Blacksmiths still in business. Not only that – smithing was still considered to be a trade with a possible future. Must be somewhere in the vicinity of the 20s or 30s. One of my great-grandfathers was actually a blacksmith by trade. He was sttill carrying out his trade in the 30s. In fact, when World War II broke out in the 40s – many of my uncles were still farming with horses. So stuff like rubber blockades and gas rationing did not really cause them a whole lot of concern. After the war ended, however, everyone went with automobiles, tractors, trucks, etc – and using horses for farm work was phased out.
Re: sammysock said, about 5 hours agoActually, black smithing is still common. Think of all the horses used for pleasure as well as racing, performing, etc. Locally, we have a blacksmith who travels to where the horses are and works from a truck.
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That is really great to know! My great-grandfather’s last name was Smith – and ancestry research has revealed that blacksmithing was a family tradition, going back several hundred years! However, none of his children took up smithing and, when he sold his shop in the 30s, the fellow who bought the shop only worked at smithing until after World War II – then converted his shop to an auto repair shop.
Looks like a word is missing in panel 3. Otherwise the Smithie is telling Jeff to both hold the horseshoe and also swing the hammer.
Reminds me of a Marx Brothers skit where Chico tells Harpo to tie a rope to the bed and then throw it out the window so they can escape being captured. Chico then repeats himself saying tie on the bed and throw the rope out of the window, so Harpo removes his tie, puts it on the bed and then throws the loose rope out of the window thus precluding their escape.
Sherlock Watson over 10 years ago
Either Jeff’s not very strong or that’s one hard-headed blacksmith.
EstrelitaH over 10 years ago
Blacksmiths still in business. Not only that – smithing was still considered to be a trade with a possible future. Must be somewhere in the vicinity of the 20s or 30s. One of my great-grandfathers was actually a blacksmith by trade. He was sttill carrying out his trade in the 30s. In fact, when World War II broke out in the 40s – many of my uncles were still farming with horses. So stuff like rubber blockades and gas rationing did not really cause them a whole lot of concern. After the war ended, however, everyone went with automobiles, tractors, trucks, etc – and using horses for farm work was phased out.
Simon_Jester over 10 years ago
Didn’t I see this same gag in a Looney-Tunes cartoon?
derry1 over 10 years ago
Read Dick Francis…
Number Three over 10 years ago
Sighhhh… Oh, Jeff.
LOL xxx
EstrelitaH over 10 years ago
Re: sammysock said, about 5 hours agoActually, black smithing is still common. Think of all the horses used for pleasure as well as racing, performing, etc. Locally, we have a blacksmith who travels to where the horses are and works from a truck.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
That is really great to know! My great-grandfather’s last name was Smith – and ancestry research has revealed that blacksmithing was a family tradition, going back several hundred years! However, none of his children took up smithing and, when he sold his shop in the 30s, the fellow who bought the shop only worked at smithing until after World War II – then converted his shop to an auto repair shop.
brklnbern over 10 years ago
Looks like a word is missing in panel 3. Otherwise the Smithie is telling Jeff to both hold the horseshoe and also swing the hammer.
Reminds me of a Marx Brothers skit where Chico tells Harpo to tie a rope to the bed and then throw it out the window so they can escape being captured. Chico then repeats himself saying tie on the bed and throw the rope out of the window, so Harpo removes his tie, puts it on the bed and then throws the loose rope out of the window thus precluding their escape.