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Here are some of the books I recommend smiths add to their library. No
junk books, these are all worthwhile.
Updated:
August 04, 2009.
Links updated.
Free Online Book Downloads
http://www.hct.ac.uk/Downloads/craftpublications.html
(New Link August 2009) BEST LINK ON THE
INTERNET! The CoSIRA book series are available for free download. Take
advantage of this one while you can, this generous offer might not be
available forever. Books include The Blacksmith's Craft,
Ornamental Ironwork, Decorative Ironwork, The Thatcher's
Craft, The Blacksmith's Manual Illustrated by Lillico,
Catalogue of Drawings: Wrought Ironwork Gates, Catalogue of
Drawings For Wrought Ironwork, Catalog of Drawings: Weathervanes,
and others. These are some of the greatest books ever published- and they
are available for free download!
US War Department Education Manual EM 862 Farm Shop Practice.
There is only one chapter of the book printed here and it is a long
dissertation on the tooling, setup, theory, and practice of blacksmithing
on the farm. Download this one at: The
http://www.ibiblio.org link to this book has been dead for some time
now. Here it is again at a different source:
http://www.metalwebnews.com/howto/blacksmith/farmshop.html
Cornell University Online Archive -
http://chla.library.cornell.edu/ - A great collection of books. Too
many to mention everything here, visit their website and use the search
window to locate hundreds of excellent old books. Don't forget to change
the search condition to Title and type in Blacksmithing! One problem
with this site is that it appears to require each page of a book to be
downloaded and saved separately, preventing the book from downloading as a
single file. Type "blacksmithing"
in the search window and a large list of blacksmithing related titles
appear. Below are a short highlight of some of the titles preserved on the
Cornell University website.
Blacksmithing; a manual for use in school and shop
by Robert Washington Selvidge and James Miller Allton, 1925. 158 pages.
The book is contained in a series of scans. Each photo represents one
page of the book. This book is preserved on the web by the Cornell
University library in an effort to prevent its loss as a result of
deterioration.
Blacksmithing by James M. Drew, 1935. 122
pages.
http://chla.mannlib.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=chla;idno=2734502
The book is contained in a series of scans. Each photo represents one
page of the book. This book is preserved on the web by the Cornell
University library in an effort to prevent its loss as a result of
deterioration.
Farm Blacksmithing by James M. Drew, 1901. See the
Cornell University website above.
Standard Blacksmithing by Holmstrom, John Gustaf, 1907.
See the Cornell University website above.
US Army Training Circular TC 9-524 Fundamentals of Machine
Tools. Loads of excellent info on use and care of machine
tools for the machine shop. Long book. Go to
https://atiam.train.army.mil/soldierPortal/atia/adlsc/view/public/6482-1/tc/9-524/toc.htm
.
Blacksmithing, Ornamental Iron, and Horseshoeing How-To
books
*The Blacksmith's Craft by the Rural
Development Corp. (RDC, formerly called Council for Small Industries In
Rural Areas or CoSIRA in Great Britain). Original printing 1952. A how-to
book for blacksmiths. Step by step photos and text. This book is available
for free download at this time- see The Countryside Agency link in the
Free Downloads section at top of this page.
The Blacksmith ~ Ironworker and Farrier by
Aldron A Watson ISBN 0-393-30683-6. Printed by W. W. Norton. Some how-to
stuff, mostly nostalgia, and excellent how-to sections on making the
blacksmith's bellows and forge construction.
*Werk und Werkzeug des Kunstschmieds (Tools and
work methods of the Art-Smith) by Otto Schmirler. ISBN 3-8030-5040-5
printed in Austria by Ernst Wasmuth Tübingen from 1981. A how-to book for
ornamental ironworkers.
*Wrought Ironwork by the Rural Development
Corp. (RDC, formerly called Council for Small Industries In Rural Areas or
CoSIRA in Great Britain). Originally published in 1953. A how-to book for
ornamental ironworkers. This book is available for free download at this
time- see The Countryside Agency link in the Free Downloads section at top
of this page.
