vegetables in the garden that they are squished when
encountered.
1
2
3
1 Papilio polyxenes caterpillars are also known as parsnip worms.
2 Danaus plexippus caterpillar on milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).
3 An ill-fated Spodoptera eridania caterpillar.
The Historic Garden is open Daily, weather permitting.
Gunsmith – Richard is wrapping up the rifle build with the carving and engraving complete. Next is bluing
the barrel and finishing the stock. Darrin's pistol barrels are ready for reaming, and then the outside will be
filed and polished. Brad is building his first flintlock, which is quite a project when it's the first one.
The carving behind the cheekpiece and behind the tang.
Darrin's pistol barrels are still in one tube, ready for reaming.
The Gunsmith is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Harpsichordmaker –
Greetings from the harpsichord corner… on the harpsichord, the keys pivot
around a thin iron pin. We first drill the hole for this pin in both the key and the fulcrum rail. The hole in the
lever must be opened so that the lever can pivot. Here's the secret trick: a shaped nail, gently hammered into
the hole, crushes the soft pine fibers to form the hole into a V-shaped one. It doesn't take much work and
requires little or no cleanup with cutting tools. Come see us as we fit up the new keyboard!
Balance Hole Nail Opener.
Balance Pins in New Key Pivot Holes.
The Harpsichordmakers are open Sunday and Monday, Thursday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Joiner – This week, we are saying goodbye to our Journeyman Scott Krogh. After 11 years with the
Foundation, the last seven in the Joinery, Scott will start a new chapter of his life with his family in Alabama.
We will miss his hard work, humor, and knowledge, and we wish him the best in all his future endeavors.
Thank you, Scott, for your excellent work and good company. Scott has labored hard this week to finish the
construction of and glaze (add the glass panes to) the sash so he can hang both doors on the front of his
corner cupboard, completing the main construction of the body of the piece.
Scott, with his food safe, reproduced from one in our museum gallery. Scott with his finished William Finnie House mantle in the St. George Tucker House.
Scott with fellow (then) apprentices Peter Hudson and Amanda Doggett.
Scott and Peter with corner cupboard carcass.
The Joiner is open Sunday and Wednesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Leather Breeches Maker – We would like to introduce our newest apprentice, Wilson! He started in
the shop at the end of May and has been sailing along in his first level. Wilson is a recent Mary Washington
College graduate with a historic preservation degree and a minor in museum studies. He is a wonderful
addition and has helped the shop achieve great things. Watch a new video about our shop on the CWF
YouTube channel and see him in action.
Wilson is working on his second pair of breeches.
The Leather Breeches Maker is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Mason – The Brickyard is open Wednesday through Sunday, weather permitting.
Military Programs – Military Interpretation at the Guardhouse is open Daily.
Milliner and Mantua-maker – The Milliner and Mantua-maker is open
Musket Range –The Musket Range is open (Sunday through Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday)
The Printing Office – The Press is working off copies of pages two and three of the most recent
Virginia Gazette while our guests look on. David Wilson has made great progress distributing the types from
page one and has two columns set for page five.
Newly set portion of page five.
Stitching of books going to William Prentis for sale.
The Printer is open Sundays through Thursdays.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Shoemaker – The Shoemaker is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Silversmith – Megan has been planishing her matching set of mugs and working on her tray. Chris is
chasing the bouge of her tray, and she and Bobbie are making templates for our fall jewelry class. Bobbie
continues making the buttons for the medallions while Preston polishes them and works on his silver bowls.
George has been hammering out ingots. The shop visited Collections and would like to thank Tina and Eric
for allowing us to study their mace.
Studying the mace in Collection.
Megan's matching mugs.
Preston's bowls.
Chris' tray.
The Silversmith Shop is open Sunday through Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Tailor – There is plenty of summer weather left here in the Tidewater! Journeyman McCarty has been
mending some well-worn summer garments to make them last till cooler weather arrives. 18th-century
tailors in Williamsburg would have been doing much the same at this time of year; it is too late in the
season to have new summer garments made but too early to place orders for fall or winter garments.
Intern Percy Autera is working on a pair of lightweight summer breeches.
The Tailor is open Sunday through Thursday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Tin Plate Worker – The Tin Plate Worker is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Weaver, Spinner, and Dyer – The Weaver is open Sunday through Wednesday and Saturday.
Wheelwright – The Velocipede is almost complete! Murphy has finished the paint and varnish and has
assembled it! A few more tweaks, and she's ready for the customer. The Wagon refit is moving along, with
Ayinde removing the headboard and crates and Paul repairing the fore undercarriage.
