Vent: I saw a 'blacksmith' at a county fair in Boise last fall and it made me think

The guy was using a propane forge to make bottle openers shaped like tiny swords. He had a nice setup, but he was just heating, bending, and stamping pre-cut blanks. It was neat for the crowd, but it felt more like assembly than the old way. I remember my grandad's shop, where everything started as a plain bar and you had to draw it out by hand. Anyone else see this kind of shift at local events?

2 comments

2 Comments

grant_palmer2d ago

Yeah, I read an article that called it "demonstration craft." It's more about showing a process people can watch quickly than making something from scratch. The real skill is still out there, but you won't see it at a fair.

wendy6742d ago

Demonstration craft" is a perfect way to put it, grant_palmer. It's all for show. Saw a guy at a county fair once doing "old time" wood carving. He'd make a simple bird shape in about three minutes. People loved it. Bought his pre-made ones from a box under the table. The real carvers I know take hours on one piece and would never sit at a fair booth. Their work is in galleries, not where you're selling popcorn and tickets. The fair version is just a quick trick.