Home » Rural Life   Art of The Stonemason. Details  By Ian Cramb Drawing on five generations of family tradition as stonemasons in his native Scotland, Ian Cramb created this masterful work to pass on his knowledge and experience to craftsmen who wish to learn the ancient, but still necessary, principles of the stonemason's art. Since original publication by Betterway Books in 1992, this book has established itself as an essential learning tool for masons doing new construction and also those engaged in restoration of historic stone structures. Beginning with a detailed discussion of building with "random rubble", which is the name for the early Celtic art of building with irregular stones bedded on mortar, the author proceeds to more complex projects such as fireplaces, stairs, arches, bridges and more. There is extensive treatment of various restoration techniques involved with historic structures both in the US and Britain, some as old as 1000 years. In additon the author covers various types of stone, stone-cutting, etc. as well as using tradional mortar mixes, which have demonstrated their utility in stone walls and buildings which have lasted for many centuries. The Art of the Stonemason is profusely illustrated with the author's meticulous line drawings and photographs. Ian Cramb began his apprenticeship at the age of 14 in Dunblane, Scotland. Surrounded by large estates, farm buildings, a ruined 13th century bishop's palace, two large fifteenth century castles, a Gothic cathedral, and numerous other stone buildings, Dunblane was an apprentice stonemason's paradise. In 1957 Mr. Cramb took over as master stonemason on the restoration of the monastic buildings around the abbey on Iona. He rebuilt the cloisters, restored St. Michael's Chapel, and also restored St. Oran's Chapel in the Cemetary of Kings, built in 1075. In 1959 Mr. Cramb moved to the US where he set stone and marble on the Capitol building, and then he acted as stone and marble mason for the Raeburn Building and World Bank Building in Washington, DC. He now lives in Bangor, Pennsylvania. 1992; Hood, Alan C. & Company, Inc.; 8.5"x 11"; 174 pages Paperback; ISBN: 0-911469-27-3 Price: $25.00 Ax Book, The. Details  The Lore and Science of the Woodcutter By Dudley Cook Illustrated by S. Lawrence Whipple The Ax Book is a thorough guide to cutting wood with hand tools.The author explains how to use various types of axes, hatchets, mauls, saws and wedges to take down trees and prepare firewood. In addition he shows every aspect of dealing with wood from the forest right to the hearth or stove. 1999; Alan C. Hood & Company, Inc.; 8.50"x 11"; 144 pages Paperback; ISBN: 0-911469-16-8 Price: $22.50 Barns, Sheds & Outbuildings - Out Of Print. Details  Edited by Byron D. Halsted Foreword by Castle Freeman Although it harks from a time before power tools, electricity, and gasoline, this book abounds in simple ideas that rural householders still find useful today.Barns, poultry houses, piggeries, corn cribs, ice houses, spring houses, granaries, smokehouses, root cellars and even kennels and birdhouses are included in this fascinating compendium from days gone by. 1881; Alan C. Hood & Company, Inc.; 5.50"x 8.50"; 240 pages Paperback; ISBN: 0-911469-12-5 Price: $14.00 Country Plumbing, Revised Edition. Details  You can keep your septic system running day-after-day, year after-year. First published in 1984, Country Plumbing, in its initial edition, went through eight printings and has educated and entertained thousands of country dwellers who live beyond the reach of public sewer systems. Now, with the contribution of Mike Haupt, this revised edition contains information about some of the more recent developments in the world of private sewage treatment facilities. Even in restricted areas such as lakeside properties or small lots, you can live without a public sewer hook-up and still be a good steward of the environment. Price: $12.50 Fences, Gates and Bridges. Details  By George A. Martin Foreword by Castle Freeman “The author, George A. Martin, knows his subject, not only fence building but the farm and its requirements. He knows the stock: the unconfinable pig, the dexterous cow. He knows his materials, especially wood. I count twenty-one species of tree in the text, each especially suited for a particular application. He knows the value of work well done, done to last, and he aims to give value himself, in authorship as in the building of simple necessary structures.” from the Foreword by Castle Freeman 1887; Alan C. Hood & Company, Inc.; 5.50"x 8.50"; 192 pages Paperback; ISBN: 0-911469-08-7 Price: $12.50 Fisherman's Companion, The. Details  By Frank Holan Foreword by Jerry Gibbs The Fisherman's Companion has found its way into thousands of tackleboxes across North America and this new improved edition is even better. Read it before you leave home, and keep it with you while fishing to get the most from this handy resource. 1999; Alan C. Hood & Company, Inc.; 4.50"x 8.50"; 160 pages Paperback; ISBN: 0-911469-15-x Price: $12.95 Forgotten Art of Building A Good Fireplace, The. Details  By Vrest Orton Since its original publication in 1969 by Yankee, Inc.,Vrest Orton’s classic book on fireplace design has gone through numerous printings and has brought about a revival of the Rumford fireplace. The basic principles that Count Rumford set forth in 1795 describe the construction of a large shallow fireplace which does not smoke and which throws out much more heat than many of today’s fireplaces which send too much of the heat up the chimney. This new edition contains some practical notes by Wally Leeds, a mason in Tunbridge,Vermont who builds Rumford fireplaces today. 1969; Alan C. Hood & Company, Inc.; 6"x 9"; 64 pages Paperback; ISBN: 0-911469-17-6 Price: $12.50 Forgotten Art Of Building And Using A Brick Bake Oven, The. Details  By Richard M. Bacon First published by Yankee Magazine in 1977, this book remains the authority on how old-time brick ovens were designed and used. The book explains the evolution of the brick oven from the 17th through the 19th centuries, out lines the basic points to consider in building such an oven today, and describes in detail construction of a brick oven, ash pit complex, including the tools required, procedures to be followed, types of brick and mortar, lintels and doors, plans, dimensions, and actual brickwork, graphically illustrated with photographs, diagrams and drawings. Also covered is how to heat and use such an oven, once built. Richard M. Bacon has written numerous articles for such publications as Yankee Magazine and the Sunday New York times. He also wrote The Yankee Book of Forgotten Arts, Simon & Schuster, 1978. 1977; Alan C. Hood & Company, Inc.; 6"x 9"; 64 pages Paperback; ISBN: 0-911469-25-7 Price: $12.50 « Previous | 1 | 2 | Next »

Confronting The Myths and Fixing Our Failing System

Health Care Meltdown, by Robert H. LeBow, MD and C. Rocky White, MD