Top: Velocipede varnished and assembled.
Bottom: Wagon repair in progress!
Front wheel in repair.
The Wheelwright is open Sunday through Friday.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, Issue 31
�Wigmaker – Greetings! Maintenance continues as the Summer winds down. Edith has nearly finished Mr.
Wythe's latest wig. Debbie has pivoted on the base she has created, and it will now be worn by Apprentice
Leather Breeches Maker Wilson if all goes well. Benton has been deciphering Alice M. Earle's Two Centuries
of Costume in America (1903). We bid a fond farewell to Stella this past week, but we will be bringing on a
new NIAHD Intern, Elias, for the next couple of semesters. On the unusual side of things, this week Edith had
the opportunity to plastic wrap and tape the heads of both Mr. Washington's for better wig fittings. As always,
please reach out to us with any related needs or questions.
Mr. Wythe's wig, nearly complete
New base for Apprentice Wilson
Edith wrapping Ron's head with plastic and tape
The Wigmakers are open Sunday through Thursday.
Director –
I am happy to announce the following HTS team members have achieved level increases in their 5-level
curriculum for our department:
Tim Logue, Apprentice Tailor, is moving to level four.
Mary Lawrence Herbert, Apprentice Carpenter, is moving to level three.
Wilson LeCount, Apprentice Leather Breeches Maker, is moving to level two.
Please join me in congratulating them on these milestones.
Ted will have open office hours: Tuesday 10-12, Thursday 11-1, Friday 12-1:30
As a reminder, my office is above the Weaver's Shop.
The Mechanick's Adviser is a Colonial Williamsburg Department of Historic Trades & Skills publication.
Editor: Ted Boscana
Contributors: Blacksmith – Broadus Thompson; Cabinetmaker –Bill Pavlak; Cooper – Jonathan Hallman; Cook –
Abbey Shoaf; Engraver – Lynn Zelesnikar; Founder – Leanne Bellouny; Harpsichordmaker – Ed Wright;
Gardener – Marc Nucup; Gunsmith – Darrin McDonal; Leather Breeches Maker – Emma Cross; Silversmith –
Megan Cantwell; Wheelwright – Paul Zelesnikar; Wigmaker – Debbie Turpin
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume 9, 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 9, number 31, September 1, 2023
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
2023-09-01
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PDF Text
Text
0
FALL 1993
Vol. VI, No. 4
AUTHENTIC:ITY AND QUALITY S NCE :93
.
.. .
A newsletter published by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation for its Licensed Manufacturers and Williamsburg Shops
Mirror Fair BecomesLicensee
of two
r'.
The meticulously crafted frames of the Williamsburg repro-
first half of the eigh-
ductions combine the talents of skilled
British
ill,
mirrors
teenth
11
the Colonial
centu
ry,
now
Williamsburg
in
col-
lection, will be introduced at the fall
High Point
L`
u = _
c
1.;
g .
i"-
ture
r
--
new
The
furni-
by
Mirror
deal frame of
japanned
one
furniture
carvers,
. , .,,,
y.,s, r' f':'.
and
cabinetmakers,
y;,:`
best of
our
that
inproducts
son
beautiful,
are
to
soni.
labl
saida
tStevell
and ssalable,"
Cav
president of
Mirror
11
o,
continue
tional
including shells and a Prince of Wales
feathered plume.
Weplan
mirrors
to introduce
this
s
G
l;
two addi-
i..
p rin g and intend to
introductions
0.
r>>
1:,
4
as needs arise.
1''',:.1'. , :',•'.,:
i„,1.•' :,':.:
i1:
1.•:, 1:,.
A japanned looking glass will be reproduced by
line of tradi-
antique
that was made between
Ir1.:', 1.:,• .: ,:. :', !.,:1-.,;:'., :'.
0:.:::,.,.•,........,;
i,.;. 1,: ,
1725 and 1745.
i,• 11,
Williamsburg
s"
S
1,-.: :. . . . : -•. . '
i:.,:', .,•:
1'.::.
r' . ., :,'"•.i,::,•.,.., :i,,:.. :.:,,I'.':,,:
i''''',
Fair, based in New York, isf
Mirror Fair. The original, shown here, is a British
extensive
y
Fair. "
Drawing on
from Colonial Williamsburgg s
examples
p
vast library of antiques,
hope to
we
impact.
p
5
y
authen-
g old leaf over wood and relief desi g ns,
Mirror
f
ues
and techniques
methods
handed down from father to
bringtogetherproducts
with maximum
g
noted for its
y::
finishers. " We hope to incorporate the
lookingglass is decoratp
with
red
and
ed
Y ellow chinoiserie delookin gg lass features
other
The
signs.
