C[Jie Qri§tmill No. 24 June, 1981 Missouri Packs 'Em In From 11 States One of the nicest things about and Kansas. an M-WTCA decorated cake, was holding an area tool meeting is The meeting theme was levels (Do provided. seeing friends who share the same Your Level Best to Attend) but other A lot of people helped make the interest-old tools. Just ask Keith varieties of tools were in abundance. meeting a success. Special thanks go and Jill Mansfield, hosts for an April The event was held at a historic to: meeting in Columbia, MO. Columbia resort hotel called Candle Keith's parents for homemade More than 75 friends and new Light Lodge, now converted into a cookies and providing a truck for acquaintances showed up at their retirement center. table deliveries; his brother, Kevin, open house on Saturday evening, The meeting room was 40 feet wide and George Ann Jinchs, April 25, for fellowship, food and and 100 feet long. More than 35 eight­ photography; Dean and Martha favorite beverages. The real surprise foot tables were set up buy by 8: 30 Jenkins, registration and hard labor; was the main event on Sunday which a.m. the room already was cram­ Larry, Kathy and Bob Hiedergerke brought a beautiful, sunny 80-degree med. Temporary tables were placed and Joyce Stucker, buffet luncheon; day and, believe it or not, 185 tool en­ outside and when this area was Cliff and Maureen Smith, signs and thusiasts from 11 states. Represen­ exhausted, members pulled out car setting up; Ivan and Maggie Risley ted were Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, blankets to display their collections and Gerald McAcharn, official Illinois, Tennessee, Wisconsin, In­ on the lawn. greeters; Mr. and Mrs. Gross, Can- diana, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma A complete buffet lunch, including (Conrinued on Page 2) Meetings M-WTCA FALL: Oct. 2, 3 and 4, 1981, Im­ perial House North (motel), Dayton, OH. Bill Baader and Gale Zerkle. WI: Aug. 23, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, WI. Jim Mau, Len Borkowski, Jim Baird. OK: March 28, 1982, Seminole, OK. Clarence Hargis, OrlandM-WTCA.ORG Zajicek, Lowell Holloway, Jr. (Joint regional meeting of M-WTCA and SWTCA. EAIA FALL : Oct. 15-17, Mercer Museum, Doylestown, PA. EAIA-West CA : Oct. 3, San Joaquin County Museum, Lodi, CA. Bob Gilmore, Don Potter. THE COLUMBIA, MO MEETING drew M-WTCA mem­ SWTCA bers from 11 states. Taking advantage of the warm FALL: Nov. 1, Grove, TX. Lowell spring weather, George Wanamaker of Illinois, Vernon Holloway, Jr., Joe Griffin, Orland Creely of Missouri and Bill Hinz of Kansas ( from left) Zajicek. did their trading outdoors. No. 24 June 1981 Mid-West Tool Collect ors Association Editor . ...... .. Mary Lou Stover 151-60th St., RR 1 Caledonia, WI 53108 414-421-3836 The Gristmill is the official publication of the Mid-West Tool Collectors LEVELS of all sizes showed up at the Missouri Association and is published quarterly, meeting, whose theme was Do Your Level Best March, June, September and December. to Attend. The purpose of the association is to promote the preservation, study and un­ derstanding of ancient tools, implements and devices of the farm, home, industry and shop of the pioneers ; also, to study the crafts in which these objects were used and the craftsmen who used them ; also, to share knowledge and un­ derstanding with others, especially where it may benefit restorations, museums and like, institutions ; also, to accomplish this in a spirit of fun and fellowship . President Kenneth Runkle 1918 Charles St. Lafayette, IN 47904 317-742-1560 Vice President Tom Ward P.O. Box 11 Avondale Estates GA 30002 404-296-3883 Secretary-Treasurer William R. Rigler 8203 Devens Drive Brentwood, TN 37027 615-794-7851 Directors 1978-81 1980-83 Bill Eviston Fred Bair Jim Grant George Els ass E . A. Olson Gary Gergini Tom Ward Keith Magdefrau Jim Mau 1979-82 Dick Opsahl Mo Arnold Tom Reghi TABLES OF TOOLS filled the room at the Can­ Bill Baader Ivan Risley dle Light Lodge in Columbia. M-WTCA mem­ Dave Bruno Al Sellens bers had a chance to view interesting tools as Don Buttel Roger Smith well as do a little swapping, selling or buying. Dave Crow e Ray Townsend Bill Holden Gerald McAchran Ray Nissen M-WTCA.ORG Bruce Sandberg Tom Witte Missouri Area Meeting Gale Zerkle (Co ntinued f rom Page 1) Committee Chairmen Program ... .. .. ... Kenneth Runkle dle Light Lodge proprieters, for and spouses made the Columbia Gristmill . .. .. ........ Mary Lou Stover providing the space. Special Publications ..... .. Fred Malott meeting a smashing success. As Ivan Whatsit ... .. .... .. ... Gary Gergeni The Grosses were so impressed said, "Gosh, this area meeting was Auction ..... .......... .. .. I van Risley with M-WTCA that they've invited larger than several of the regional Executive Committee: the group back next year. meetings M-WTCA had when I was the above and the three officers All those fantastic tool collectors president." Address Labels and Scrapbook -Keith Mansfield Kerry and Lynne McCalla 3325 Culloden Way Birmingham, AL 35243 PAGE 2 • Keep a Date in Dayton ID October If Dayton, OH isn't already in your datebook for Oct. 2, make lace. They wear 18th Century costumes and are 3 and 4, put it there. Plans for the fall M-WTCA meeting "great," Bill says. are shaping up to produce another good program that A trip to Carriage Hill Farm will feature demon­ tool collectors won't want to miss. strations of approximately 50 crafts. Side trips to the Air Bill Baader and Gale Zerkle have lined up craftsmen to Force Museum also are in the works. demonstrate their skills at the event, which will be held at the Imperial House North ( motel). The program will include an auction of about 125 wood­ Highlighting the affair will be Art Clark, M-WTCA mem­ working tools from the collection of Lew Piepko of Cin­ ber, who will show the art of tinsmithing. He has been in cinnati, who died early this year. the business 30 years and is one of the tops in his field. The never-ending trading sessions will be held outdoors The women will be particularly interested in the if the weather cooperates in an area "big enough to hold Nealeigh Family, who will show how to spin, weave and a football game and crowd," according to Bill. University Museum Opens Goudy Exhibit The Frederick W. Goudy Collec­ What visitors won't see is gold leaf, In 1907, shortly after Goudy moved tion, housed in a reproduction of a used to decorate many old books. his firm to New York, it was 19th century printing shop, opened With today's gold prices, the destroyed in a fire. His life changed this year at Illinois State University, museum staff decided against put­ in 1910 when he designed type for a Normal, IL. ting gold leaf on display. book of H. G. Wells short stories. The Goudy, who was born in 1865 in In 1903 at age 18, Goudy started the journal Typographia called his new twin-city Bloomington, IL is famous Village Press in Chicago with a Kennerly Old Style typeface the most for creating over 100 styles of friend. Things didn't go well finan­ beautiful to appear since the 18th typeface. cially, especially when the Kup­ century. Besides bookbinding and edging penheimer Co. for whom he had The Williams Hall museum on the tools, the exhibit includes cylinder designed advertising type, decided ISU campus is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and hand presses and drawers of not to use it, nor to pay him. weekdays and 1 to 5 p.m. weekends. Goudy type. Chaff From the President Big meetings, little meetings, area meetings, state meetings. This year has been an active one for many members who have put in a lot of hard work bringing off good meetings. It takes planning, time and a terrific effort from the hosts, com­ mittee, family and friends to make sure everything runs smoothly. I have never been invited to so many meetings, dnd it hurts not to be able to attend them all. I want to express my thanks for the invitations and offer my apologies for missing what certainly were informative and fun gatherings. Keep up the good work and keep those meetings coming. That's what it takes to retain a strong club. M-WTCA.ORGThe hosts and their committee undoubtedly feel rewarded when their meeting is over and they know club members went home happy with a new tool, without a tool they sold to another pleased collector and with good thoughts of gathering with friends of like interests. But let them know you enjoyed the day. A pat on the back will make both of you feel good. If you haven't been to a meeting, you 're missing the best part of M- WTCA. See you in Dayton, OH in the fall. That's another big one. PAGE 3 Having Fun On A Limited Tool Budget By Hunter M. Pilkinton is truly amazing, so "sleepers" are rare, but they do oc­ MOST COLLECTORS like to show off their prizes, cur. but few talk about the money involved in paying for them. CONSIDER EXTRA WORK to subsidize your hobby. The money angle is important, obviously. If you are For instance, I have moonlighted for extra kitty money. filthy rich and money is no object, you could have a This, plus any windfalls, I always kept separate from my fabulous collection, as people would beat a path to your regular job paycheck. This cleared my conscience when door offering you rare and expensive pieces.