Hamilton Steam Engine show 2012

Phil Cox and his wife Margie welcomed a group of  BAM members to the steam engine show. 

Here Bernie is trying out Phil's Depew. Don't let the name fool you, it was "sweet."

Bob Evans made this awesome looking forge. Bernie enjoyed using it, especially after he found the water trough attached.

 AWESOME, Phil can count on his hands the ones he and Sid Suedmeier know about.

Did you know Blacksmiths can fix anything?  Even broken car windows.

Phil gives Ken a quick demonstration.

Ken and Matthew work as a team.

Bernie strikes for Phil.

We saw this in the row of gas engines. Phil might like one of these.

It was dry there too. I could lay my hand in this crack without it touching.

Mike works on a project.

I don't know how the "love shack" ended up in this picture.

Ken, Bernie, and Bob get their spoons ready for the homemade ice cream. Each trying to out do the other one.

Bob and Margie show off their Little Giant Hammer shirts. Sid would be proud of this!

 Some serious work is going on here by Ken and Bill.

Soon the ice cream making was started.  Phil has 2 vintage makers, one dated 1923, the other one was a present to his parents on their wedding.

The eight blacksmiths posed long enough for Margie and I to snap a few pictures.

This video shows Phil's excellent ice cream!

Two young men came with these miniatures. They told us about the blacksmith that made them. Details were unbelievable. They were invited to Phil's meeting in November. If deer season doesn't interfere they will be there.

This knife, well it was a real knife, even sharpened. The frame it is in, is 3 inches by 5 inches. You take off the border and that knife isn't over 2 1/2 inches long. Unbelievable!!!

Visiting was a big part of the day. Many thanks to host Phil and Margie. Nothing better than good friends, good weather and good times. 

Life is good!

A blast of the past

Once upon a time there was a shop by the name of . . . . 

The Blacksmith of Missouri Association would once again hold a meeting in the famous shop of the late, great Doug Hendrickson, aka Dr. Iron.

A day before the meeting friends would gather to collect, brush off, price, and box up the remaining inventory of Doug's shop.   Items were then set out for sale to the blacksmiths attending the meeting.

The blacksmith torches off the bolts where a trip hammer once beat out tons of metal.

Doug's BAM apron was one of the items for sale.

Items ran out into the yard. 

The shop looks the same as it did years ago. But it's not the same without Doug.

Friday evening after some dusty, dirty work and a dip in the Black River, fellow blacksmith's pulled out their instruments and played music. Something that would have been done in years past.

Saturday morning, the meeting was opened with thank yous from Bonnie, Doug's awesome wife. She blessed us with a prayer and thanked us for the work being done in Doug's memory.

Today the items being made were all things Doug was famous for. Here Bob Alexander works on an iron skillet.

 Pat McCarty works on the handle for the skillet.

Bernie made two veggie choppers just the way Doug made them. A very close copy, because when cleaning out the shop, we found two old blank cut outs left there by Doug, and those are what he used for the demo. 

Trade items was a bottle opener. I spy one out of Damascus, a folding one at that.

Two unique ones, both a multi-purpose tool. 

Maybe the most unusual one, a crayfish!

 A dragon even appeared, made by my blacksmith.

At noon the Relay for Life ladies, aka "the lunch ladies", showed up with BBQ pork sandwiches, slaw, baked beans, and homemade dessert, including iced tea and lemonade for only $5 a plate. The bargain of the day.

Dr Joe, Doug's dentist, came and presented the organization with a check in memory of Doug to go towards a scholarship fund.

I was a little late in taking all the demonstrators pictures. I don't know, I think these four shown here at pretty hot. However the fry pan indicates that the missing demonstrator, Al Stephens, is "hot".

It was an awesome day, tools being purchased, techniques shown, and lots of stories told, some included a few tears too. 

Thank you Bonnie, for hosting a wonderful event for all of us. 

Miss you much Dr. Iron.

Bland Missouri auction

Metal lathe sold for $120

50 lb little giant sold for $1600

BAM meeting June 2012 Hamms Prairie Mo

The meeting was hosted by Ned and Esther Digh. It is always a good time, with good friends, great fellowship, and awesome food when they host. 

Osage Bluff blacksmith was the demonstrator for the June meeting. He demoed how to make a shovel form, a pipe tomahawk, a dogwood flower, a bottle opener, and a candle holder. His friend Terry was his assistant. Here they are double striking. That is always a crowd attention getter.

It was a nice size crowd over 40 blacksmiths watching and learning. 

 Gosh, I love this blacksmith! 

Here is the dogwood flower just after being coated with beeswax.

Lunch donations were good. Esther and Ned always ask for canned meat products for their local food pantry as payment for the lunch that they serve. 

This was just the toppings for beef or chicken taco salads. I forgot to take a picture of the dessert table. You will just have to trust me that it was good. . . chocolate sheet cake, butterscotch no bake cookies, pound cake, and chocolate cake with white icing. 

The blacksmith's wives all pitch in to help, aka the "lunch ladies".

We were serenaded during lunch by this group who played great 70's style music. 

The trade item today was a shoe horn. 

Here's a close up of a few:

This was the one the Osage Bluff blacksmith made, a fire breathing dragon. 


It was a great meeting, the next one will be in July near Lesterville, Mo. Hope to see you there!