Das Schlosser Book by Theador Krauth and Franz
Sales Meyer. ISBN 3-88746-005-7. Printed in Germany by Schäfer. Original
edition 1897. An instructional book in German text for ornamental
ironworkers.
*Principles of Horseshoeing II, The by Dr. Doug
Butler ISBN 0-916992-02-0. Butler Publishing. A large how-to book and
professional classroom text for blacksmiths and horseshoers.
Woodwright's Shop, The by Roy Underhill. ISBN
0-8078-4082-3. Printed by University of Chapel Hill at North Carolina. A
how-to book for woodworking and blacksmithing.
Picture Books
*Decorative Ironwork by Margarete Baur-Heinhold
ISBN 0-7643-0036-9. Originally printed 1996. Schiffer Publishing. Great
historical ironworks from the 12th century to the 19th century.
*Der Kunstschmied Otto Schmirler by Otto
Schmirler ISBN 3-8030-5030-8 Originally printed 1986. Now printed by Ernst
Wasmuth Tübingen. Wonderful ironwork made in Vienna Austria during
the 20th century.
Schmiedekunst am Haus by Otto Schmirler ISBN
3-8030-5036-7. Originally printed 1983. Now printed by Ernst Wasmuth
Tübingen. Wonderful ironwork made in Vienna Austria during the
20th century.
*Für Den Kunstschmied is the German Title,
Larson Publishing prints this book in the US with the English title
Wrought Iron Artistry by Otto Schmirler ISBN
3-8030-5044-8. Originally published 1983. Wonderful ironwork
made in Vienna Austria during the 20th century.
Das Eisenwerk by Otto Höver ISBN ?. Originally
printed 1927. Now printed by Ernst Wasmuth Tübingen. A picture book of
12th - 18th century ironwork.
*Medieval Ironwork In Sweden by Lennart
Karlsson. A two-volume set ISBNs 91-7402-192-3 and 91-7402-194-X. 1988
printed by Almqvist & Wiksell International. A history and picture book
set. Excellent door hardware.
Decorative Antique Ironwork by Henry René
D'Allemagne. Reprinted by Dover Books. ISBN 0-486-22082-6. Originally
printed in 1924 in France as a museum catalog. A picture book of medieval
and renaissance era ironwork and hardware.
Medieval Armour and the Medieval Armoursmith
*Arms & Armor of the Medieval Knight by David
Edge and John Paddock 0-517-64468-1. Printed by Crescent Books a division
of Crown Publishers. A history and picture book.
The Armourer and His Craft by Charles FFoulkes
0-486-25851-3. Printed by Dover. A history book.
Armourers by Matthias Pfaffenbichler
0-8020-7732-3. University of Toronto Press. A history and picture book.
Medieval Industry
Diderot Pictorial Encyclopedia of Trades and Industry
by Denis Diderot ISBN 0-486-27428-4 and 0-486-27429-2. Printed by Dover. A
how-to book for the medieval and Napoleon era industrialists.
De Re Metallica by Georgius Agricola translated
by Our former president Herbert Hoover and his wife ISBN 0-486-60006-8.
Printed by Dover. A how-to book if you are a 16th century industrialist.
Blacksmithing, Ornamental Iron, and Horseshoeing How-To books
The Blacksmith's Craft by the Rural
Development Corp. (RDC, formerly called Council for Small Industries In
Rural Areas or CoSIRA in Great Britain). Original printing 1952. A
how-to book for blacksmiths.
A how-to book. A very small book that really packs a
punch. There are several books which are printed by RDC which use their
now famous format, of step by step photographs and text in short lesson
formats. Each lesson takes the apprentice or advanced student through a
group of tasks which teach basic skills important to that specific
field. The Blacksmith's Craft lessons include such things as basic
forging techniques, hooks, fire welding, chain making, hooks and
staples, harness and trace hooks, shackles, harrow bars, cart staples,
plain square corner bends, and most important to the smith with few
tools- the making of heavy blacksmiths tongs. Most of my tongs were made
using the methods in the back of this book. If for no other reason, buy
this book if you would like to make all your own heavy weight blacksmith
tongs. Anyone wanting a to build a horse drawn cart or repair hitch
parts will find the lesson on trace hooks and cart staples useful. An
expensive little book since it is imported from Britain. Be warned, it
is tiny and pricey. But well worth the money. Available Norm Larson
Books and Centaur Forge.