g
reproduction
Si
mirrors.
markettic,
licensed man-
ufacturer
Fair.
tional
from the
eproductions
1i,:.„
1.., : .:, :!.: ;
ass,,..;
fir
Licenses
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1-
i In
y
j
ten Willia
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t
House
4
p ;;
t°
m
sb ur
joins
was
a
eriod
priced
We realized
p
group.
g
demand among
f
g:,':,!.,'.:.,:. ,.',. :',.',: ',. :
owin
for competitive-
w 0 oden
accessories
rv .
and
a
i
occasional furniture,
i. ,'•:,. . . ;.:.„. . , . . ,.
y, ,;,
Fischer,
said Kris Fisc
group p roduct mana g er, and Tradition
House has done an excellent job of ro-
ing
and reasonably
The
ij!:' :!
includes
a
box
x
o
11on
1111:
h
stand
'
r:
cellarette,
tray,
shelf in two
V
j
trayon stand,
sizes
a
o
x;
Ten new pieces from Tradition House
will be inroduced
at High Point.
k
t
eca
con tinue d on back page)
lr
C
w,
at the fall High
introduction
Point furniture market
f
i: ' ' !:' ' :' ' . 1.- ' °
H
priced pieces.'
is;
f'
H
ducingan initial grouping
g
p g of interest-
r .
--
Tradition
roducts
Williamsburgcustomers
1
I.:,:....... --
the Williamsburglicensed.
manufacturers
there
i,„ „,„,„,:•.: .,„ :,:.,:„. .: •
I„.:,,
of its line of
With the introduction
�19ri14/
e-
1124/
e-
4'
AUTHENTICITY
AND
SINCE 1936
QUALITY
BakerIntroductions atHigh Poin
Baker
Furniture'
four
includes
ture items:
an
writingdesk,
and
a
fall introduction
s
upholstered
bed-
a
wingchair
or chair
a
table,
side
otio",..,::-.
p*
AiiiiiiitortNatuntiono- .,,,: \ i,
decided to use thesepieces to furnish
furni-
particularlyuseful
tti,,,:
smcgo*,,........ ,:,:,•• ,,
guest rooms in the colonial houses and
taverns
and Duke
alongFrancis
Gloucester
streets
in
o.
of
g;
:\ .,.. ,*::;.;; ::,,
_
i
small chest of drawers. Colonial
Williamsbur
g
s
designers
have
g
designs
should be es p eciall Y em p to Yg
alreadyable
bytoda Y s homeowner as well.
4
eighteenth century, is based on
mid- baroque period chair
r
p
,
r
a
r
y
r
1
r:-
figri*
V104"°""
:
54,4:
setts
Boston,
in
made
4i,.
fir,
likat,;.+.
a
y . '.
,.
.'
ram'
>:.\,
N \\
1
Massachu
ri
i
about00. The original
al
Y
eta
i•s from the large collection of
mid-baroque
,,
71":,:::,::
on.,:.,:.::!:•
Theupholstered wing chair,
h it o r
easychair
as it was called in the
w
\..
Williamsburg. Theinfillaiallk
period furnish
ngs
given toColonial Williriv
5.
r.
liamsburg by Miodrag
and
1.
0
8r.,
s•
o
Elizabeth
eth B
Blagojevich
n 1 977
agojevic '
y
g
The
ql.
1
iii,
1,
1' -
writing desk is based on a
rococo period table made in
North Carolina between 1760r
tenuated legs that terminate in claw-
drawers
and- ball feet.
size
an
was
built in
a
desirable small
in the late baroqstyle.
Final)
ue
Finally,,
the bed-
or
chair
interesting
side
table is based
Virginia
antique
made
the last quarter of the eighteenth
ry. It has
Media Mentions
The tavern
food line will be featured
The Schumacher Historic Reproduction Wallpaper book will be featured in
November
duction
1993
wallpapers
article
about
one
Baker' s WilliamsburgFurniture line
now
on
in
centu-
drawer and features at-
includes
niture,
forty- seven pieces of fur-
with pieces for the dining room,
room,
and bedroom, and a vari-
living
ety of accent pieces.
