A Sketchbook of Inventions, Curiosities, and Lore

Beautifully arranged in an A-Z format, the noted artist Eric Sloane presents this rich and varied collections of American firsts – from the salt box house to basketball, hex signs to ear trumpets, popcorn to rocking chairs. Taking his cue from early Americans' interest in the lore and beauty of the English alphabet, Sloane arranged this beautifully illustrated book in an A-Z format, decorating each page with his own fine hand lettering and including a brief caption to elucidate the origin and use of every subject he pictured.

Format: Soft cover, Dimensions: 8.5 x 11, Pages: 30, Illustrations: 52

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An Age of Barns

An Illustrated Review of Classic Barn Styles & Construction

"An Age of Barns" preserves the heritage handed down to us by those who settled America: dependable, resourceful pioneers who built these amazing barns, often before the family home was finished, and usually with the help of the entire community. These barns are remarkable for the skill with which they were created and the beauty that matches their usefulness. An Age of Barns preserves the heritage handed down to us by the individuals who settled America: dependable, resourceful pioneers who revered excellence above all. While structures erected today rarely outlive their builders, the early Americans created barns so honest and enduring that many still stand after two or three hundred years. This classic folksy history of barn folklore, architecture, and history is filled with thousands of fabulous black-and-white sketches that illustrate all types of American and Canadian barns and everything associated with them. “Those who seek the spirit of America might do well to look first in the countryside, for it was there that the spirit was born.” Often built before the family home was finished, and usually with the help of the entire community, these barns are remarkable for the skill with which they were created and the beauty that matches their usefulness. An Age of Barns preserves the heritage handed down to us by the individuals who settled America: dependable, resourceful pioneers who revered excellence above all. While structures erected today rarely outlive their builders, the early Americans created barns so honest and enduring that many still stand after two or three hundred years. This classic folksy history of barn folklore, architecture, and history is filled with thousands of fabulous black-and-white sketches that illustrate all types of American and Canadian barns and everything associated with them. “Those who seek the spirit of America might do well to look first in the countryside, for it was there that the spirit was born.”

Format: Soft cover, Dimensions: 11 x 9, Pages: 94, Illustrations: 240

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Antique Iron - English And American: 15th Century Through 1850

Beautiful photographs and concise descriptions of these European, English and American antique pieces of architectural hardware, fireplace equipment, kitchen utensils, weathervanes, and gates from major museums and private collections will fascinate artists, blacksmiths, collectors, and historians alike.

Format: Hard cover, Dimensions: 8.5 x 11, Pages: 447, Illustrations: 981

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The Legacy of Francis Whitaker: Vol I

This is a compendium for blacksmiths at any level to preserve techniques and processes essential for the mastery of all levels of traditional blacksmithing. The beautiful illustrations and clearly demonstrated techniques make this the book to become the standard by which all others will be measured.

Format: Hard cover, Dimensions: 8 x 10, Pages: 157, Illustrations: 800

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A Primer of Tools & Methods

A step-by-step guide to building a simple forge, crafting the basic tools, and learning the techniques to get started in blacksmithing. Easy to follow photos.

Format: Hard cover, Dimensions: 7 x 9, Pages: 248, Illustrations: over 200

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The Blacksmith

A young peoples guide to the world of blacksmithing during the Colonial Period including details of the forge, tool for farm and homestead and the life of an apprentice.

Format: Soft cover, Dimensions: 8.25 x 10.75, Pages: 32, Illustrations: 67

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Artisan within the early community

The blacksmith was a man of many talents and took his place as an important member of the early farm community. Virtually every article for the home or farm that could not be formed of wood was made by him. His shop served as a natural gathering place for the men of his village and as a center for the exchange of information on crops, gossip and national news.

Henry and George Landis of Landis Valley Pennsylvania, were brothers of exceptional curiosity. As small, rural children, they were curious about the way people lived and worked during the founding days of this nation. Before their formal schooling was accomplished, they had already begun to collect American antiques that were to become the nucleus of the Landis Valley Museum. They were often seen with their horse-drawn wagon coming home from country sales loaded with "another pile of junk."

It is to them that this booklet is dedicated.

Format: Soft cover, Dimentions: 8 1/2" x 11", Pages: 64, Illustrations: 111

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