The Blacksmith ~ Ironworker and Farrier by
Aldron A Watson ISBN 0-393-30683-6. Printed by W. W. Norton.
Some how-to stuff and lots of nostalgia. In the early days when I
first started blacksmithing, this book was the most inspirational book I
found at the library. Most of the things in this book are related to the
history of the New England blacksmith in the 19th century. The roles of
the blacksmith as hardware maker, farrier, and general village craftsman
are portrayed in wonderful illustrations and text. Tools are shown and
methods for fullering, upsetting, drawing, welding, punching and bending
wrought iron are described. The blacksmith is depicted making latches,
chains, iron hardware, and shoeing horses. But what is so important in
this book for the new blacksmith to run out and buy it, is the sections
on designing a blacksmiths forge and the most in-depth description of
building a blacksmith's bellows that I have seen in any book.
Available Norm Larson Books and Centaur Forge.
Werk und Werkzeug des Kunstschmieds (Tools
and work methods of the Art-Smith) by Otto Schmirler. ISBN 3-8030-5040-5
printed in Austria by Ernst Wasmuth Tübingen from 1981. A how-to book
for ornamental ironworkers.
A how-to style book. By far the most sought after
book for the artist-blacksmith (ornamental ironworker) today. Printed
with 3 languages altogether, German-English-French. Loaded with hundreds
of pictures and water color drawings depicting the tools and how to use
them to forge a very large variety of work used in wrought iron gates,
railings, hardware, lanterns, grills, and other items. This book
contains a tremendous amount of ideas and methods that smiths of any
skill level from beginner to master, will find useful. Printed in Europe
so this book is very expensive. Available Norm Larson Books and Centaur
Forge. 3 more picture books by this author listed below in the Picture
Books section.
Wrought Ironwork by the Rural Development
Corp. (RDC, formerly called Council for Small Industries In Rural Areas
or CoSIRA in Great Britain). Originally published in 1953. A how-to book
for ornamental ironworkers.
A how-to book. A very small book which surprisingly
for its tiny size will, take the student through the entire process of
designing, forging and assembling the wrought iron gate. There are
several books which are printed by RDC which use their now famous
format, of step by step photographs and text in short lesson formats.
Each lesson takes the apprentice or advanced student through a group of
tasks which teach basic skills important to each aspect of gate work. 6
different scrolls are shown in the making, as well as forging gate
frames, tenoning, riveting, advanced fire welding techniques, slitting,
and collaring. These are the methods used by ornamental ironworkers to
build traditional handmade gates and railings. Tiny little book printed
in Europe and very expensive. Be careful when ordering so as not to
confuse this book with another book by CoSIRA called Decorative
Ironwork which is a book on modern methods of ornamental iron.
Available Norm Larson Books and Centaur Forge.
Das Schlosser Book by Theador Krauth and
Franz Sales Meyer. ISBN 3-88746-005-7. Printed in Germany by Schäfer.
Original edition 1897. An instructional book in German text for
ornamental ironworkers.
A how-to or old school text type book. German text
only. This book shows a large number of drawings and engravings
detailing work of the Locksmith (the old name for a group of trades
including the art smith or ornamental ironworker). Many of the old world
methods handed down from medieval times were still in use in 19th
century German workshops. Enough details can be found here to unlock the
secrets of medieval and renaissance era gate and railing construction.
Even if the reader cannot understand German language, the pictures in
this book make it worth the price. Depicted here are the tools and
machinery of yesteryear, medieval gates and railings and grills and
hardware, and constriction detail drawings showing assembly theory of
various parts of large ornamental ironwork. A few simple lock mechanisms
are depicted here also. Very expensive book printed in Europe, available
Norm Larson Books.
Principles of Horseshoeing II, The by Dr.
Doug Butler ISBN 0-916992-02-0. Printed by Butler Publishing. A how to
book and classroom text for blacksmiths.
