Early American Industries

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[earlyamericanindustries]

Tape Looms

A Tape, Band or Gate loom is a simple, portable, rigid heddle loom. 

Tape looms are centuries old, invented for the purpose of making narrow bands of fabric. Before the invention of zippers and Velcro, everyone needed a narrow piece of fabric that was strong, practical and attractive to tie aprons hats, clothing, bags, suspenders, belts seam binding, cording, garters and trim.

Before the Inkle loom became popular in the 1920s, most every country in the world use this type of loom.  Each one was handmade and individually carved. Some quite elaborately. A Scandinavian tradition was for a young man to carve a loom for his sweetheart with the hope of her accepting his marriage proposal.  

Many museums and historical sites have these tape looms, not many use them anymore.  I am on a mission to revive them and to get more people to use them.  They are simple to set up and use and can be transported anywhere.  The tapes are so useful

For many photos of these looms and the tapes that were made, do a google image search for “tape looms”. You will be inspired to find an old one, make one and learn how to use it! (This post submitted by Reggie Britton--Thanks!)

[morwoodco]

Vintage tools have a certain feeling that new tools often lack. Not only were they made from high quality materials, incorporated into simple designs that last generations… but they resonate with a unique history written by the hands of previous craftsmen. These tools have a soul of their own. In use they impart a special quality to the work that can’t be replicated by most tools made today… tools that are made to be cheap, disposable, and without soul. When I acquired this beautiful wooden spokeshave, the sole was quite worn. So I replaced the sole with a block of hard cocobolo.  The large backsaw with Warranted Superior medallion (made by Disston) had some restoration work as well, which included a full tooth reshaping (crosscut), light handle restoration and hand sharpening.  The smaller backsaw with the handle removed is an older E.C. Atkins (probably early 1900’s). The handle will get a light sand and refinish. The teeth will be sharpened in a rip cut profile and put to good use in upcoming projects.

[bearbrandt-blog]

[earlyamericanindustries]

Has Spring finally arrived at your home? In our age, contact with farm livestock is rare for most people, yet Easter and the arrival of Spring evoke lambs and chicks in the imagery around us. For the first colonists, livestock was crucial to survival and continued settlement. By 1627, Pilgrims in Plimoth had four cows, seven heifers, two calves, two steers, and a bull. There were at least two dozen goats, plus chickens and pigs.

Today, Plimoth Plantation operates a very special Rare Breeds Program. Rare is a term used for livestock breeds that number fewer than 1,000 annual registrations in North America. Kerry and Milking Devon cattle graze in pastures near the walled town. Small flocks of Wiltshire horned sheep and San Clemente and Arapawa Island goats and several Dorking hens also inhabit the town.

The videos below share more sights, sounds, and insights into this very important program. Be sure to include a stop at the Nye Barn during your visit to Plimoth Plantation with EAIA!

[earlyamericanindustries]

Working on a saw is careful work, as seen in this 1938 photo of a man filing a saw in North Carolina at the Roanoke Farm Project. Come meet Matt Cianci, The SawWright, at EAIA's Annual Meeting and learn how to properly tune and sharpen your saws! http://earlyamericanindustries.org/Hyannis2013/the-sawwright/ (Photo from Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, DC 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print)

[todaysdocument]

Photograph of a Broken Fire Escape after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, 03/25/1911

[todaysdocument]

One of the deadliest industrial disasters in United States history, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City left 146 workers dead in 18 minutes on March 25, 1911.  

Locked doors kept the workers from escaping; there was not enough water to put out the flames, and firemen’s ladders were too short to reach the upper stories. Many of the young women and men working there leapt out the windows and fell to their deaths onto the sidewalk outside. Others were crushed in the elevator shaft or when the fire escape collapsed.

The fire led to sweeping reforms in labor laws and safety standards, providing a boost to labor unions, and was a pivotal event in the career of future labor secretary Frances Perkins.