Mottahedeh Introduces New Pieces and
in the December 1993 issue of Country
Living.
a
at
and 1790. Based on an English
original
g
made
about 1740, the small chest of
repro-
in Southern Accents
magazine.
a
a
Promotes Dinnerware
Be sure not to miss Mottahedeh' s
promotion, which
takes place October 15 through
g November 25. With each purchase of four or
special
Thanksgiving
eight place settings of Duke of GloucesWoman s Daywill feature two cookie
cutters and the Stevens Linens Abbyter, Chelsea Bird, or Imperial
Blue china
p
Aldrich Rockefeller
Folk Art Center
will receive an accessory item
customers
Holiday Tree tea towel and pot holder
in thepattern. With fourplace settings
g
in its December 1993 issue.
five pieces each) of Duke of GloucesThe new Crown Crafts Williamsburg
terpurchasers receive a free shell dish•
William and Marypillow shams will be
with eight place settings they receive a
featured in a December/ Januaryift
g
pitcher. In the Chelsea Bird pattern, four
story in Home magazine.
A tabletop story in the December/
place settings( four pieces each) earns a
trumpet vase; a pair of trumpet vases
January issue of Brides magazine will
Mottahedeh' s. Imperial Blue
include
with eight place settings. Four
comes
dinnerware from the Williamsburg Resettings (
five pieces each) of Implace
productions Program.
erial
include
Blue
a scallo
p
p ed bowl;
The September 1993 issue of Colonial
with
eight
settings,
customers
replace
Homes included the Period Lighting handfour rimmed soup bowls.
ceive
held tin lantern from
a
t
x
r
1yc.
4
Q`
r
Williamsburg.
a
a, '
a
y
i
3
A,
4,
iv,(
z. a:
sa::°
r°
3`}'
At market this fall, Mottahedeh will
introduce
additional pieces
in the popular Duke of Gloucester pattern, based
a
platter from the service commissioned by William Henry, duke of
on
Gloucester, about 1770. A pair of shallow, lobed- edged dishes have been developed. The pair will retail for$ 100.
,
�sue
G• r,,,•,'._.-
9reffeira
..,.-
r...
_-,
AUTHENTICITY
Hall
in Octo-
reopens
g :
a
k..
na
..
AND
Bassett Hall and the Rockefellers in
When Bassett
_
Williamsburg
t.
r
4:'` `
it\.
SINCE 1936
QUALITY
7t"..., ,\
Y:
4
ber
will learn
visitors
a`
about the
more
r
! '
Mgt>
and what theydid in
Rockefellers
A
v .
1>i< `'
a
5i":
'.
F.
Z
ax:`„
a n
d
o
hn D. R o ck ee
f 1le r
was
.
D. Rockefeller,
nd the
e v er
;
r.
to discuss the
mac:
Hall
s °
4
>,
r
r:.,,>
f0
''
Yj'
s.
3' ke':..'
A
YM
w
a
ate,..
s,„',
xiUR"
i
a
A
a
i;
w
g.
Y``
x
W
fib''
t .\
"
itnt
c. v
.\? \'
II
COS'
v
te•,
w,
i$
F
3`
a.
ksb'
tip.'
ay ¢
r.
a' a` :'
a\.
r.
:::,:,,
irt
''
tis
A
``'<`` `,.:
4
It„
story, eighteenth- century frame home
focused on the furnishings and partic-
l is •
p_.`' ..
1 "" ''"
a
1`
l,
Colonel Philip Johnson is believed to have built Bassett Hall between 1753 and 1766, but the house is named for
Burwell Bassett, who bought the property about 1800 and owned it for nearly forty years. Abby Aldrich and John
ularl y the folk art collections of Abby
y
Aldrich Rockefeller. She and John D.
D. Rockefeller, Jr., bought and restored the house in the 1930s. It was bequeathed to the Colonial Williamsburg
Foundation in 1979 along with its furnishings and a 585- acre tract of rolling woodlands.
Jr., restored the house and
Rockefeller,
its
gardens in the
returned to the eclec-
expansive
They
tically decorated home
twice
four
time for the
at
weeks
their
With the
a
did
year for
a
to be and what the Rockefellers
came
they visited
when
said Lawrence
re-
will learn
of the
Al-
dinary
last
the
Abby
Folk Art Center
had the opportunity to shift
the interpretation
at Bassett Hall from
more
director of
visitors will follow an audio tour that
reception
to
center
and
film. " We
newsreels,
graphs,
see
extraorenter
photographs
view
will
mu-
visitor
people." Visitors will first
ductory
Williamsburg
people who knew the
Rockefellers to orient guests there. Then
about these
of the Rockefellers
we
folk art to how Colonial
Henry,
with
interviews
Williamsburg,"
Now, at Bassett Hall, the
seums."
lives•
expansion
drich Rockefeller
year,
":'..
enter-
Williamsburg
IBICi\
of
h.\::
,<,:,,,"::`
r
alike.
mainder
w
S'
a
a;``'
a :
Previous interpretations of thetwo-
six
aZ.,
„'
At
Williamsburg.
