tools-lnks – 9/1/04
A set of web links to information on medieval tools by Dame Aoife Finn of Ynos Mon.
NOTE: See also the files: tools-msg, tools-bib, wood-bending-msg, plane-art, p-lathes-bib, glues-msg, bellows-msg, blksm-anvils-msg, lea-tooling-msg.
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NOTICE -
This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.
This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org
I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter.
The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the individual authors.
Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s).
Thank you,
Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous
Stefan at florilegium.org
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From: Aoife
Subject: Links: Medieval Tools.
Date: September 1, 2004 1:15:56 PM CDT
To: StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
I had the opportunity to come across two individuals at Pennsic whose
personal SCA mandate is getting information to YOU. They are Iustinos Tekton
called Justin and his wonderful lady Milica of SCAtoday, of the
Midrealm, and Stefan of Stefan's Florilegium from Ansteorra. Wow, what
knowledgeable people, and incredibly wonderful to know. I'd like to point
out that they give many hundreds of hours of their time to get information
to you, and they do it at no cost, often out of their own pockets, and then
they distribute or publish this information for anyone to read. People like
this are what make the SCA what it is today, so I hope I may be the first of
many to stand up and applaud your efforts, good people. Thank you for what
you do.
This week we are focusing on: Medieval Tools. So frequently I hear an artist
or a teacher say "we don't really know what they used to do this" or "we
don't know what the tools looked like". So, here to dispel some of that myth
is a Links List devoted to tools. If you're a medieval toolman/woman, then
please read on for more information about the tools of your trade.
Cheers!
Aoife
Dame Aoife Fin of Ynos Mon, Ol, OP
Riverouge
Barony of the Endless Hills
Aethelmearc
Castle Learning Center: Medieval Tools
http://www.castles-of-britain.com/castlezc.htm">http://www.castles-of-britain.com/castlezc.htm
(Site Excerpt) Shovels and spades were made of wood, but some cutting tools
were tipped with iron. Poorer quality wood was used for wicker and
basket-work. Much work time would have been spent resharpening or replacing
the tools.
Medieval Farm Tools
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/MEDTfarming.htm">http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/MEDTfarming.htm
While this site is pretty basic, scroll down, then click on a menu item to
be taken to a description, method of use, and an historical illustration of
the tool.
Stefan's Floilegium: Tools-Bib
http://www.florilegium.org/files/CRAFTS/tools-bib.html">http://www.florilegium.org/files/CRAFTS/tools-bib.html
(Site excerpt from ONE message of several) Plenty of visual depictions of
tools exist. The ones that most immediately come to my mind are the
following. The Bayeux Tapestry shows men felling trees and building
longships; the tool depictions are fairly explicit. The
Mendel Housebook has nice depictions of 14th through 16th century workers of
all types, including several types of woodworkers (carpenters/joiners,
turners, and, for lack of a better qualification, makers of textile tools).
Period depictions of Noah building the ark are good sources, as are
depictions of St. Joseph at work. The Campin altarpiece has a lovely
depiction of St. Joseph's workshop with some really good tools in it
(including a broadax).
See also: Reconstruction and Use of a Saxon Plane
http://www.florilegium.org/files/CRAFTS/plane-art.html">http://www.florilegium.org/files/CRAFTS/plane-art.html
Pictures of Medieval French Woodworking Tools from Dcctionairre Raisonne' du
Mobilier Francais
http://www.medievalwoodworking.com/vld_tools.htm">http://www.medievalwoodworking.com/vld_tools.htm
See also: European Woodworking tools at
http://www.medievalwoodworking.com/articles/errata.htm">http://www.medievalwoodworking.com/articles/errata.htm
The Medieval Technology Pages
Agricultural Tools
http://scholar.chem.nyu.edu/tekpages/agritools.html">http://scholar.chem.nyu.edu/tekpages/agritools.html
(Site Excerpt) Many agricultural tools, such as the plow, have been known
since antiquity. Nevertheless, the Middle Ages saw the introduction of new
tools, little-used old tools, and the importation of tools developed
elsewhere. It is not possible to rank these in order of importance. Each
played a role in the development of medieval agriculture. The cumulative
result of these improvements was a major increase in agricultural
productivity. Se also the main page at:
http://scholar.chem.nyu.edu/tekpages/Subjects.html">http://scholar.chem.nyu.edu/tekpages/Subjects.html
A Carpenter's Chest: Tools of the 15th Century by Lord Findlaech Mac
Alasdair (Acrobat reader required)
http://www.his.com/~tom/TOOLS.PDF">http://www.his.com/~tom/TOOLS.PDF
Medieval Science and Scientific Instruments by Richard A. Paselk
http://www.humboldt.edu/~rap1/EarlySciInstSite/EarlyInstSite.htm">http://www.humboldt.edu/~rap1/EarlySciInstSite/EarlyInstSite.htm
(Site Excerpt) Since I was a child I have had a strong interest in how we
humans understand and measure our world. Consequently I have played with and
collected measuring instruments for almost as long as I can remember. This
interest in turn lead me to pursue the types of measurements made by earlier
cultures, in particular Medieval Europe, and how they made them. Such
instruments are rare, and most of us have little opportunity to see, let
alone handle or own such artifacts. Thus since the mid-1980's I have been
occasionally building my own working replicas of ancient scientific and
philosophical instruments.