(Last year’s post has additional photos of the fire and the victims, a few may be considered graphic.)

via Prologue: A Factory Fire and Frances Perkins

[earlyamericanindustries]

So two Goodmen Walk into an Iron Bar...

EAIA is looking forward to its annual meeting, including a trip to Plimoth Plantation!

[earlyamericanindustries]

Does dreaming about concept cars make you want to sing out loud like this 1956 family? The special guided tours of the exhibit “Driving our Dreams: Imagination in Motion” are nearly full–register for the Annual Meeting now to secure your spot in this special tour! http://earlyamericanindustries.org/Hyannis2013

[historicalfarm]

[earlyamericanindustries]

The two-man pit saw, in action!

historicalfarm

[stickleymuseum]

Stickley Archive Photo of the Week

L. & J.G. Stickley employee crafting rush seats at the Fayetteville Factory ca. 1930.

[antiquetools]

F.M. GREENLEAF LITTLETON N.H. “walking” log caliper, with intact 10-spoke wheel.

The spoked wheel allowed for easy and accurate measurement of the length of a log. The black leg is weighted with lead and starts the wheel off.

[earlyamericanindustries]

This log caliper will be in the EAIA auction this May.

[earlyamericanindustries]

Colonial house framing, Historic St. Mary's City, Maryland. EAIA 2012 Annual Meeting

[earlyamericanindustries]

Woodwright Roy Underhill presents in this 2011 TED talk.

[aquamarinespinnerlover-deactiva]

How I draft and spin on my wheel. I got the wheel for Christmas so I’ve only had it a month.

[todaysdocument]

Mrs. Battaglia, Tessie (age - 12 years), Tony (age - 7 years), 170 Mulberry St. Rear house, 5th floor. Garment workers. Husband crippled by a fall, tends to basement. Mrs. Battaglia works in shop except Saturdays, when the children sew with her at home. Get 2 or 3 cents a pair finishing men’s pants. Said they earn $1 to $1.50 on Saturday. Father disabled and can earn very little. New York. 01/25/1908

From the series National Child Labor Committee Photographs taken by Lewis Hine

[earlyamericanindustries]

On Friday May 17, 2013, an auction will be held by Great Planes Trading Company at the Double Tree Cape Cod in conjunction with the EAIA Annual Meeting. As part of a special program benefiting EAIA , Irwin Sitkin donated these antique tools to be sold at auction, with the proceeds going to EAIA. This is a special way to share your collection with EAIA and allow the organization to pursue the promotion of historic trades, crafts, and manufactures. Interested in donating items for sale in auction? Several auction companies will accept tools on consignment with the proceeds going to EAIA with waived or reduced consignor fees. Contact EAIA’s executive director for more details!

261. Lot of three 8-inch iron smooth planes: Stanley #3; Keen Kutter KK3 and a late model Keen Kutter K3 with KEEN KUTTER spelled out in lever cap, only the second of this model that we have seen, very good.

262. Lot: Goodall iron smooth plane; Vaughan & Bushnell V&B No. 904C “poor man’s Bedrock” 9-inch smooth plane, very good; Sargent #106 Type 1 iron block plane with gull-wing screw, very good; and a postcard with Birds Eye View of Sargent & Co.’s Factory, New Haven, Conn.

263. Lot: Small Yankee ratchet screwdriver; three offset Yankee screwdrivers; STANLEY offset screwdriver; a tie clasp with pair of dividers and a try square, very good; and a mini Craftsman block plane in gray and red paint, fine overall.

[theamericanparlor]

United States Navy surgical and amputation kit, circa 1860 Wood; brass; nickel plated steel; velvet

These instruments were used by Union Navy Assistant Surgeon and 1861 Harvard Medical School graduate Charles Thatcher Hubbard aboard the USS Unadilla during the American Civil War. The ship and its surgeon participated in the capture of Fort Walker and Fort Beauregard in Port Royal Sound, South Carolina and the blockade of Charlestown.