Rockefellers
the
NJ;.`^"
a..:,
,
a,
::\
xL .\.\.
of the
restoration
.:
:.
1.*:::,, e:',:kil::'•::':.:'::
t1',',
4'.•*"
*
met in the late
tamed dignitaries and
to
.•,,•;',
C.^
i-`.;\
great oak that
r.
JJr.,
old colonial capital in
mid- 1930s.
Mpg
iipatt:,
4-0,
i4ii:',* ii„
;,:
a.
planned
v,
i,,
..:.,
411,4 `.
end W. A. R. Goodwin
citizens
x.
i,-;,
Vr.tkt,':'
L!A'
k,: 2Zi::,,
24.4Z,001;':','
v?.
.
under
three- hundred- year- old
Bassett
a:.:
a"
i, ,
wasiN011itti'•,:,::;:''.,
Bassett Halls
•,,:,:
to them• It
1920s
y,.
t`'``
YR
li a m sbu r g sHall
d•
Bassett
nt to the
adjacent
Historic
Area)
sto
csec
al
John
z."
y.'
z
hadseveral
hColonial W it
houses,
a
Jr.
'
a."'
.'..".
\
3,
c::
\,:
S <'"
Williamsbur • g Although
g AbbyAldrich
R oc k e f e 11 e r
z
intro-
an
use
recordings,
photoand
will guide them outside,
house, and through the
parlor, bedrooms, and
then
outside
again
around the
living
dining
room,
room,
to the orangery,
or
teahouse."
Although John D. Rockefeller, Jr.,
his usual
had many philanthropies,
to create
was
an
agency and
himself
h'
from
mse
om a
rover
me.
project
' time.
At Williamsburg, however his ex eri-
pattern
hI
a;
71
AO
7-
1 ,
x
"
x
r
h
mac.\`
remove
ence
s
was
allynvo
a
a'
E:,
E
iiii,ig:f.-------,-:'"'"'''"'"'"—'—
the
r
Atiinvolvedd
x
v
o
R. Goodwin
Iwo
1;lk
'
was
p erson
theactivity here until
in
his death1960
:,.,,.:
,, .\„ ,,
ti \
pp osite. He
with1
The Reverend
n
W. A
rector of Bruton Parish
Church, had hoped that would be the
case when he first won Rockefeller over
z
41.
26re,.::'
ilt „:, , — '
2t:::r:' ,,,,:,..„,,,::',.:
',
to the support of his vision to restore
'
Laiiit •
Y'
the eighteenth- century town.
Even though the interpretation uses
a
more than furniture and objects to tell
M
u
lif
personalityof the residents of Bassett
Hall• " Visitors
1
a'
saw '
a. \ .
a„ `
D
°
moats'
x,Z,
w'
the story, these same objects reflect the
ro '.\\
V\\
..
gig.
a,
x:<;..
will
notice
the richly
texturedobject- presence presence of the hous e,"
said Henry. " The Rockefellers surrounded themselves with objects they
loved. Abby Rockefeller s more avant
The collection at Bassett Hall reflects the Rockefellers'
interest in collecting and living with objects they enjoyed.
1
�9reffe, /,
J8
AUTHENTICITY
AND
SINCE 1936
QUALITY
garde collectinghas received a lot of attention at Colonial Williamsburgover
the
but John was an avid collec
ears
for too."
interested in Chinese
and medieval
ceramics
rt. He
the buildin
the
o
f the
ecoe
collection
a
City
in
Uni
se n se
a
H all a r e
ca n
t h at
sa
most important
msbur
themselves,"
nd
collectin
mic
o n e
Rockefellers
at Willi
er
t
their tour with
an
and
an
their imprint on the
licensed
Williamsburg
including Baker
toward
y.
and
i'A
t ':!
'
Y'. .(,
'
y
v
fl'
,,
a6sn,'„.
;
o,
carets
a,
W
of Gloucester Street in
r
Fife and Drum
Cor
to A
s
a,
f•-(
1.-`
lk,:.____-_,-...
2
,—
41 ..)
ear in
117
yy
r
f
L
Sri:
r _ __
s
,, \=
o%.>.`
v
44,7,
y
p
Williamsburg'
one
of
our
s
Fife
visitors'
5
and
favor-
1,--^ _
s
of twelve marching groups
selected for the nationally televised
was
'
ar -
L
R
one
'
:?
s=
event from
a
total of
more
than three
E \-__
per`
i,
A16.''
f.•.>`;',,;;
J
vw !
