PRACTICAL BLACKSMITHING. A COLLECTION OF ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED AT DIFFERENT TIMES BY SKILLED WORKMEN TO THE COLUMNS OF “THE BLACKSMITH AND WHEELWRIGHT” AND COVERING NEARLY THE WHOLE RANGE OF BLACKSMITHING FROM THE SIMPLEST JOB OF WORK TO SOME OF THE MOST COM- PLEX FORUINGS. Compiled and Edited by M. T. RICHARDSON, Editor of “Tog BiacksmiTa axp WireLwaiant."’ ILLUSTRATED. VOLUME I. New York M. T. RICHARDSON, PUBLISHER. 1888.PREFACE. Although there are ‘numerous 5 legendary accounts of the important ‘positidn' odcupied by’ the black- smith, and the honors accorded him even ata period as remote in the world’s history as the time of King Solomon, strange to relate there is no single work in the language devoted solely to the practice of the blacksmith’s art. Occasional chapters on the subject may be found, however, in mechanical books, as well as brief essays in encyclopedias. While fragmentary allusions to this important trade ,have from time to time appeared in newspapers and magazines, no one has ever attempted anything like an exhaustive work on the subject ; perhaps none is possible. This paucity of literature concerning a branch of the mechanic arts, without which other trades would cease to exist from lack of proper tools, cannot be attributed to a want of intelligence on the part of the disciples of Vulcan. It is perfectly safe to assert, that.in this respect blacksmiths can hold their own with mechanics in any other branch of industry. From their ranks have sprung many distinguished men, Among the number may be mentioned Elihuiv PREFACE, Burritt, known far and wide as the “learned black- smith.” The Rev. Robt. Colyer, pastor of the leading Unitarian Church in New York City, started in life as a blacksmith, and while laboring at the forge, began the studies which have since made him famous. Exactly why no attempt has ever Leen made to write a book on blacksmithing, it would be difficult to explain. It is not contended that in the following pages anything like a complete consideration of the subject will be undertaken, For the most part the matter has been taken from the columns of The Blacksmith and Wheelwright, to which it was contributed by practical men from all parts of the American continent. Zhe Blacksmith and Wheel- ° wright, it may be observed, is at present the only journal in the world which makes the art of black- smithing an essentiil feature. "In the nature of things, the most that can be done by the editor and compiler of these fragmentary articles, is to group the different subjects together and present them with as much system as possible. The editor does not hold himself responsible for the subject matter, or the treatment which each tool receives at the hands of its author. There may be, sometimes, a better way of doing a job of work than the one described herein, but it is believed that the average blacksmith may obtan much information from these pages, even if oc-