Pieh Tool

Sloane

This was one of the most influential books on tools and had an impact on the current interest in tool collecting. There are over 180 pen and ink drawings by the author. Originally published in 1964, Sloane illustrates the uses of many of the tools and covers such diverse crafts as logging, carpentry, wheelmaking, tanning, splitting, tools with legs and much more.
 This absorbing book describes, in detail, farm tools and kitchen implements and how they were made. Includes devices used by curriers, wheelwrights, coopers, blacksmiths, loggers, tanners, coachmakers, and other craftsmen of the pre-industrial age. An informal, expressively written book for cultural historians, woodcrafters, and Americana enthusiasts. 

Unabridged republication of the edition originally published by Funk & Wagnalls, Inc., New York, 1964.

A great reference and research book for people wishing to know more about anvils around the world. You will understand more about the anvil then your own hot iron.  It is an extensive and impressive research piece covering how they were made, who made them and where. There are dozens of old anvil advertisements and hundreds of pictures of anvils with explanatory text.

Richard defines the 17 distinct parts to an anvil.  He discusses weights of anvils and how they were marked.  He also discusses how to date an anvil and the reasons for so many anvil patterns and types.  Discussion on material and manufacturing process are well covered.  This book is a must for the blacksmith and the collector.

Rae

This is the essential who, what, when, where, and why of hand tools! Not only is the equipment itself beautiful, it’s the classic and most pleasurable way to work with wood. Hundreds of photographs, accompanied by explanatory illustrations, escort you through the traditional woodshop, introducing everything from indispensable clamps and drills to chisels and saws. And not a question goes unanswered in this guide to buying, tuning, sharpening, and operating both antique and contemporary pieces: you’ll find out which tools you really need, which ones are the best, and how to use them most effectively. There’s advice on work surfaces, vises, marking and measuring utensils, edgers, and tools that pull, pry, twist, bore, and scrape. You’ll discover things you never knew before!  

Power tools are a ubiquitous part of modern woodworking but, for most of history, hand tools were the standard. Rae, a professional furniture maker who has contributed to and edited a number of woodworking magazines, offers a wealth of information about the selection, care, and use of nearly every kind of hand tool: vices and workbenches, marking and measuring tools, and hammers, screwdrivers, drills, files, chisels, planes, and saws. Sharpening instructions are included, and each entry is profusely illustrated with color photos. This title will prove to be a valuable resource for woodworkers and should be part of public library woodcraft collections.

Schuler and Hull

Contains everything you need to know about choosing coal as an alternative heat source.  A practical guide that goes over the types of coal and availability, maintenance and more.  53 illustrations.

192 pages, 6 x 9 (Paperback)

Valuable information on coopering by a master cooper.  This is a great find with historical data on the making of barrels, tools and techniques from the earliest times up to today.  56 plates and 87 drawings.

Sellens

Here is the greatest assembly of hand tools ever assembled. It is a fascinating chronicle of nearly every tool ever used in North America, including ancient tools used by Native Americans; Trade tools used to create coaches, pianos, ships, and saddles; tools for harvesting farm goods, turpentine, and ice; and tools for fine bookbinding and watch repair. The tools are organized according to profession, from Beekeeper to Wheelwright, and will fascinate today's practitioners of these trades and hobbies.

Chronicle

Fifty-five fascinating and informative articles on early tools and trades, selected from several thousand published in the journal of the Early American Industries Association over the past 60 years. 

Dunham

Simply defined, lampwork is the craft of shaping glass in a torch flame. In these pages feast your eyes upon creations by nearly a hundred of today's best lampwork artists, from the United States and around the globe. A historical introduction, demonstration sequences by featured artists, and a glossary of lampwork terminology round out this indispensable guide to lampworked glass.

This is a lavishly illustrated showcase edited by Bandhu Dunham, one of the founding members of the modern movement of artistic lampworkers. In ancient times, the glass was melted over the flame of an oil or paraffin lamp, hence the traditional name. In the last 20 years, lampworking has evolved into a thriving branch of the Studio Glass movement. Everything from tiny beads and marbles, to paperweights to huge architectural installations can be and is made using lampwork methods. This "coffee table" book showcases the work of established and emerging artists in the lampwork field, from the United States and around the globe.

Spencer

Inside are hundreds of examples showing trash transformed into fascinating sculpture, collages, furniture, jewelry, and clothing - some items functional, some not. Meet the artists who count themselves among an exclusive club of dumpster divers and garbage pickers from all over the United States. And watch as other people's junk finds new life as treasure. This book and the innovative artisans inside, will profoundly influence the way you view life and its everyday detritus.

Skinner

From once-cast_aside items, these artists have carefully crafted fine jewelry to experiential gallery installations. This book takes you on an exciting tour through their imaginations. Experience the found object movement touted by artists and groups. 83 artists from across the United States and Europe are represented in 487 original artworks. Many of them make thier work a poignant environemental message, some uncover treasure and transcendant beauty, and still others set out simply to evoke a smile. This is a delightful treasury of one-of-a-kind artworks that you'll want to study and be inspired by time and again. A listing of galleries that represent the artists shown is included.