/,
r.
hundred applicants.
x,
Philadelphia
9:.
I
The Fifes and Drums
d:
;'
M
y `;
Colonial
Z'
4,,,,. ,,
3" _/
i ; .,
as>.'i
a=.,
w:,
wits,,
Duke
ite and most memorable programs, will
perform in this year' s Macy' s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. It
Hall.
o :.
q:>`;"
Sw. iy
A
4,
Williamsburg'
usually be seen marching down
Williamsburg, but they will be marching down Broadway on Thanksgiving Day.
can
r.,/:;,;:
r
4f'.'
k.-`':..' ''
R, ,: / :
4'::,::
1
r,
l!
4/.'
s> ';
f.'.
4 ;
Fife and Drum Corps
s
Drum Corps,
enjoyed entertaining
in the orangery with
the flower gardens and rolling woodlands.
k
n/ A .:`
:..,,,;
Colonial
Kohlberg
at Bassett
display
p Y
r'''''''''''';',*'''''''''';':,;<--'
1:;'''''';';:
7,
N
s , .,
110104t?'
s,
4004,:
4:::
Furniture, D. R.
from the Rockefeller
and needlework
vista
7.
724:
1:70.1.
rvlacv' s Parade
manufactur-
have copied items of furniture,
its
4744
y7--
and Michaelian
The Rockefellers
4k,,,,,,,,,,,,,,‘,,,,
ek,, ,,,
,,,,,,,;\
fir,
visi-
for the Rockefellers
on
, „:,,,,
1\
the
when
surroundings,
conclude
collection
t,
wi 1 1 be 1 ed tote
h
development of Colonial Williamsburg.
Dimes
k, ,,!:,\ ,;,,
,,,,:
ks‘:,,,,
t!,..
stayed at Bassett Hall.
understandingof
ers
q .
o
t.. ,
house bywayof
visitors
peaceful
admiration
AI:
continued.
Henry
the Rockefellers
tors will
o
is ..::.
collections
the periods in the spring and fall
In these
A
4.
1, i:
hJ
dining
gardens and orangery. The gardens feature flowers that would bloom during
room,
N
the buildings
were
Leavingthe
a
x
,
art
a
t theCloisters.
at
ThecupboardsBassett.
fill d with his
24,„41:,‘
i
to handle
tapestries that later became
corn
`
even
of art includingthe
overflow
o
:, v.
'\
next to the fam-
home in New York
it
taste and
conservative
articularl
was
had more
D. RockefellerJr.
John
traditional and
1987
s
p erformed at
Constitution
i,',.
S• .
s.
r•.
Il,
i
i'
Pa
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wnr.C.
.
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Regiment,
r
LizaGusler,
G
Williamsburg
represents
the
which
was
Wi
ColonialWilliamsburg
sburg
t o r will b e w o r k in,.,:
g
with other consultants and staff in
consultin
Schumacher
g'
4: i3.,%:. ..
3''"'`, .:
bill of the Virginia
,
y,'
y
4.'.
S1eetmcin Svlendor
Fife and
cisco,
modern
and
c ur a
showrooms
in San Fran-
California, St. Louis,
Missouri,
Troy, Michigan, on a one- day sem-
State Garri-
inar that focuses
raised bya
more
information
on
bed han g ins
g For
the
ro
ram, en-
on
,'
FF , ,,
y
I,i::.
Broadcasting Cor-
counterpart
to the Virginia
g
p
';
,.. :
Corps
National Public Ra
Y
"'
son
z`.,; ...-
y .
e';..:
Drum
a.
',
3/,:,/!;'
J'
f
u :,
V?.
`'
poration.
The Colonial
y
v
in..,...
n..,....,
u.......
on
dio and the British
iial!
m
tical
cAir
has been heard
i:1-:
and Justice,
and the TacJ /
d The Corpsmusic
Command.
Co
ma
s
Y';
a
Army/ Navy,
y
444;
liiii
irrnr...
mendation from the departments of the
a'
y
n.,,"„
rade and has received letters of com-
17:'` ,
IV:,,i4'' fi.;'v
in
May
1778.
General Assemblytitled"
Sleeping
in Splendor," call Mrs.
Gusler at 804- 220- 7526.
......
