The Armour Archive

It looks like the people flying in are finalizing their plans. If I am picking you up, make sure I have your itinerary. If Gawin is picking you up, make sure you all agree on what is going on. I wouldn't mind knowing the plans in case I need to get involved.

For those of you driving in, when you know an estimate of when you will be arriving, please share. Email is fine.

I will start pestering everyone a little more a little closer to time so we are sure everyone knows where they are going and so we know how much food we need to buy. I do understand that last minute things can come up, but we should be able to get close.

Wade

Wade, any good recommendations for an hotels really close by to you? I am looking at getting a hotel this time instead of staying at my daughter's place.

Hi Wade,

I bought a similar but smaller stake anvil over the weekend. I'll bring it for comparison. I do not know its history, but I'm guessing European construction.

I also got a handfull of Lynch stakes, but none are particularly suited to armor without modification.

I really wanted to make it to this one but I'm broke so can't afford the trip

I now have my flights booked!

DarkstarRidenow wrote:Wade, any good recommendations for an hotels really close by to you? I am looking at getting a hotel this time instead of staying at my daughter's place.

Hotel list according to Google
http://www.google.com/hotels/?gl=US#sea ... 1;si=;av=r

I haven't stayed in any of them. The Microtel Inn and Suites is the closest to us and (at least at some times) isn't the most expensive. Nothing is "close" in the sense of walking. Actually the closest place that offers a way to rent places to stay short term would be Camp Chestnut Ridge, but I don't know that they actually offer overnight stays (probably not) and they are more of a summer camp than anything else.

Wade

Jacob wrote:Hi Wade,

I bought a similar but smaller stake anvil over the weekend. I'll bring it for comparison. I do not know its history, but I'm guessing European construction.

I also got a handfull of Lynch stakes, but none are particularly suited to armor without modification.

Depending on how "similar" similar is, I have a few others. I won't actually use the tools from the Higgins, but they are fun to look at and I do use some of the similar things I own. I am a pretty heavy user of my bickhorn. It is kind of like this, but bigger. I was also using my candlemold stake this weekend. I really don't think that any of these were armourer's tools, and I don't think that they would have focused on a candlemold stake as a primary tool, but I do use it every now and then since I have it.

Wade

It appears that there will be at least some people hanging around for Sunday, so we can make actual plans for Sunday if we want to. If history is any guide, we will manage to consume Saturday morning and afternoon with the main (antique) study pieces. The obvious first choices for Sunday are "training the eye" by picking on modern pieces, many of which I can supply (others are welcome), shop time (suggestions please, totally unguided time tends to wander a lot), wandering through the library, and/or something someone else will come up with. I think that John enjoyed the way we made his lower front collar plate, there isn't any reason that we couldn't show some atypical metal movement if people are interested.

We will also want to plan ahead a little bit so that we end up where we want to be after dinner with the right things there. We tend to wander over to Tom's. If we want to do anything specific there, I will want to make sure the right pieces are in place. We can, of course, come back to my place after dinner if that works better for the desired activity.

Wade

I definitely want to do the "training the eye" discussions.
The atypical metal movement demo also sounds good.

One week to go. I would like to have people who are coming confirm attendance so we can plan. Feel free to send me an email, I will be in front of it Tues-Thurs of next week (it is the work address). If I know when you are planning to arrive and leave, I can do a better job of filling your time with interesting things to do.

Wade

I can't attend - I just accepted an employment offer in Calgary, so I have a bit of work to do for an incipient move. That said, I think that there are a number f folks who would benefit from "atypical metal movement" on the back plate of the 1640 Ausberg gorget - I ended up raising the shoulder area into a mushroom stake, you and John did some interesting heat work in the same area as prep.

For "training the eye" I got a huge "Aha!" moment from your (and Mac's) discussions on the edge bevels and how they assist with visually blending surfaces: if you are doing "shop time" the most glaring example I have found thus far is a gorget with and without edge bevels. A close second is a gauntlet - without bevels they look "stepped", with bevels they are smooth and flowing. a MASSIVE visual change for a difference of a fractions of an ounce in metal removal.

You may also want to spend a bit of time on closure mechanisms: some of your pieces have very nice spring closure systems, and others are... not-so-nice (but terribly period).

I'm really sorry to be missing this one, particularly if Tom B and Jacob are also there. I'll have to try and make it out at a later date - maybe Matt and I can coordinate and invade

Scott Martin

It feels like people are still trying to finalize plans. Keep the information coming in.

I did some more shop clean up (I can actually find the steel and B2 now) and I have a couple of shots of the suit I was putting back together for this. I have added it to the list for the show.

http://www.allenantiques.com/Study%20Se ... 02013.html

Here is an overview of some of the suits we will take apart:



Wade

The center guy looks good with the strapping work you did!

