Tool Talk

Blacksmith and Metal Working Forum => Blacksmith and Metalworking Forum => Topic started by: Aunt Phil on March 02, 2016, 12:11:06 AM

Title: 1965 video of one of the last Ax Makers
Post by: Aunt Phil on March 02, 2016, 12:11:06 AM

Text at the beginning explains how the video was originally filmed with a Bell & Howell camera.
Excellent camera work, and absolutely beautiful workmanship in a water powered shop with 2 triphammers and a high speed hammer making Ax heads. 

The man hanging the head on the handle knows his job really well too.

Men were working for $1.25 an hour, that would be $9.68 in 2016 Federal Reserve notes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr4VTCwEfko

Title: Re: 1965 video of one of the last Ax Makers
Post by: Papaw on March 02, 2016, 10:33:46 AM

Thanks Phil! I enjoyed the trip back in time.

Title: Re: 1965 video of one of the last Ax Makers
Post by: bill300d on March 02, 2016, 02:59:31 PM

I enjoyed it too. An interesting look at what went into making an axe.

Title: Re: 1965 video of one of the last Ax Makers
Post by: international3414 on March 02, 2016, 04:31:07 PM

enjoyed,but it made me late for work :smiley:,i remember 1971 ,minimum wage $1.65,i think late 72 up to 2.10

Title: Re: 1965 video of one of the last Ax Makers
Post by: Papaw on March 02, 2016, 07:06:40 PM

I had a high paying job in the summers and weekends of 1957-1961 working board roads and pipe swabbing in the oil fields here in Alvin, Texas, at the $1.25/Hour rate. Had to know a lot of street Spanish to get on a crew. We would line up at Odark-thirty to get picked by the "pusher".

Title: Re: 1965 video of one of the last Ax Makers
Post by: Nolatoolguy on March 16, 2016, 10:13:43 PM

Amazing video, thanks for sharing.

Title: Re: 1965 video of one of the last Ax Makers
Post by: blackoak on March 17, 2016, 09:47:31 PM

OSHA would have a field day in there with all the "safety" issues. Damned shame that true craftsman are far and few now days. Everything now days is push a button, or flip a switch, and log on.

Title: Re: 1965 video of one of the last Ax Makers
Post by: Guido Salvage on July 04, 2016, 06:33:49 PM

Thanks for the video, I shared it with a couple of logging/chain saw forums I belong to. Even then, this small craft operation could not compete with mass production.

Title: Re: 1965 video of one of the last Ax Makers
Post by: Twilight Fenrir on July 04, 2016, 09:07:44 PM

That's really interesting stuff... Wait... did that guy just light his pipe using a glowing axe head? O_O

https://youtu.be/Qr4VTCwEfko?t=5m