Forging a Keepsake

Ohio History

Imprinting a Design

Well, now that you've heard all about the forging process, how would you like to watch me make something? I'm serious! Although a bit simpler process, for a very small fee visitors could make their own molded aluminum artwork. First, I chose a picture from a number of metal templates (dies, I suppose they would be called). I took a piece of thin aluminum, almost like foil but thicker, and taped it down on top. It sure took a lot of pounding with the hammer to get the picture imprinted onto the aluminum! The harder I pounded, the sharper the design became. I think it came out very nice! There were even mats available to display the finished picture. What do you think?

Barn-Raising

Forging Process

Ohio History



Making a Coaster

Just what goes into the process of turning a lump of aluminum into a shiny, intricately-carved coaster? It was all spelled out in this display at the Forge. We start in the lower left-hand corner, where a craftsman cuts a 3x8-foot flat sheet of aluminum into small pieces. A steel die design is imprinted onto each piece by an air-driven hammer. The pieces get so stretched they have to be reshaped by another hammer. Next, a coloring solution is applied to turn the whole picture black (lower right corner) and then buffed off with steel wool so only the details are offset by black (middle lefthand sample).

 

After that's done, the pieces are cut into their final shapes and the edges are hammered flat and smooth. Finally, moving to the top row, the pieces are shaped into nice curved coasters. After being polished and wrapped in plastic, these coasters are ready for sale.

Wendell August Forge

Ohio History

Blacksmith Shop

Stay in the same historical era with me for just another minute and we'll go a few miles from Behalt. Wendell August Forge, one of the country's oldest and largest forges, was established in 1923 by (you guessed it!) Wendell McMinn August. He employed the skills of several blacksmiths who worked in his Pennsylvania coal mine, to create decorative ironware for residential and commercial use. A successful contract in 1928 with a Columbus bank prompted Wendell August Forge to relocate in Grove City, Ohio. The business prospered and eventually spread to four locations in Ohio and Pennsylvania, including the one we visited in Holmes County.

The Forge was an industry leader in the art of forging aluminum, which was growing in demand at that time. Everything from decorative elevator gates to Christmas tree ornaments could be forged from the versatile aluminum. Wendell August did just that and more, creating jewelry, collectors' plates, bowls, fireplace andirons, vases, candlesticks, doorknockers, and more. Above are just a few of the detailed plates we marveled at, featuring detailed city scenes.