Looking forward to it. I'll be there Saturday morning and stay through the dinner trip. I'm tied up Friday night as we are celebrating my birthday a day early. It was nice of you to have this on my birthday! What else could a armour enthusiast ask for.

Did you manage to get the raising forge running? I know my last visit was a little close to the study session to concentrate on it. Sorry I couldn't get it there earlier.

Johann ColdIron wrote:The center guy looks good with the strapping work you did!

Looking forward to it. I'll be there Saturday morning and stay through the dinner trip. I'm tied up Friday night as we are celebrating my birthday a day early. It was nice of you to have this on my birthday! What else could a armour enthusiast ask for.

Did you manage to get the raising forge running? I know my last visit was a little close to the study session to concentrate on it. Sorry I couldn't get it there earlier.

Thanks for all you did on the forge.

I got side tracked with my nephew's graduation and little bout of something floating through the house. The kid was out of school Thursday and Friday, then we seem to have caught it over the weekend. Everything should be fine by the time of the get-together, but I didn't get much done. The shop is more liveable and I can actually get to the shear in the front shed. And you see the suit more together. The straps did help a lot. I still have the binder clip on the waist belt and the tassets are still in their previous state.

By the way - for attendees - one of the tassets is in the middle of conservation, so the nasty old rivets have been stripped, but the tasset hasn't been re-leathered, so we can take it all the way down to individual plates if people want to. Just undo some bolts.

Wade

Another confirmation has come in. Keep them coming.

It looks like there will be a few people starting things up here Friday night. We won't do anything formal, but maybe we could get some patterns copied or stare at some books. I expect at least a few people will play with some of the pieces that aren't in the scope of the topic for this year. And someone can help me get a pike or 2 down so we can play with them (they are on the list).

Then we will get rolling Saturday morning. People who are arriving Saturday morning plan to get there between 8-9. We will have light breakfast/coffee/tea/juice and finish getting everything in place. Then take the day.

There will be at least a few people here Sunday. Some for the whole day. As you confirm attendance, tell me whether or how long you will be around on Sunday so we can map out the plan. I expect we can have a good "what is wrong with this" using at least my pieces and shop time on Sunday. If you want to participate, feel free to bring pieces you have made or are working on if you want to be in for some no-holds barred discussion on your pieces.

Remember, bring your cameras or an easy way to share other people's pictures. Drawing supplies are also good. Everything is fair game for your study use. If you decide to publish, just ask.

Wade

Well things are still somewhat chaotic at work but not so chaotic that I can't arrange Friday off. As I'm staying in Cary about 45 min east of Wades I'd prefer to have my own car. Browin, If you can make it down near Philly Thursday night you are welcome to crash in the guest bedroom and we can head out Friday morning. Schreiber, if you and/or Jacob are interested I can swing by Friday morning and pick you up. Depending on number of people It can be the Nissan for fuel economy of the mini-van for space and comfort. I figure I can drop people at Wades or a nearby hotel and then head to Cary to see family and join back up Saturday morning.

Now I need to call my brother and confirm at his end. I think he's looking for an excuse to get out of the house. His Mother-in-law is visiting.

Well, as I feared, the timeline on installing this railing is certainly going to interfere with any sort of trip down south. Thanks again Sean and Schreiber for the generous offers of car / crash space.

Browin Auld wrote:Well, as I feared, the timeline on installing this railing is certainly going to interfere with any sort of trip down south. Thanks again Sean and Schreiber for the generous offers of car / crash space.

Booooooo.

Wade

I will confirm for all day Saturday up to and including dinner out after the session. I will get into the area Friday night but going to see our daughter in Durham that night.

Looking forward to this weekend.

I called Tom Justus today and talked things over with him. He is in for the day, and we will be able to do whatever makes sense for people on Sunday too. He can participate in any of the things we have talked about.

I think that we will try to "finalize" plans for Saturday evening and outline Sunday when we go off to dinner Saturday evening.

Tom asked for some etched bits that relate to what we are doing, so I did a little update an added a few things.

http://www.allenantiques.com/Study%20Se ... 02013.html

I think that will help him with his etching study and will help us round out the general late 16th c. theme. While I was there I added another gorget, another rapier and another halberd. That should help people have things to play with at their end of the table and keep us all busy.

I think that the confirmations get me to about 15 people at the moment. Keep them coming.

Wade

Boss asked if I can fly to Switzerland to work next week. I'm not driving 8 hours home in one metal can to spend the next 8 hours flying in a different tin can. Looking into triangle flights PHL to RDU to Zurich to PHL. Tempted to tell my boss to pound sand. Will know my travel plans by the end of the day.

(I knew this was going "too well".)