�91e.f4g,144®
AUTHENTICITY
Tool Exhibition Opens at DeWitt Wallace
Colonial
The
dation
Working
exhibition "
Wood in Eighteenth-
America"
January
on
liamsburg,
Century
14, 1994. The
ex-
hibit at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative
Arts
will
Gallery
and will feature
through
run
more
Six
Tools:
June
than 1, 500 eigh-
and early nineteenth- century
woodworking tools and related objects
teenth-
and
museums,
Loan
Museum
tools
gland;
family
of
the Winterthur
by
Kent,
the
by
En-
Dominy
Island, New York, from
Long
Samuel
the Guild-
in Rochester,
owned
pri-
include
exhibits
the Seaton tool chest from
hall
1995
other
collections.
and tools used
Museum;
of Sandwich, Massa-
Wing
from Old Sturbridge Village.
chusetts,
Gallery
from the holdings of Colonial Wil-
vate
SINCE 1936
QUALITY
Foun-
Williamsburg
the
opens
AND
tool kits
but little- known
important
other
included. Eighteenth- cen-
are
tury wooden products, tools recovered
through
graphic
archaeology, and related
and documentary materials
complete the exhibition.
Using woodworking tools as a case
study, the exhibition presents a view of
in America when hand
craftsmanship
tools
the primary
were
duction. The
means
exhibition
n
relationship
of prothe
explores
artisan,
tools, and the way he learned and went
about his work. Visitors will see how an
artisans tools influenced his products
and learn
1
of woodworkand
ufacturemarketing
mg tools. The wa s artisans acquired
o\ ,
Nil•
woodworking tool kits during
the eighteenth century will also be explored.
nsor
Colonial Williamsburg
t111.11
111,
S..
s,
:::>:
a
a.
a\...
..:.,.. ..,,.
.:.
...
.
..
..
symposium
s
os um
Y
on tools andtheir use
p
4concurrentwith>:..:
17r
may.;:..
...
Ma
1
1
Early
AmAmerican
meetingin
tea\..::•,..............:
sium
is
1994,
an
Industries
Williamsburg.
open
Association
The
s
m
o
to the public and E A I A
members. A softbound book about eighDo you
removed
five
this tool
recognize
that tool kits
shows
tools, plus
an
Baker has copied
chest?
assortment
of
inside
packaged
were
nails,
screws,
the
wooden
and
other
piece
as
a
silver
contained
that
chests
NEWStwig
off
its
newest
program
Bird in
store,
located in Newtown,
Hand,
vania.
Shops
Williamsburg
The
store'
s
and
early 1700s
building
was
used
as
a
tavern
through the eighteenth and into
nineteenth
in Hand" is
made
by
painted
on a
name "
Bird
swinging
sign
nineteenth-
Edward
Hicks.
Hohen,
formerly
Doylestown,
century neighbor
Owner Raine von
a
shop
Pennsylvania,
feature informal
ucts
The
centuries.
the
owner
in
plans to
Williamsburg prod-
in this historic location.
Virginia
Born and Bred
ton, Virginia, created
a
in
special
Lexingsign
to
top
to seventy-
the
bird
Williamsburg
This delightful
g
reproduced from an
was
it beneath the
for
and
and add
eaves
the
tells
customer
just
that her
how to
two short
Muresan
den in Saint Charles,
of
use
the
sentences!
Country
Missouri,
Williamsburg Shop
Gar-
reports
survived
the flood that closed down most of the
of the city. The shop was located
only one- quarter of a mile from the
rest
river,
but the
were
spared. There
the
published
woodworking tools will
in conjunction with the
store
building'
s
and its
was
merchandise
some
basement
damage
level, how-
Get Involved
Williamsburg licensed manufacturers
have been involved in
news
of your
Williamsburg
Shop by the November 15 deadline for
inclusion in the winter Williamsburg
Reproductions
Program
newsletter.
several
projects around Colonial Williamsburg
this summer and fall.
Baker Furniture sent designer Dan
Carrithurs to
Williamsburg
with Gail Burger,
product
to consult
manager,
and Margaret Pritchard, curator, on the
redecoration
of public rooms in the
Coke- Garrett House, residence of Co-
lonial
Williamsburg president Robert
and family.
Wilburn
More
than
one
hundred former
members of Colonial Williamsburg' s
Fife and Drum
ever.
Send in
WilliamsburgLicensees
a
handy perch." The sign sets
product' s Williamsburg origin
Phyllis
to
teenth- century
be
Williamsburg.
a
novel item in
Pennsyl-
dates to the
the
signssays,
s "
original excavated in
Hang
The
view
from fifteen
anywhere
beneath the
Bird Bottle
SHOP
s- eye
with
exhibition.
bottle. The
reffra
This bird'
hardware.
hang
welcomes
chest.
Corps returned to
Williamsburg for a reunion on July 31.
