[MR] Re: [medieval-leather] Ancient Locks and Keys Book / Chest Books

[jamesahowell at juno.com]

        Of course, what Magnus failed to say was that I carry both
Mastermyr and the Medieval chests books as well, and as soon as I can get
another order together for Jack, I'll probably pick up some of the lock
books too. ;-{)>
        Crass mercantilism, I know, but it's my living.....

                      Regards, Finnr


> Another one of my small projects has come to fruition.
>
> In researching locks for some time I came across Lieutenant-General
> Pitt-Rivers, F.R.S., 1883 book _On the Development and Distribution
> of Primitive Locks and Keys.  On the web a sole copy I'd seen was
> $400.
> My wife was, before her recent job cut, a cataloger at NCSU
> libraries
> for 33 years, and managed to borrow me a copy of it from the Chicago
> Public Library. It arrived wrapped carefully in paper and string.
> After some experimentation I managed to clearly copy all the pages
> most of which were detached and extremely fragile. The book was
> literally crumbling to dust and in danger of being lost forever.
>
> While the book varies between ancient, medieval, and modern
> primitive
> locks produced in countries like Rome, India and China, the basic
> methods have not changed in producing most of these locks in the
> manner
> that was still used in the Middle Ages in Europe. If you wish to
> make a wooden door lock there are the methods depicted. If you wish
> to construct a medieval metal lock many of the methods are depicted
> of how they work. It does not have specific plans. It does show
> you clearly how each type of the locks work. It will allow you with
> a bit of effort on your part to understand how they work, and to
> build your own with that knowledge.
>
> To this, Jack Thompson, of Thompson Conservation Laboratories,
> and the Caber Press, also added "The History of Locks" by Anonymous,
> another excerpt from the Cyclopedia of Useful Arts by Charles
> Tomlinson,
> F.C.S., London, 1866, and I gave him a good start on a bibliography
> on ancient to medieval locks I have found in my ramblings amassing
> research on them over twenty years. That is not the only thing I
> research but it's adequate for medieval purposes certainly.
>
> What you have here is a combination of wooden and metal locks of
> many kinds with references provided for those of you who are more
> interested in pursuing further research on your own. If you find
> more, please share it with me.
>
> _Ancient Locks and Keys_ is vii + 68 pages and costs $10.95 plus
> shipping
> from the Caber Press. This one has a new ISBN 1-887719-13-X.
>
> They may be had from:
> Jack C. Thompson
> Thompson Conservation Lab/Caber Press
> 7549 N. Fenwick
> Portland, OR  97217
> 503/735-3942  (voice/fax)
> tcl at teleport.com
> http://www.teleport.com/~tcl/
>
> My last project with Jack Thompson led to the reprinting of
> Johnston,
> Philip Mainwaring: _Church Chests of the Twelfth and Thirteenth
> Centuries
> in England_. Originally in Arch. Journ. 64 (4), 1907. 68pp, 24 figs
> & 25 b/w pls & folding figs, to which was added another series of
> plates
> from a 1912 review of another book with highly carved later period
> chests from subsequent centuries. viii + 111 pages illustrated with
> measured parts and internal views sufficient for the average person
> to understand how medieval chests were made and carved (even comes
> with rubbings of the actual carvings). The title is misleading a
> bit.
> The chests depicted have no religious motifs on them but are simply
> survivals from four or five centuries that were used in churches for
>
> storing vestments, and other valuable items. For the constructional
> details depicted, and for the money, $12.95 plus shipping, you
> cannot
> beat it for the money. In fact, the two articles alone cost me about
> four times that much, but they were too good not to want to share.
>
> Before I became permanently disabled I built a great deal of
> furniture
> and cabinetry professionally (roughly 1000 pieces of furniture and
> hundreds certainly of cabinets). I know a lot about woodworking
> and furniture styles and I feel fairly certain you will be satisfied
> with your purchases for the money.  I buy articles and books on many
> subjects from all over the world, and I pay a lot for the
> information.
>
> The book on English Medieval Chests (the spine title) has been very
> well received and sells well for those merchants who carry it.
>
> I don't usually sell anything anymore myself, but I ordered two
> dozen
> Chests books to get them circulating in my SCA Kingdom of Atlantia.
> They disappeared very quickly in a couple of days.
>
> As for my making any other profit on these being reprinted, no I
> don't.
>
> I simply believe that good information should be preserved and
> distributed to new generations. Jack Thompson reprints a variety
> of books on rare subjects at reasonable prices, so when I have a
> suitable idea for a useful project I contact him. It's a part of my
> service to the Society as an SCA Laurel. The fact that this kind of
> information will increase the knowledge base for reenactors
> world-wide
> is the goal I hope to attain. This is what I do to remain useful.
>
> Jack also has books on Brewing; Iron and Steel - Forging, Hardening
> and Tempering; Working Horn, Ivory and Tortoise Shell; Making old
> Inks; Urushi (Japanese Lacquering); books from Denmark and France
> on Tanning by traditional methods, and Leather Work that have been
> translated into English, and many more.
>
> Please order these from Jack at the address above. *I don't sell
> them.*
> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> If you are interested in metal and woodworking tools, even a cooking
> cauldron and a folding grill:
> The Mastermyr Find, A Viking Age Tool Chest from Gotland by
> Greta Arwidsson is available for $18 plus shipping from:
> Norm Larson Books,
> 5426 E. Hwy 246, Lompoc, CA 93436.
> Fax 805-735-8367, Ph 800-743-4766
> larbooks at impulse.net
> Postage is $2 for first book (in the U.S.)
> plus $.50 for each additional book to a maximum of $5.00.
>
> There were originally 800 of these printed about twenty-two years
> ago in Sweden (the book is in English). I looked for several years
> for one myself. Norm Larson contacted the original author and
> managed
> to get permission to reprint them in paperback. This is probably the
> best collection of metal and woodworking tools from the medieval
> period, all found in closely associated context. What likely
> happened is that they were being transported across a watery
> area, the boat overturned, and the weighty chest simply sunk in
> the bog, which later turned into a farmable meadow. The measurements
> of the tools and chest are all there. I kinda bugged Norm into
> reprinting it. He had gotten the last fifty of the original 800 and
> found they sold out very quickly. The fourth year I finally got an
> original hardback from Sweden to supplement my paperback copy from
> Norm.
> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Each of these books is a little treasure in itself.
> Each's information is easily available to reenactors now.
> I don't know any of you who does not need chests for feasting,
> storing kit and costume, or simply seating. Now you have a book
> on locks (with further sources) to go with them.
>
> Master Magnus Malleus, OL, GDH, Atlantia © 2003 R.M. Howe
> *No reposting my writings to newsgroups, especially rec.org.sca, or
> the SCA-Universitas elist. I view this as violating copyright
> restrictions. As long as it's to reenactor or SCA -closed-
> subscriber
> based email lists or individuals I don't mind. It's meant to
> help people without aggravating me.* Inclusion, in the
> http://www.Florilegium.org/ as always is permitted.
>
> It generally helps if you want to ask me a question to put an
> * in front of the subject line. I read by list, not by date
> generally. I am well behind on some lists' mail.
>
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>


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'tis better to be glad than in gloomy mood whether all is fair or foul."
 Havamal
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