German language articleon Roman Carpenter's Tools: Wolfgang Gaitzsch
Ršmische Werkzeuge
http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/uni/ymu/sqhm/werkzeug/daten.htm">http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/uni/ymu/sqhm/werkzeug/daten.htm
While I don't understand the language myself, there are some great
photographs of tool illustrations.
Early Wood Lathes
http://www.historicgames.com/lathes/ancientlathes.html">http://www.historicgames.com/lathes/ancientlathes.html
(Site Excerpt) The Egyptian lathe is based on a stone carving which may be
the earliest pictoral representation of a lathe. Artifacts as early as the
7th century B.C. have been found which appear to have marks consistant with
having been turned.
Museum of Woodworking Tools
http://www.antiquetools.com/">http://www.antiquetools.com/
Museum for Old Techniques in Belgium--English Link provided!
http://www.mot.be/">http://www.mot.be/
Medieval Leatherworking Techniques--Tools
http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/leather/plwt.html#pl3">http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/leather/plwt.html#pl3
New York Carver: Painting With Light: Tools & Techniques (Stained Glass)
http://www.newyorkcarver.com/makinglass.htm">http://www.newyorkcarver.com/makinglass.htm
(Site Excerpt) ".if you want to assemble simple windows, first mark out the
dimensions of their length and breadth on a wooden board, then draw scroll
work or anything else that pleases you, and select colors that are to be put
in. Cut the glass and fit the pieces together with the grozing iron. Enclose
them with lead cames...and solder on both sides. Surround it with a wooden
frame strengthened with nails and set it up in the place where you wish."
Hugues Libergier and his Instruments
http://www.nexusjournal.com/Wu.html">http://www.nexusjournal.com/Wu.html
(Site Excerpt) As can be expected from the effigy of an architect, it is
accompanied by several instruments of his profession: a square, a compass,
and a measuring rod. While these instruments are frequently found in
conjunction with the representation of architects, whether on tomb slabs,
sculpture, in construction scenes on manuscript pages or stained glass
panels [4], it is the square to the right of Hugues that has received the
most attention from scholars in search of the secrets of medieval
construction.
St. Helena, St.Eloi & blacksmith's tools: Broughton, Bucks.
http://www.paintedchurch.org/broubhel.htm">http://www.paintedchurch.org/broubhel.htm
(Site Excerpt) The two saints, Helena on the left, stand against a diapered
background, surrounded by a scrollwork border. Below them is a cluster of
blacksmith's tools and products of the forge, including many keys and
padlocks (interestingly, the OED gives 1478 as the first known usage of this
latter word) along with horse-trappings complete with horse (at the right)
and much else.
All of these, shown here against a squared pattern suggesting a chequered
floor, are attributes of St. Eloi, who was a blacksmith and goldsmith in his
earlier life, before he became eventually bishop of Noyon in France.
The Mastermyr Toolchest (Original Viking tools)
http://www.historiska.se/collections/treasures/viking/verktyg-e.html">http://www.historiska.se/collections/treasures/viking/verktyg-e.html
Regia Anglorum Ironworking
http://www.regia.org/ironwork.htm">http://www.regia.org/ironwork.htm
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