Jim Korosec of “Finelli Ironworks”, contacted me a few years ago to help his company restore two sets of identical gates in Cleveland, Ohio. That was the beginning of a long, interesting, and sometimes trying journey. I am pleased to announce that through a combined effort with “Finnelli Ironworks” of
The form above, 1-1/2″ x 5″ x 5″, was made of 18 gauge mild steel. There are 64 of these to be made for the continuing two driveway gate restorations in Cleveland, Ohio. Below, you will see the machine stamped fragment (on the right), and this piece on the left, both painted
Here are a few more additions to the driveway gate restoration in Cleveland, Ohio. The above leaf (or husk), is 3″ x 12″ x 2-1/2″, of 18 gauge mild steel. There are two, and they are mounted high on the gate piers. The image above shows the two husks together. The
This is a prototype for a restoration project in Cleveland, Ohio. The original pieces were stamped. This piece was formed by hand using the French repoussé process. It is made of 18 gauge, and is 16″w x 11-1/2″ h. Four pieces of this form are needed. 510 various pieces, all
In August of last year, I stopped to see a potential client in Ohio about a gate restoration. The client, a fabricating firm, was needing someone to reproduce 12 different forms, i.e. calyx/husk forms, acanthus leaves, rosettes, and more, using the process of French Repoussé. There are two identical driveway
In 2008, I had the privilege to restore a very large window grille made by master blacksmith Cyril Colnik. The grille belongs to the “Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion” and is situated on the northern exterior of the building. It measures 66″ x 99″. The approximate age of the grille is
Above is a European sign bracket, a fine example the German Renaissance style. It was one of several “tavern style” sign brackets I restored for this client. Below are images taken after sandblasting, revealing the delicate chased details. Above we see a fine example of the whimsical figurines so often
These are images from a repair job for a client whose iron fence had been struck by a car. The fence was made by Cyril Colnik. Repairing and restoring vintage ironwork has many rewards and also some surprises. In this case, the surprise was how Colnik solved a joint problem
Continuing with the liturgical aspects of decorative ironwork……… This Grave Cross was one of several pieces I restored for a client in southeastern Wisconsin. This collection of ironwork is extraordinary in that most of it is of a distinct European flavor, spanning several styles and applications. The exciting aspect to
This is a sign bracket that I restored for a client several years ago. The workmanship is reminiscent of German ironwork during the Renaissance. After removing the many years of paint, it is always interesting to see the various tool marks, forge welds, and in this case, all the brazed
NAUMAN’S NORTHERN SCHOOL FOR BLACKSMITHS
