Everybody in a small community would know the blacksmith and he would know his customers very well. A blacksmith's work day could be as long as 16 or 17 hours meeting the needs of the community. Some days would see a line up of horses waiting to have shoes reset or replaced. A blacksmith might drive over 100 pounds of nails in horseshoes per month. In the early 1900"s the price for a new shoe was 25 cents. Two horseshoes could be removed and replaced for 25 cents and resetting a shoe could cost 15 cents. In the winter months, the blacksmith would put metal studs called 'corks' on horseshoes to grip the ice. A blacksmith also had to be ready to save the day if a local farmer's machinery broke down in the middle of a job. The 'smithy' as they were called, would repair ploughs, harrows, sleighs, buggies, threshing mills and anything else his customers needed. He also had a supply of tools on hand in his shop. Every day items like hinges, keys, locks, hooks, blades, buggy jacks, axes and hoes were on offer for customers. The blacksmith would have tire rim setters and a rim fitting stone to keep drivers on the road. The Middleville and District Museum's Blacksmith Exhibit includes a coal fired forge, tongs, poker, anvil, steel boring machine, heat gauge and butteris and many other items for visitors to enjoy.
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AuthorThis journal is written, researched, and maintained by the volunteers of the Middleville Museum. |