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1910-1970
This door lock was made by Samuel
Yellin Company for the Citizens Bank of Weston, WV in 1929 |
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There
was a golden age for blacksmiths who made architectural ironwork during
the early part of this period. But the Great Depression (1930) would end
this Renaissance. Still, many of America's most-treasured works in iron
were made during this time.
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Farming
with workhorses did not evaporate overnight. And even the US Army
maintained some horse cavalry and horse-drawn artillery units into
the 1930's. But by 1950, nearly all agricultural crops were tended
by machines and the Army was obviously mechanized. The farrier's
main work shifted from shoeing work horses to pleasure horses.
While many factories employed blacksmiths in their maintenance
departments in 1910, they were eventually phased out as their need
decreased. |
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Horse-drawn excavation
equipment remained in use well into the 1930's. |
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In
summary, the art of blacksmithing almost became extinct during the latter
half of this period. People would remember their grandfather's farm and
the shed where his anvil was set up. But they had no idea of what Grandpa
did in his shop. Essentially, if a job absolutely had to be done by hand,
then a blacksmith would have work. And there were some repairs and tools
that called for the blacksmith's skills. But modern logic dictated
mass-production and replacement rather than repair. It became cheaper to
throw away a broken chain rather than have a blacksmith make the repair
links! And what about those wrought-iron railings that homeowners bought
in the '50's? They aren't hand-forged by a blacksmith; they are cold-bent
in presses and welded together, and the finials are cast iron, made a
hundred at a time.
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Glass-top,
Art Deco style table made by Samuel Yellin for the Citizens Bank
of Weston, WV. |
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