Sean Powell wrote:Boss asked if I can fly to Switzerland to work next week. I'm not driving 8 hours home in one metal can to spend the next 8 hours flying in a different tin can. Looking into triangle flights PHL to RDU to Zurich to PHL. Tempted to tell my boss to pound sand. Will know my travel plans by the end of the day.

(I knew this was going "too well".)

Good luck either way.

There is a nice little armour collection in Zurich if you end up there. They have some nice early Max. stuff and some other interesting bits. If you had a little more time to prepare, they have a 15th c. armet and gothic back that were in storage but accessible when I was there many years ago.

Tell me/us when you know.

Wade

wcallen wrote: Tell me/us when you know.

Wade

End of work today for resolution. Need to give our Solothurn office time to respond. They also re-scheduled a teleconference with manufacturing for my drive down. Debating leaving after the phone conference or talking while driving.

Days like this make we want to hit metal... HARD!

S~

Sean Powell wrote:

wcallen wrote: Tell me/us when you know.

Wade

End of work today for resolution. Need to give our Solothurn office time to respond. They also re-scheduled a teleconference with manufacturing for my drive down. Debating leaving after the phone conference or talking while driving.

Days like this make we want to hit metal... HARD!

S~

Solothurn. They will be out of there 5-6 their time, so you should be able to have information to decide noon-ish here. Whatever happens, happens.

I took a teleconference on one of my vacation days while sitting in the parking lot of Northern Tool while Tom went in and bought stuff for us. Not optimal, but it worked.

Some of my teleconferences could be done in my sleep, others actually require thought. I have no idea which this is, whether you have a good way to do hands-free or whether it could just be taken during a rest stop. You know the details and will decide what is best. I do understand the vagaries of modern work.

Wade

And after all of that it turns out the the Solothurn office has a federal holiday today and most are taking tomorrow as vacation for the 4-day weekend so I can't get any commitment. I told my boss it was stupid to waste 2 days travel time for 3 days of work with our schedules so tight and he finally saw it my way... Not liking the new boss. He's big on meetings and asking how long something will take but not on working or finishing tasks...

Wade, I'll be in NC Friday evening but with family in Cary just like many years ago. I'll see you Saturday morning until things break up. I'll avoid the back way in with the closed bridge. I probably won't have any time on Sunday as it's a long drive.

See everyone soon.
Sean
Sean

So - everyone who isn't staying Friday night at my house....

Arrive at my place between 8:00-9:00 AM Saturday. There will be light snacks, coffee/tea/juice to let people settle in while the final set up happens, and we will plan to get started in earnest about 9:00.

We go until we run out of energy or stuff to play with and then we will "finalize" plans for the evening and Sunday when we go off to dinner.

See you all soon.

Wade

Food obtained.
Tables and chairs in the house.
One person (who flew in) already here.

It is getting close.

Wade

wcallen wrote:Food obtained.
Tables and chairs in the house.
One person (who flew in) already here.

It is getting close.

Wade

Hi Wade, I hear my squire is going to beat me there and see you tonight. Let me know if you need any last minute things and I can bring them in the morning when I get there.

J

Johann ColdIron wrote:

wcallen wrote:Food obtained.
Tables and chairs in the house.
One person (who flew in) already here.

It is getting close.

Wade

Hi Wade, I hear my squire is going to beat me there and see you tonight. Let me know if you need any last minute things and I can bring them in the morning when I get there.

J

There is such a rumor. We will see.
Drag the spaulder over. I think that is all we really need.

Wade

I wish that I could make it out there, lots of folks I like to play with, and a few (like Tom Justus) that I haven't met yet but want to.

I'll be at my parent's 56th wedding anniversary, so I can't complain too loudly, here are my hopes that a bunch of you folks make it that far

Have some extra fun for those of us who can't come!

Scott Martin

wcallen wrote:

Johann ColdIron wrote:

wcallen wrote:Food obtained.
Tables and chairs in the house.
One person (who flew in) already here.

It is getting close.

Wade

Hi Wade, I hear my squire is going to beat me there and see you tonight. Let me know if you need any last minute things and I can bring them in the morning when I get there.

J

There is such a rumor. We will see.
Drag the spaulder over. I think that is all we really need.

Wade

Will do! I'll also bring a little of the ITC-100 for the raising forge touch up.

You guys have fun this weekend!

I want to thank Wade (and Tom) for a wonderful and informative weekend. I'm still suffering from information overload but it was definitely an eye-opening experience with some wonderful people to hang around with. If all goes well, see you next year.

Thank you,

Sean

I will be doing everything in my power to make it out there next year along with James. From what little he said, it sounded like an excellent time.

It was nice meeting folks Saturday night. I was astonished that 11 of you fit into Tom's shop- if anyone has a photo please post it.

Tracy