Williamsburg licensee Cooperman
Continued
on
back page)
�AND
AUTHENTICITY
continued
chest,
from
tea
page 1)
nest of tables,
chest,
Obituaries
and
canterbury. These very functional
pieces solve a variety of decorating
be used
The
zines.
near
small
period,
dining
in the
server
Founded in 1947,
operates
sylvania.
been
today from
foot
square-
an
factory
Furniture
important
Pennsylvania
died
M.
Lehr,
Philip
House
burg Shop
sixty- thousand-
have been
in Hanover,
Williamsburg Williamsburg
stores.
great
We
anticipation
the initial
High
craftsman-
ship.
Rosemary Brandau, manager of
Williamsburg' s historic
Colonial
well known in the
foodways
gust
area.
program,
died on Au-
15, 1993. She worked with Co-
lonial
Williamsburg' s colonial
tavern chefs and Williamsburg Reproductions Program food licens-
presi-
for genera-
instrumental in the development
ees in the development of authentic
and marketing of the
fence program.
and tasteful early recipes that extended Colonial Williamsburg' s ed-
president and
looking
forward with
to the introduction
of
was
Williamsburg
Richard Scofield, designer for
Period
are
products for
and interior design
died June 24, 1993. He
Inc.,
own-
many of whom
dealers for years. The
line we are developing
are
tions of early American
dent of Walpole Woodworkers,
House, said, " We
shops
design and a sensitivity to the tradi-
his father
III,
always with an eye for
manufacturing has
part of the southern
should become important
both the gift
was
Samuel D. DeForest
Penn-
Shops
our
collection,
fifty-
was
joined
Richmond, Virginia,
very pleased to establish this association with the Foundation and with the
Williamsburg
He
from an-
tiques in the Colonial Williamsburg
ed the firm in 1949. His Williams-
area
of Tradition
Jack
Interiors,
design business. His father found-
of fine craftsmanship.
er
of
in the retail furniture and interior
economy
is rich in the tradition
tions, and the
1993.
three. Thompson
maga-
room.
Tradition
a
July
Furniture
25,
sconces and chandeliers
Jr., president
officer
executive
Thompson
used for storing
function as a
can
cellarette,
in the
spirits
to hold
a chair
Thompson,
John
and chief
problems. For instance, the canterbury,
originally designed to hold music books,
can
SINCE 1936
QUALITY
in
(
Lighting
July.
Fixtures,
ucational
mission
to
visitors
and
food products customers.
Inc., died
He copied and developed
Continued from page 5)
Fifes and Drums
produced
commemo-
"
Tools:
Working
Wood in Eighteenth-
fifes and drumsticks for the event.
CenturyAmerica." The chair legs
g will
licensee D.
be used to illustrate the production capacity of tools used to turn wood. Dietz
Press is printing the tool show poster.
Colonial
Williamsburg
R. Dimes has contributed
turned
legs for the
chair
sixty- three
exhibition
offering at the fall market in
Comments/
Point."
Suggestions
Comments
newsletter
and.
The Colonial
Williamsburg
Foundation
Product Management Department
more
Sara
suggestions
effective
are
for making this
Write:
welcome.
Flanary, Colonial Williamsburg Founda1776, Williamsburg, VA 23187-
tion, P. O. Box
1776, or call 804- 220- 7293.
are trademarks owned by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, reg. U.S. Pat. Off.
1993 by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Bulk Rate
U. S. Postage
Paid
P. O. Box 1776
Williamsburg,
and'. .
and
VA 23187- 1776
Williamsburg,
VA
Permit No. 7
Nonprofit
Org.
�
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
Licensed Manufacturers and Williamsburg Shops Newsletter
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
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
1988-1993
Description
An account of the resource
<p>The <em>Licensed Manufacturers and Williamsburg Shops Newsletter</em> was produced by Colonial Williamsburg to keep vendors and other interested parties up to date on the latest products and news related to the Williamsburg Shops program. The Rockefeller Library holds what may be a complete run of twenty-one issues from 1988-1993. Licensed manufacturer refers to a company officially licensed by Colonial Williamsburg to produce reproduction antiques or historically inspired products that align with the mission and aesthetics of the Foundation. The Williamsburg Shops program was created to expand the reach of the sale of Colonial Williamsburg products by creating mini-Craft House stores within major metropolitan department stores. Articles in the newsletter primarily concern newly available products, but also can mention strategies for managing and promoting the Shops and significant Colonial Williamsburg news about buildings and programs.</p>
<p>Quarterly.</p>
Language
A language of the resource
English
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
Williamsburg, vol. VI, no. 4, Fall 1993
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
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
1993