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THE MECHANICK' S ADVISER
for the week of Sept 6 - 12
Apothecary — They are finishing translating 57 pages of Latin prescription records from the Williamsburg
Public Hospital and are working with the Tailors and Milliners on
17th -
centery treatments to prevent and
remove lice.
Armoury:
Blacksmith —
They are working on hand railings for the Market House, hardware for a lathe which is being
made in the cabinet shop, a coin press to be used to exhibit early coin production, and an iron rim lock).
Miscellaneous
work includes small hardware for the Market House and Scale house to include nails, hinges, and
slide bolts for the doors, brackets for hanging tin lanterns ( which were made by the Tin Shop),
shears for the
Tin Shop, repairs to agricultural tooling for Great Hopes, and tooling for the Wheelwright Shop.
Tin Shop — They have been repairing watering cans from the Garden site, as well as a coffeepot and some
broken stemware for the Breeches making program, some new chocolate pots and coffee pots for the Coffee
House, and developing patterns for new projects for the advanced part of our apprentice curriculum. The new
apprentice and intern are working on developing skills in fitting and soldering. They are both working on gill
cups, patterned after a surviving cup found in the archaeology of the Custis Site here in Williamsburg.
On another note -
a gentleman recently donated a significant set of tinsmith tools to the Tin Shop. While
these tools are too late in style to use within the public shop, they include several stakes which are too large for
us to fabricate within the blacksmith shop. We will be able to put the tooling to good use in a backup space
should we need to work on larger objects or should we have the need to work on CW objects like electrified
lighting - which we do not feel is appropriate for work in our public programming
Artificer' s Shop — They will be wrapping up the last of the leather breeches and beginning the transition to
working in firm leather. The interns will be instructed in the techniques of working in firm leather.
Basketmaker —
They are completing the making of an array of baskets for the Market House and making items
for sale at Prentis Store.
Bindery —
They are making books for Great Hopes: The Complete Housewife and Hannah Glasse' s book on
cookery, one quarter -bound and one full -bound calf -skin leather ledger books for Prentis Store, and gold work
on a bound book.
Cabinetmaker —
They will be varnishing a harpsichord stand and completing the refurbishing of a 1994 Hay
shop spinet, continue work on two walnut case pieces, and continue the construction of a Hay shop wing chair.
Work on a replica 18th- century treadle lathe will also be under way.
Carpenters —They
will be building the roofed outdoor market stalls for the Market House as well as putting
the finishing touches on the Scale House, such as hanging doors and shutters. Work continues on the Windmill
with a crane scheduled for September 8 to lift the Windmill back up onto the kingpost.
Coopers —They
are making pieces for use at the Market House, modifying firkins [ 9- gallon casks] into drums
for use by the African American programs at Peyton Randolph House, making kilderkins [ 16- gallon wine
casks] for the Jamestown - Yorktown Foundation, and commencing cooperage for Gen. Washington' s
encampment.
�Historic Garden —The
summer garden is coming out and the winter garden is going in. The cabbage,
cauliflower, and collards are planted, the turnips are seeded and just up. Hope to see the kale above ground next
week. The last pumpkins have been harvested, and the patch is being tilled in preparation for sowing with rye
grass as a winter
Joiners —They
cover crop.
are working on tables, stalls, and crates for the Market House.
They are finishing the second and final form for " A Pretty Story..." and correcting the third of four
for " The Articles of Confederation" ( expecting to have this in production soon).
Printers —
forms
Shoemaker —They
will be working on shoes.
Silversmith —
They are working on various sorts of spoons, Gurney Bowls, a large punch bowl and a " skittle
ball" teapot, a pair of patty pans, Revere Beakers and raised beakers, a thistle cup, trade silver jewelry, and a
12in. Montieth.
Please note that at any given time, not all of these items will be being worked on, but all will be available to be
seen and discussed with anyone who is interested.
Tailors —They
are finishing a worsted coat, a pair of knit cotton breeches, and beginning mattresses and
curtains for Washington' s camp bed.
Wheelwright —
They will be working on hand carts for the Market House: framing up a cart body and working
on the wheels, and repainting existing carts.
Wigmaker —
They are working on constructing a Bob Wig that was seen in Germany ( comprised of human and
horse hair),
a wiglet for one of our AI' s., a wig for Richard Schuman ( aka Patrick Henry), and daily
maintenance on wigs used by our staff to support various programming ( Plays, Ghost Tours, Rev City and
commercials).
Addendum for Sept 6 -12
Carpenters —They
will be installing doors and shutters on the Scale House, building market stalls for the
Market House, and working with electricians to install low- voltage lighting in the buildings and stalls. Work
continues
on the windmill.
Foodways —
They are working on a new beer with Aleworks. They are also working on a series of pre -made
punch mixes based on 18th- century recipes, getting ready for the first brewing program of the fall on September
27th, and practicing on some sugar work for next year' s confections program.
Weavers -
They will be dyeing on Saturday, Sept 12th. They are also finishing fabric for Foodways table
linens and a coverlet for Prentis.
�
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 for the week of September 6-12
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
2015-09