A Voyage through the Labyrinth of Steel and Toolmaking Strategies and Techniques 2000 BC to 1950
(Volume 11)

Defines hundreds of items of interest to blacksmiths, historians, and anyone seeking knowledge of steel- and toolmaking and its history. Topics range from ancient metallurgical techniques to later developments in iron and steel production in America and modern machines and the biomass-derived consumer products and toxic waste that they produce. While it stands alone as an important resource, the Glossary is also an invaluable component of the Davistown Museum Tools in History series, which surveys the history of steel and toolmaking and relates it to New England shipsmiths and edge toolmakers.

McConnell

The American Arts and Crafts Movement flourished briefly but brilliantly during the early years of the twentieth century. It was during this era that the Heintz Art Metal Shop and its successor the Smith Metal Arts Company (Silver Crest) produced decorative bronze wares of the highest quality. Today's avid interest in Arts and Crafts furnishings and accessories has collectors searching for examples made by these two firms. This book provides collectors and dealers alike with a pictorial panorama of such Heintz and Silver Crest items as bowls, jewelry, trophies, vases, and desk pieces, as well as essential data regarding value, rarity, maker's marks, and company histories.

Spivey

This is a great reference to identify pieces and parts or wagon hardware and tools.  (The cover is black with gold lettering).  Thousands of really neat illustrations of wagon and hardware and supplies.

Helmreich

Folk art subjects used in American weathervanes are shown, including domesticated and wild animals, birds, occupations, patriotic themes, and transportation. Create your own design or use the complete set of plans included to produce a traditional rooster weathervane. Using basic tools (tin snips and hammers), ageless techniques, and sheet copper available at your local sheet metal shop, this book will teach you how to make a weathervane that will serve your roof for years. Whether you are an experienced metal worker, or a woodworker who is looking for a challenge, this is the book for you.

Using over 290 crisp color images, 25 detailed line drawings, and concise text, Bruce Helmreich guides readers through the steps necessary to build a hand-hammered copper weathervane. This step-by-step guide transforms a sheet of copper into a fully functioning weathervane.

Wailes

Every wonder how to keep esky flies from hatching? Or perhaps how to make fireworks, ease a nagging toothache, bleach freckles, or make strawberry wine? These questions, and hundreds more are answered in the Manual of Formulas. Learn to dry flowers, brew wine, re-ink typerwriters, make mouthwash, silver nitrate from spoons and much, much more in this fascinating compilation of formulas from the pages of Popular Science Magazine, published in 1932. This handy book is new enough to be useful and old enough to have unusual formulas. It has something for everyone - all will benefit from the practical and even fun formulas in this book.

In 1936 on an island off the coast of Sweden a farmer plowing a recently drained swampland was stopped by something buried in the ground. He found his plowshare entangled in an old chain. As he dug deeper he found the chain wrapped around a chest that contained many old tools. Subsequent investigation by Sweden's archaeologists revealed that it was a tool chest from the Viking era of about 10 centuries ago. They were blacksmiths and carpenters tools over 1000 years old! The chest itself is an item of great beauty, typical of Scandinavian influenced furniture. The book describes this archeological find in detail with clear photographs and drawings. You will discover that our tools have not changed all that much from those of a thousand years ago, and you will be surprised at the wide variety of tools as used by the Viking woodworker and metal smiths.This book is a great treasure to blacksmiths and woodworkers alike.

Pina

The collectible appeal of Mexican metal art can be attributed to artistic quality, variety, and large production volume. In addition to jewelry, it includes wearable art, table art, and wall art, with something for everyone. See Mexican jewelry and metal art made with copper, brass, alpaca, and silver. From glass mosaics on brass to silver jewelry inlaid with crushed stone, to metal combinations such as metales casados, the variety in color, texture, and form is wonderful. While other books have made significant contributions to raising awareness of Mexico-designed silver jewelry, little has been written about other metal objects, often made by the very same designers, such as Salvador Teran, Los Castillos, Miguel Martinez, Miguel Pineda, Estele Popowski, and Bernice Goodspeed. Additional names found on illustrated brass and mixed-metal items include Maya, Toño, Cecilia, Caballo, and Victoria. Detailed captions with value ranges accompany 1000+ color photographs. Includes a bibliography, index, illustrated glossary, and illustrated hallmarks.

 
Penny Chittim Morrill & Carole A. Berk

Here is the powerful story of the silver renaissance in Mexico from the 1920s to the present. The wealth of color photos showcases the incomparable beauty of these works in silver. Extensive research sheds new light on the life and art of William Spratling, Margot van Voorhies, Fred Davis, and Hubert Harmon, and on the artisans who worked for them, making this book the definitive study of Mexican silver jewelry and decorative objects.

McConnell

As the founding of the Roycroft art community in New York State reaches its one hundredth anniversary this year, collector interest in the Arts & Crafts-style items that were made there is stronger than ever before. Of particular interest are the beautiful and varied hammered copper ware the "Roycrofters" made. This second volume provides nearly two hundred color photographs of copper vases, bookends, trays, and more-including many rarely-seen items. The history of the group and the evolution of its art metal are discussed, along with criteria for evaluating the quality of individual pieces. The different marks and patinas used by the company are documented. of further interest is a discussion of the Tookay Shop and Avon Coppersmith, both spin-offs from the Roycroft community, which continued in a similar tradition. A price guide is included.