Blacksmith photo

[Lostmind]

Thought you might enjoy this

[Branson]

Great photo!   Here's another from an early 1900's Michigan Lumber camp, and another older yet, from circa 1840.

[Plyerman]

Cool pictures. The guy in that 1840's one just swallowed his chaw.

[john k]

The stories the top blacksmith could tell.  I notice his forge blower is electric, and he has obviously been at it awhile.  I notice it is way cleaner than most shops, and special tools are all hung up on the wall.   Huge selection of tongs as it should be.   The last guy, maybe he did swallow his chaw, but, with the long exposure time, he might have blinked, or had lazy eye, because his eyes look photo shopped, which was not an unusual thing in early photography.  Am trying to figure out his tiny stake anvil, more a tin smiths tool?  Surely not hefty enough to work a horse shoe on.  I like old photos. 

[leg17]

.....  Am trying to figure out his tiny stake anvil, more a tin smiths tool?  Surely not hefty enough to work a horse shoe on.

Most likely not taken in his shop but in a studio using props.
Look at the background and notice the other tools in the background seem 'arranged' or 'staged' or 'posed'.
You will find that often in "occupationals" from this early period of photography.

That's why the tools don't seem to be really correct some times.
But occupationals are still way cool from those days.
A seller on ebay has copies of a number of them, including this one.

[Branson]

  Am trying to figure out his tiny stake anvil, more a tin smiths tool?  Surely not hefty enough to work a horse shoe on.  I like old photos.

It's a very small anvil, even smaller than the one issued with the mountain howitzer, which weighs in at 15 or 16 pounds.   The consensus is that even the MH anvil is too small to make horseshoes, that it is only suitable for fitting ready made shoes (which the army issued in 100# barrels).   What the photo illustrates admirably is that this small anvil, on its tall stump, is best suited for use while sitting down, the stump held between the smith's legs.

Notice, too, that the tongs are very short, probably not over a foot long. 

[mrchuck]

Look on the left side at the other tools. Looks like a die holder used for threading.

[Branson]

Look on the left side at the other tools. Looks like a die holder used for threading.

It sure is.  Wish we could enlarge it with enough definition to tell more about it, maybe identify the maker.

[rusty]

What do you suppose this thing on the wall is ?

[Branson]

I think it's two things, one of which is a pair of dividers.