A how-to and class room text book. Exhaustive work
on every aspect of horseshoeing from basic anatomy, mechanics of the
horse, making hand-made shoes, blacksmith shop, corrective shoeing for
faults or injuries, and shoeing the different types of horses from
racing horses to gaited horses. This book replaces his earlier version
and is much updated and expanded from the earlier edition. Very
expensive large book. Dr. Butler is very highly respected as a master of
equine science and his books are used as textbooks for horseshoeing
schools in the U.S. Available Centaur Forge.
Woodwright's Shop, The by Roy Underhill. ISBN
0-8078-4082-3. Printed by University of Chapel Hill at North Carolina. A
how-to book for woodworking and blacksmithing.
A how-to style book. Actually a book on traditional
style woodworking this book is the companion book for Roy Underhill's
public television series The Woodwright's Shop. A short section is
offered in this book on basic blacksmithing. A nice home made forge is
shown in several photos of simple enough design that the beginner forge
builder should have no trouble duplicating.
Picture Books
Decorative Ironwork by Margarete
Baur-Heinhold ISBN 0-7643-0036-9. Originally printed 1996. Schiffer
Publishing.
Top pick for the medieval ironwork enthusiast. One of the first
unbiased books since the 19th century which doesn't bad mouth work from
the German speaking countries. Written in English. Over two-hundred
large photos of historical gates and railings, fences, well grilles,
grave and crypt grills, as well as a wonderful description of the styles
and influences of the time periods that led to the making of those
works. Photographs are mostly from Germany, Austria, France,
Switzerland, and some from England and other countries. Very expensive
book available from Norm Larson Books and Centaur Forge.
Der Kunstschmied Otto Schmirler by Otto
Schmirler ISBN 3-8030-5030-8 Originally printed 1986. Now printed by
Ernst Wasmuth Tübingen
Photo archive of the works produced by the late Otto Schmirler in his
workshop in Vienna
Austria. Each book printed in German and French and English. Work
comprised almost entirely of traditional style forging techniques. Some
modern welding used but most work is forged. Gates, railings, grillwork,
lanterns, candelabras, curtain rods, fireplace equipment etc. Pictures
fill nearly every page. One of four books written by this author. Very
expensive book printed in Europe and available from Norm Larson Books
and Centaur Forge.
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Schmiedekunst am Haus by Otto Schmirler ISBN
3-8030-5036-7. Originally printed 1983. Now printed by Ernst Wasmuth
Tübingen.
Largest book by Otto Schmirler with almost every page filled with
works made in his shop in
Vienna Austria.
Each book printed in German and French and English. Gates, railings,
grillwork, furniture, lanterns, chandeliers, curtain rods, well cranes,
fireplace equipment etc. Mostly traditional work but some modern methods
and materials used for a small amount of work. One of four books by this
author. Very expensive book printed in Europe and available from Norm
Larson Books and Centaur Forge.
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Für Den Kunstschmied is the German Title,
Larson Publishing prints this book in the US with the English title
Wrought Iron Artistry by Otto Schmirler ISBN
3-8030-5044-8. Originally published 1983.
Otto Schmirler's smallest book and my favorite. Each book printed in
German and French and English. Almost every page filled with pictures of
Otto Schmirler's work from his
Vienna Workshop.
Lots of smaller works fill this book such as candelabras, fireplace
equipment, clocks, lamp holders, lanterns, candleholder, small grillwork
and sign holders, hinges. Mostly traditional style work but some modern
methods used for small amount of work. A very expensive book printed in
Europe but Larson Publishing has an English language version for less.
Available from Norm Larson Books and Centaur Forge.
Das Eisenwerk by Otto Höver ISBN ?.
Originally printed 1927. Now printed by Ernst Wasmuth Tübingen. A
picture book of 12th - 18th century ironwork.
A picture book. Wall to wall pictures of gates, door
hardware, sign holders, well canopies, railings, and grillwork from the
12th - 18th century. For the libraries of ornamental ironworkers. Text
is German only. Large and Expensive book printed in Europe. Available
Norm Larson Books and Centaur Forge.
