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THE MECHANICK' S ADVISER"
For March 15 - 21, 2020
Armoury:
Blacksmith — " A
very merry March to our fellows from the James Anderson Blacksmiths. This past week brought
much that was new and exciting, but at the top of the list is the arrival of our new Apprentice, Broadus Thompson, in the
Blacksmith Shop! Although he has introduced himself to many of you, Owen and Alex were proud to induct him into the
Admirable Association of Anderson Apprentices ( pictured below).
Left to right:
Owen, Broadus,
and Alex
The Shop took a field trip to Mount Vernon this week to examine them distilling rye whiskey, investigate the
Grist Mill, and embark on some spirited discussion. In the Shop, meanwhile, we had groups of students from Winterthur
and Washington
College
who learned the rudiments
of the Trade.
Less rudimentary were the projects undertaken: Ken was occupied with repairing locks and making a key, as
well as a wheelbarrow tire. Mark made nails for the Cabinetmakers and focused various important Shop maintenance
activities. Aislinn was very elegant this week, with fancy holdfasts for the Musical Instrument Makers, and a nutcracker.
Alex' s holdfasts were not quite as elegant but headed to the same destination, and his shutter dogs remain.
Owen worked
on curtain rod, Tim focused his attention on shovels, and Broadus began the apprenticeship with pot hooks and spoons!
Wherever it lands, it all falls well at the foot of the anvil."
Cabinetmaker — "Another
week has come and gone in the Cabinet Shop. Bill has been refurbishing a
reproduction walnut standing desk -on -frame that has been used in our ware room for around 30 years. It will be
moved to a new location in CW, so we want it looking its best!
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume
6, Issue
9
�Jeremy has completed the outer case of his tool chest of drawers and is enjoying showing off a new
pair of miniature holdfasts made for him by the Blacksmiths.
John and Jeremy have been working hard at, and have finally finished, a series of wood racks for
storage underneath the front bench.
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume
6, Issue
9
�Ed and Melanie have been sawing and planing in some white pine to make the base boards of the next
spinet."
Colonial Garden — " This
week, the Gardeners took advantage of the warm weather to prepare one of our planting beds
for spring. This particular bed was in need of restoration, and we added many wheelbarrow loads of compost before
turning the soil. In the coming week, we will be planting out some of our more cold -tolerant flowers and herbs that will
put on a good show later this spring. Following much consideration and debate this winter, the Gardeners decided to
remove the willow hedge that bordered one of the front beds. A herculean task for sure, and a big thank you to our
volunteer, Chip, for helping us remove them. Our seedlings are looking very healthy in our first hotbed, and the second
Department
of Historic Trades
and Skills
Volume
6, Issue
9
�hotbed of the season is now ready for planting. Notable blooms in the Garden this week include our Peach and Nectarine
trees ( Prunus persica), the snake' s head iris ( Iris tuberosa) and bloodroot ( Sanguinaria canadensis)."
Farming — "This
week, Farmer Ed presented a Y2- day immersive program for Washington College students on 18t'`-
century agriculture. One focus was learning about cultivation methods including the most important tool in the world the hoe. Also included was the second most important:
the plow. With these implements, we as human beings could till
the soil and plant seeds and live more abundantly.
Shown below are the students learning the ancient techniques of hoeing."
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume
6, Issue
9
�Milliner and Mantua - maker — "Dear
Miss Adiel H---
readers, I bear sad news from Margaret Hunter' s Millinery! The lovely apprentice
will be leaving our fair city and returning to her home colony of California at the end of this month! All
shall surely be very saddened to hear of her departure, but I, Mrs. Crackenthrope, am most saddened of all. Miss H--- has
been a credit to the millinery, though she was oft spotted shirking her needlework by going on daily constitutionals around
our town. Rumours will soon be abounding of her future prospects in California, but I have it on good authority that she
will be apprenticing as a dog -sitter for her parents. The task is sure to be arduous. Should anyone wish to drop by the
millinery to make their good- byes to Miss H--- in person, I have been informed by the most reliable of sources that her
last day is March 28."
Silversmith — "
Bobbie continues working on tray rims this week, as well as knocking out a seamed oval silver box. Lynn
is finishing the pewter tea service and working through Golden Ball transfer stock and custom orders.
Chris continues
cleaning and fitting the various components of her tea pot. Preston is working on several small bowls and the tankard
body. George is working on polishing spoons. Parker is still practicing his saw piercing and is making a second punch
strainer body in silver. William is preparing to recut the Centurion copper plate as well as preparing to work on spoons.
Additionally, William, Lynn, and George took a very fruitful field trip to the Mariner' s Museum Library Collection to
look at an original 1748 1st edition print of the book containing the Centurion plate, as well as a vast collection of
Theodor de Bry engravings."
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume
6, Issue
9
�Redrawing and cleaning up the Centurion plate
Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Volume
6, Issue
9
�
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 6, issue 9 for March 15-21
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
2020-03