Question about that old forge in the Spearfish Museum

I went to the Days of '76 Museum in Deadwood last weekend and they had this beat up old forge from the 1880s in the back corner. I always thought those historical displays were just for show, but I talked to the retired farrier who donated it and he said he still fires it up twice a year for demos. Now I'm wondering how many of these museum pieces actually get used vs just sitting there. Anybody know of other old forges that still get lit?

2 comments

2 Comments

reese_garcia5d ago

That part about the farrier firing it up twice a year is exactly what I was hoping to hear. It's like that old saying about things being built to last, you know? So much of what we own now is basically disposable, you use it a few times and it breaks, so you toss it. But something like that forge, it's probably been through a dozen owners and a hundred repairs, and it's still going. It makes you wonder how many other old tools and machines out there are secretly still getting used, just hiding in plain sight in museums or people's garages.

christopher_craig4d ago

Honestly, I had a similar moment with an old Stanley plane I picked up at a flea market. The thing was rusted and the blade was chipped, but after a few hours of cleaning and sharpening, it works better than any new one I've ever used. It's got that same vibe you're talking about, like it was built when people expected things to last longer than a couple seasons. Tbh, I think there's a whole world of that stuff out there, people just don't bother looking. Ngl, half the tools in my shed are older than I am and they still get the job done.