Frank Fusco
Member
- Messages
- 12,782
- Location
- Mountain Home, Arkansas
This forum has some amazing people as members and some of those have even more amazing skills at woodworking. Jay fits both categories. Jay lives in Republic, Missouri. We visited our son and his family in nearby Nixa, MO. I had some time so took the tin mule to previously e-only-friend Jay Caughron at his home and shop. Never again will I complain about the size of my shop. Jay's has about half the space, qualifies as a state-side dungeon. Except for not having to drop in from a hatch in the roof, Stu no longer has exclusivtivity on dungeon shop status.
Jay has good tools including a really neat old Powermatic lathe. And from that little shop he turns out some excellent work.
As expected we tried to out talk each other and covered most of lifes woes and a lot of woodworking stuff.
But, I had a real 'shut my mouth' and/or 'blow me down' experience when he showed me his wood organs. Or, hurdy-gurdy organs as I recall from my childhood days. Or as some know them, organ grinders. Whatever, they are a throwback.
Moreso, they are incredibly complex with many hundreds of small parts and many of those wood moving parts. My mind was blown seeing these organs. Each one is a noteworthy accomplishment.
Did I say "mind blowing"?
Not often an old codger feels a sense of pure, uplifting fun just by seeing, and in this case, also hearing, an object. I did. Need a smile? Listen to Jay play his organ for a few minutes and if ye ain't smilin' yer ded.
We had a fine visit. And it won't be the last, he's a nice guy and we are now real in-person friends, no doubt. We have some plans that involve his organs, my camera and my typing machine. Should be real fun.
And to prove I wuz really there, see pic below.
Jay has good tools including a really neat old Powermatic lathe. And from that little shop he turns out some excellent work.
As expected we tried to out talk each other and covered most of lifes woes and a lot of woodworking stuff.
But, I had a real 'shut my mouth' and/or 'blow me down' experience when he showed me his wood organs. Or, hurdy-gurdy organs as I recall from my childhood days. Or as some know them, organ grinders. Whatever, they are a throwback.
Moreso, they are incredibly complex with many hundreds of small parts and many of those wood moving parts. My mind was blown seeing these organs. Each one is a noteworthy accomplishment.
Did I say "mind blowing"?
Not often an old codger feels a sense of pure, uplifting fun just by seeing, and in this case, also hearing, an object. I did. Need a smile? Listen to Jay play his organ for a few minutes and if ye ain't smilin' yer ded.
We had a fine visit. And it won't be the last, he's a nice guy and we are now real in-person friends, no doubt. We have some plans that involve his organs, my camera and my typing machine. Should be real fun.
And to prove I wuz really there, see pic below.