Hand Forging and Wrought-Iron Ornamental work (1911)
Thomas F. Googerty
Popular Mechanics Co Publishers
copyright ©1911
Reprint copyright ©2005
Lindsay Publications
ISBN 1-55918-336-5
Trade paperback, 196 pages, 122 B&W line drawings
This is an oldie, but it is a real goodie written in a clear style with a lot of drawings that show the procedures or operations or the finished product. What is different about this one is in the introduction he talks about the spirit of decoration, history of ornamental work,Correct principles in the design, the decorative value of the curve and lines, Inspiration of art and nature, and the differences of mere ornament and not decoration.
This is one area that is often forgotten as people either write a fact how to book with little or no thought given to the reasoning behind the way things were done, to achieve the beautiful iron work of the past. Rather than some of what is that and why did they do it of today.
The great ones today spend almost as much time thinking of and designing the concept of the piece. He does cover things other authors take for granted that the person reading the book has a skill set to do the work. One example is the layout of a grille, that has a repeat design on each side of the diagonals.
In the Equipment chapter, the forge, fire, heating, materials used in forging ( this is mostly a historical section now as the assorted steel have replaced almost all wrought iron ). Which he does cover the basic's on steel and tool steel used in the making of tools. And finally hammers and anvil along with a start on the proper way to draw the iron.
Working at the forge covers all of the basic processes used to make items. Upsetting, Ramming, Punching, Bending, solid forgings and shrinking Bands.
Another nice section in this book is the coverage of the assorted types of welding and how they are done is covered in two chapters. Scarf, Lap, T with round iron, T, corner and cross with flat or square stock, jump, butt, rings round and flat, chain, finishing with brazing.
Twisting, Spirals, Bulbs, Balls and Cubes, banding and riveting. Then on to Scroll work , Giving a brief description of how the drawings are made. Methods of shaping and working the scrolls. Grilles and grille work and welded scroll work.
Box forgings, which is the bases for items, along with styles of bases and a couple of methods to make them.
Embossing, Forms in Relief, Leafs and other Ornamental Forms, Rosettes, Bulbs The Acanthus-Leaf design and raised forms and a short description on the proper method of hot oil finishing.
Drawer-pulls, Hinges, Window fasteners, Scalloping, Door-Keeps, Other-keeps, Hinges and some examples. Door plates, Drawings and dimensions, how to make patterns, practical examples.
Finishing up with the more involved items lamps of all kinds and styles. Showing the entire method from construction from drawing the pattern to the final fitting. Various forms are illustrated.
Whether for the beginner, or the practitioner that would like to expand their skill sets .
You can get it from Nation builder books, or Lindsay technical books.