Medieval Ironwork In Sweden by Lennart
Karlsson. A two-volume set ISBNs 91-7402-192-3 and 91-7402-194-X. 1988
printed by Almqvist & Wiksell International. A history and picture book
set.
A set of picture and history books. A large work
with exhaustive research into the history of medieval ironwork in Sweden
and with a close look at how and where different distinct styles of work
came from throughout Sweden during that time period. Hundreds of photos
of medieval work mostly of door hardware and similar work. Lots of
flowering motifs and animal or other whimsical characters fill these
works from long ago and SCA smiths will find many of them simple enough
to master once they learn the basic skills of the blacksmiths art. A
very expensive 2-volume set. Norm Larson Books handles this set.
Decorative Antique Ironwork by Henry René
D'Allemagne. Reprinted by Dover Books. ISBN 0-486-22082-6. Originally
printed in 1924 in France as a museum catalog. A picture book of
medieval and renaissance era ironwork and hardware.
A picture book. Originally a museum catalog for the
Le Secq Tournelles Museum in Rouen. This book is and extensive picture
catalog of ironwork and artifacts from the thirteenth to the eighteenth
centuries. Contains architectural ironwork, gates, railings, door
hardware, fire place accessories, lighting, jewelry, kitchen equipment,
tools, and other small items of the era. Available Centaur and Norm
Larson Books. Very large inexpensive book.
Medieval Armour and the Medieval Armoursmith
Arms & Armor of the Medieval Knight by David
Edge and John Paddock 0-517-64468-1. Printed by Crescent Books a
division of Crown Publishers. A history and picture book.
Large book with a very large number of very high quality pictures of
medieval armour. Most of the woodcuts depict tournaments and war. The
book is about armour and weapons so nothing in the way of shops and
smiths at work. One of the nicest books on medieval armour I have seen.
Moderately priced book.
The Armourer and His Craft by Charles
FFoulkes 0-486-25851-3. Printed by Dover. A history book.
A reprint of a treatise on the makers of medieval armour and the
tools and shop and products they made. This is considered by most smiths
to be one of the most in-depth books written on the subject of the
armoursmith. There are only a couple shops depicted in woodcuts in this
book and on one that I noticed with a forge in the background (Maximillian
visiting Seusenhofer). However the book gives valuable insights into the
business of amour making. Lots of pictures of medieval armour and some
construction details. Very inexpensive book. Available Norm Larson Books
and Centaur Forge.
Armourers by Matthias Pfaffenbichler
0-8020-7732-3. University of Toronto Press. A history and picture book.
A small book on the medieval armoursmiths with lots of good quality
pictures of medieval and renaissance armour. A small number of woodcuts
depicting armoursmiths at work including a couple with forges and other
large shop tools in the background (one is the Maximillian visiting
Seusenhofer). Very inexpensive book.
Medieval Industry
Diderot Pictorial Encyclopedia of Trades and Industry
by Denis Diderot ISBN 0-486-27428-4 and 0-486-27429-2. Printed by Dover.
A how-to book for the medieval and Napoleon era industrialists.
A two volume set and very inexpensive. This is a nice black and white
reprint of the 18th century book on medieval trades. Woodcuts on every
page depict work of the all the known trades of the time and text to
explain what was in each woodcut. Several smithing industries including
the Ornamental ironworker, farrier (smith who specialized in only horse
shoeing), spur maker, heavy blacksmith. Very inexpensive 2-volume book
set. Available Norm Larson Books and Centaur Forge.
De Re Metallica by Georgius Agricola
translated by Our former president Herbert Hoover and his wife ISBN
0-486-60006-8. Printed by Dover. A how-to book if you are a 16th century
industrialist.
This is a treatise printed originally in1556 on the subject of mining
and manufacturing industries of that era. Exhaustive research and loaded
with woodcuts depicting anything to do with mining and smelting
metallurgy. And lots of woodcuts showing the medieval forges in use at
the time. If you are looking at ideas to build a medieval style forge,
this book has the most engravings of forges in one place. Lots of shops
depicted showing the craftsmen working and the tools of the trades. Too
many trades to list here. Large inexpensive book.
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